Data Scientist salary in Washington
Data Scientists in Washington earn a median of $163,350 a year ($78.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $220,040 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $120,230. Washington ranks 1st of 49 states for data scientists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.7 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $158,040, close to the median.
Pay range for data scientists in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 25th percentile | $105,240 | $50.60 |
| Median | $163,350 | $78.54 |
| 75th percentile | $208,320 | $100.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $220,040 | $105.79 |
| Average (mean) | $158,040 | $75.98 |
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 | $13,612.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,806.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,282.69 |
| Weekly | $3,141.35 |
| Hourly | $78.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $164,740 | 8,370 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,830 | 150 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $134,220 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $129,600 | 1,700 |
| Bellingham, WA | $120,180 | 40 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $120,040 | 120 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $117,250 | 160 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $81,250 | 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| Statistician | $105,650 | $50.79 |
| Actuary | $134,720 | $64.77 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $65,840 | $31.65 |
| Mathematician | $162,280 | $78.02 |
| Software Developer | $166,540 | $80.07 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $129,410 | $62.22 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,220 | $36.17 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $128,940 | $61.99 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $130,480 | $62.73 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,910 | $49.96 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,480 | $61.77 |
| Information Security Analyst | $154,940 | $74.49 |
| Computer Network Architect | $168,070 | $80.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for data scientists in Washington is $163,350 a year, or $78.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $220,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Washington?
The top 10% of data scientists in Washington earn at least $220,040 a year. The top 25% earn $208,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,930 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $105,240 or less.
How many data scientists work in Washington?
About 9,600 data scientists are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.