Data Scientist Salary in 2026: 7 Cities Compared (With Real Numbers)

Data science went from "sexiest job of the 21st century" to one of the most competitive fields in tech. The gold rush is over. But the salaries? Still very real — if you know where to look and what to specialize in.

The problem with most salary data online is that it's either outdated, self-reported (which skews high), or so broad it's useless. "Data scientists earn $80K–$200K" tells you nothing.

Here's what data scientists actually earn in 2026, broken down by city with real market data.

The Quick Comparison

The gap between the highest and lowest paying cities is over 2.5x. Same role, same skills, wildly different compensation.

New York: $130K–$200K

New York has quietly overtaken San Francisco as the top-paying city for data scientists. The finance-to-data-science pipeline is the main driver — banks, hedge funds, and fintech companies pay aggressively for anyone who can build predictive models.

JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Two Sigma, and Citadel have massive data science teams. Total compensation at these firms (base + bonus) regularly exceeds $250K for senior roles. Tech companies with NYC offices — Google, Meta, Amazon — match or come close.

The catch: New York taxes are brutal. Combined federal, state, and city income tax can push your effective rate above 40%. And Manhattan rent needs no introduction.

Still, for raw earning power, New York is the #1 market for data scientists in 2026.

See the full breakdown: Data Scientist Salary in New York

San Francisco: $108K–$198K

The Bay Area remains a powerhouse for data science, but the center of gravity has shifted. Pre-2020 SF was the undisputed king. Now, remote work and NYC's growth have created real competition.

What SF still has going for it: the density of ML-focused companies is unmatched. OpenAI, Anthropic, Scale AI, and hundreds of AI startups are headquartered here. If you want to work on cutting-edge ML research that ships to production, this is still ground zero.

Junior data scientists start around $108K. Senior roles with ML engineering overlap reach $180K–$198K base, with total comp often exceeding $300K at well-funded companies (equity does heavy lifting).

The cost of living conversation is tired but necessary: median one-bedroom rent is $3,200/month. Factor that in.

Full data: Data Scientist Salary in San Francisco

Seattle: $80K–$162K

Seattle is the underrated pick for data scientists. Amazon is the obvious anchor — they hire thousands of data scientists across retail, AWS, and Alexa teams. Microsoft's presence adds another major employer.

But the real advantage is tax structure. Washington has no state income tax. A $140K salary in Seattle nets roughly the same as $165K in San Francisco after state taxes. That's a massive difference over a career.

The range is wide ($80K–$162K) because Seattle has both Amazon's notoriously structured pay bands and startups that compete above market. Amazon's data scientist comp is heavily equity-weighted — base salary caps at ~$175K but total comp can reach $300K+ with RSUs.

Detailed numbers: Data Scientist Salary in Seattle

Boston: $87K–$187K

Boston doesn't get enough credit in the data science conversation. The city has a unique combination of world-class universities (MIT, Harvard, Northeastern), a massive biotech/pharma cluster, and growing tech companies.

Biotech data science is Boston's differentiator. Companies like Moderna, Vertex, and dozens of clinical-stage biotechs hire data scientists for drug discovery, genomics, and clinical trial optimization. These roles often pay 10–20% above general tech data science because the domain expertise barrier is high.

The academic pipeline also means Boston produces more data science talent per capita than almost anywhere, which creates competition but also builds a dense professional network.

Full breakdown: Data Scientist Salary in Boston

London: £45K–£94K

London is Europe's top-paying market for data scientists, driven by its financial services cluster. Banks like Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, plus fintechs like Revolut and Monzo, hire data scientists in volume.

The salary range (£45K–£94K) looks modest compared to US numbers, but context matters. The NHS means zero healthcare costs. Pension auto-enrollment adds 8%+ on top of salary. And 25+ days of annual leave is standard, not a perk.

AI research labs in London — DeepMind (Google), Meta AI Research — pay at the top of the range or above it. A senior ML scientist at DeepMind can earn £120K+ base, making it competitive with US tech.

London's biggest downside for data scientists: rent. £1,800+/month for a one-bedroom in zones 1-2 eats into the salary advantage fast.

See current data: Data Scientist Salary in London

Berlin: €43K–€79K

Berlin is the most interesting market on this list — not because it pays the most (it clearly doesn't), but because the value proposition is different.

A data scientist in Berlin earning €65K pays about €1,100/month in rent for a decent one-bedroom. After taxes and rent, monthly disposable income is comparable to a data scientist earning $130K in San Francisco. The math is counterintuitive but real.

Berlin's tech scene is startup-heavy: Zalando, Delivery Hero, N26, HelloFresh, and hundreds of smaller companies all have data science teams. Salaries skew lower than corporate markets, but equity can offset the gap at well-funded startups.

The growth trajectory is strong too. Berlin data science salaries have grown 8–10% annually since 2023, faster than the German average. As more international companies set up Berlin offices (partly for the talent pool, partly for the cost), the upward trend should continue.

For international candidates: Germany's visa process for skilled tech workers is straightforward, and many Berlin companies operate entirely in English. The 18-month EU Blue Card → permanent residency path is one of the best in Europe.

What's holding Berlin back: the €43K floor is low by international standards, reflecting early-career roles at bootstrapped startups. If you're junior and choosing between Berlin and a US city, the salary gap is massive. If you're senior and value quality of life, Berlin's proposition is compelling.

Remote: $85K–$210K

Remote data science roles have the widest salary range of any category — and for good reason. A "remote" role could mean a bootstrapped startup paying $85K or a Series D company matching San Francisco rates at $200K+.

The key variable is the employer's location (and policy). Companies headquartered in SF/NYC that allow full-remote tend to pay at or near local rates. Companies that adjust for the employee's location can discount 15–30% for lower cost-of-living areas.

The best-case scenario: a remote role from a US company paying SF rates while you live in Berlin, Lisbon, or Bangkok. Your purchasing power effectively doubles or triples.

The worst case: a "remote" role that pays bottom-of-market because the company knows they can find someone cheaper who'll accept it.

When evaluating remote offers, always ask: "Is this salary adjusted for my location?" The answer determines whether remote is a great deal or a raw deal.

Current remote ranges: Data Scientist Salary — Remote

What Drives Data Scientist Salaries in 2026

Specialization Is Everything

The days of "generalist data scientist" paying top dollar are ending. Companies now want specialists:

ML Engineering (deploying models to production): 15–25% premium over generalist DS

NLP / LLM fine-tuning: Highest demand growth since 2024, 20–30% premium

Computer Vision: Strong demand in autonomous vehicles, manufacturing, medical imaging

Causal Inference / Experimentation: Critical at product companies (Airbnb, Spotify, Netflix)

If your LinkedIn says "Data Scientist" with no specialization, you're competing with everyone. If it says "ML Engineer — NLP/LLM Systems," you're competing with a much smaller, better-compensated pool.

Industry Matters as Much as City

Data scientist salary varies 20–40% between industries in the same city:

Finance / Trading: Highest (quantitative modeling, risk, algo trading)

Big Tech: High (product analytics, ML platform, recommendations)

Biotech / Pharma: High for domain specialists (genomics, drug discovery)

E-commerce / Marketplaces: Mid-high (personalization, demand forecasting)

Startups (pre-Series B): Lower base, but equity can compensate

Agencies / Consulting: Lowest (limited leverage on individual contribution)

A data scientist at a hedge fund in New York can earn 2x what the same person would at a marketing agency in the same city.

Experience Curve Is Steeper Than Other Tech Roles

Data science has one of the steepest experience-salary curves in tech:

The jump from junior to mid-level (2–5 years) is where the biggest percentage increase happens. This is when you go from "can build models" to "can solve business problems with models" — and companies pay for that distinction.

The PhD Premium Is Shrinking

Five years ago, a PhD was nearly required for data science roles and commanded a 15–20% salary premium. In 2026, the premium is 5–10% at most, and many companies actively prefer candidates with industry experience over academic credentials.

The exception: research-oriented roles at AI labs (DeepMind, FAIR, Google Brain). For applied data science at product companies, a strong portfolio and 3 years of relevant experience beats a PhD from a mid-tier program.

How to Maximize Your Data Scientist Salary

1. Specialize, Then Go Deep

Pick a domain (NLP, CV, MLOps, experimentation) and become genuinely good at it. The salary difference between a generalist and a specialist is often larger than the difference between cities.

2. Negotiate With Data

Before any salary conversation, check the actual market rate for your role, city, and experience level. Use CareerCheck's salary data for a specific breakdown — knowing whether an offer is at the 25th or 75th percentile gives you leverage.

For broader negotiation tactics, see our salary negotiation guide.

3. Consider the Full Package

Base salary is one number. Total compensation includes:

Equity / RSUs — Can add 20–50% at well-funded companies

Bonus — Ranges from 5% (startups) to 30%+ (finance)

Benefits — Health, retirement match, learning budget

Remote flexibility — Worth $15K–$30K/year in saved commute costs and time

A $140K offer with 30% annual bonus and strong equity beats a $160K offer with no bonus and no equity.

4. Don't Overlook Berlin (Seriously)

If you're early-career and flexible on location, Berlin offers something no US city can: high quality of life at manageable cost, strong visa pathways, and a growing market with 8–10% annual salary growth. Your €55K in Berlin buys a life that $110K in San Francisco can't.

Check Your Market Value

Data science compensation is moving fast. What was competitive six months ago might be below market today.

Look up your specific combination of role, city, and experience on CareerCheck's salary explorer — we cover data scientist salaries across all major hubs with real market data. Then use the job fit analysis to see how your skills stack up against current openings.

The data scientists who earn the most aren't necessarily the smartest. They're the ones who understand their market value and negotiate accordingly.