Data Scientist Salary in New York (2026)
New York offers among the highest data scientist salaries in the world, driven by intense competition between Big Tech and Wall Street. Finance firms pay premium for ML talent to build trading systems, while tech companies offer strong equity. PhD holders and those with finance experience command the highest compensation.
Key Facts
- Wall Street quant firms pay $300-500k+ for top ML talent
- NYC data scientists earn 20% more than SF for equivalent roles
- PhD adds 20-30% to compensation, especially in finance
- Finance hours can be brutal - 60-80 hours/week is common
- Cost of living is extremely high - budget $3-4k/month for housing
Salary by Experience Level
Junior DS (0-2 years): $100,000 - $140,000
Mid-level DS (3-5 years): $140,000 - $180,000
Senior DS (5-8 years): $180,000 - $250,000
Staff/Principal: $250,000 - $400,000+
Industry Breakdown
Quantitative Finance (Two Sigma, Citadel): $200,000 - $500,000+
Big Tech (Google, Meta): $180,000 - $350,000 total comp
Investment Banks (Goldman, JP Morgan): $150,000 - $250,000
Startups: $130,000 - $200,000 + equity
The PhD Premium
PhD holders earn 20-30% more on average. Quant finance firms often require PhDs for research roles. However, applied DS roles value industry experience equally.
Finance vs Tech
Finance offers higher guaranteed comp but demanding hours (60-80/week). Tech offers better work-life balance and equity upside. Many DS move from finance to tech after burning out.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
If you want maximum compensation, target quant finance - but be prepared for intensity. For better work-life balance with strong pay, Big Tech NYC offices are ideal. Build deep learning and MLOps skills; they're the most in-demand.
Data Scientist Insights — New York
Data Scientist salaries in New York range from $130,000 to $200,000, a 42% spread indicating moderate variation depending on seniority and employer. The median of $165,000 sits near or above the midpoint, indicating strong market demand pushing compensation upward.
New York's cost of living index of 100/100 makes it one of the more expensive locations for tech professionals. While the $165,000 median is competitive, housing and daily expenses consume a larger share of income compared to lower-cost cities.
The hiring landscape for data scientist in New York is anchored by employers like Google, Meta, and Goldman Sachs, along with 3 other notable employers. These employers offer competitive packages that generally align with market rates, with differentiation coming through benefits, growth opportunities, and work flexibility.
Demand for data scientist in New York centers around expertise in Python, Machine Learning, SQL, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the $200,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like ML Engineer or Research Scientist.
Related Roles in New York
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Engineer | New York | $84,144 - $244,545 | $120,712 |
| Security Engineer | New York | $91,518 - $265,772 | $155,958 |
| Android Developer | New York | $96,560 - $278,501 | $163,988 |
| DevOps Engineer | New York | $120,921 - $170,099 | $145,000 |
| Backend Engineer | New York | $96,000 - $243,000 | $176,104 |
| Cloud Architect |
Data Scientist Salaries by City
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PhD required for data science in NYC?
Not for most roles, but it helps significantly in finance and research positions. For applied DS at tech companies, a strong portfolio and MS degree are usually sufficient. PhD adds 20-30% to compensation.
How does NYC compare to San Francisco for DS?
NYC actually pays slightly higher (10-20%) for equivalent roles due to finance sector competition. However, SF has more tech companies overall. NYC cost of living is similar to SF.
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