Data Scientist salary in Richmond, VA
Data Scientists in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $122,510 a year ($58.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,170 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 3% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $126,430. There are 1.6 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $133,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,510 | $32.94 |
| 25th percentile | $91,030 | $43.77 |
| Median | $122,510 | $58.90 |
| 75th percentile | $169,990 | $81.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,170 | $100.08 |
| Average (mean) | $133,460 | $64.16 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,209.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,104.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,711.92 |
| Weekly | $2,355.96 |
| Hourly | $58.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $149,800 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,200 | 9,260 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $129,990 | 60 |
| Roanoke, VA | $106,090 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,300 | 770 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,470 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $89,070 | 60 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $79,560 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $109,650 | $52.72 |
| Statistician | $81,620 | $39.24 |
| Actuary | $131,900 | $63.42 |
| Software Developer | $132,120 | $63.52 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,190 | $50.57 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,790 | $29.23 |
| Information Security Analyst | $126,230 | $60.69 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,750 | $47.96 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $111,070 | $53.40 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,210 | $62.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $106,300 | $51.11 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $65,460 | $31.47 |
| Database Administrator | $99,690 | $47.93 |
| Database Architect | $133,770 | $64.31 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Richmond, VA?
The median salary for data scientists in the Richmond, VA metro area is $122,510 a year, or $58.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $208,170 a year. The top 25% earn $169,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,510 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $91,030 or less.
How many data scientists work in Richmond, VA?
About 1,050 data scientists are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.