Data Scientist salary in Tucson, AZ
Data Scientists in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $83,650 a year ($40.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,280 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 22% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $107,240. There are 0.93 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $94,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,830 | $30.21 |
| 25th percentile | $69,690 | $33.50 |
| Median | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| 75th percentile | $119,690 | $57.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,280 | $64.56 |
| Average (mean) | $94,340 | $45.36 |
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 | $6,970.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,485.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,217.31 |
| Weekly | $1,608.65 |
| Hourly | $40.22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $114,540 | 3,480 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $103,440 | 40 |
| Yuma, AZ | $97,580 | 50 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $95,080 | 50 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $79,990 | 50 |
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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $95,620 | $45.97 |
| Statistician | $80,530 | $38.72 |
| Software Developer | $123,710 | $59.48 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $98,100 | $47.17 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,780 | $42.20 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $100,650 | $48.39 |
| Information Security Analyst | $102,260 | $49.16 |
| Computer Network Architect | $120,710 | $58.03 |
| Computer Programmer | $88,990 | $42.78 |
| Web Developer | $79,060 | $38.01 |
| Database Administrator | $100,790 | $48.46 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $62,640 | $30.11 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for data scientists in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $83,650 a year, or $40.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $134,280 a year. The top 25% earn $119,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,830 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $69,690 or less.
How many data scientists work in Tucson, AZ?
About 360 data scientists are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.