90% OFF - $9.99
11:59:59
Claim Lifetime Deal
2026 Salary Data — Albuquerque, NM
Updated April 28, 2026

Data Scientist Salary in Albuquerque: $97K Median

Data Scientists in Albuquerque, NM earn between $61K and $166K per year.

That's -10% below the US national median of $108,020 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque, NM is $97,218 per year — -10% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $61,002 (entry, 25th percentile) to $165,681 (90th percentile). Data Scientists in Albuquerque earned approximately $15,680 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$97,218
+520.0% YoY · $8,102/mo
Entry
$76,500
0–2 years
Experienced
$148,500
5+ years
Top 10%
$165,681
Senior/lead
Data Scientist Salary — Albuquerque vs Nearby
Albuquerque
$97K
Jacksonville
$99K
-2% vs Albuquerque
Columbus
$105K
-7% vs Albuquerque
Tucson
$97K
+0% vs Albuquerque

Free ATS scan · Albuquerque employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Data Scientists in Albuquerque

Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.

Core Responsibilities

  • Build machine learning models
  • Analyze structured/unstructured data
  • Deploy models to production
  • Communicate findings to stakeholders
  • A/B testing and experimentation

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio)

In-demand certifications

Google Data AnalyticsTensorFlow DeveloperAWS ML SpecialtyMicrosoft DA-100

Albuquerque Job Market

Defense research hub with affordable cost of living.

Population
562K
Cost of Living
94
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4%
Median Home
$320K

Top Industries in Albuquerque

GovernmentDefense (Sandia)HealthcareTechTourism

Top Employers Hiring Data Scientists

Major employers active in Albuquerque or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Meta
Netflix
Uber
Airbnb
OpenAI
Anthropic
Databricks

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Data Scientist listings.

LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
Career Outlook
+36% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand.

Data Scientist Salary Breakdown — Albuquerque

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$61,002$97,218$165,681
Monthly$5,084$8,102$13,807
Weekly$1,173$1,870$3,186
Hourly$29$47$80

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($108,020) adjusted for Albuquerque's cost-of-living multiplier (0.90×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Data Scientist Take-Home Pay in Albuquerque

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$72,316.053
Per month$6,026
Biweekly paycheck$2,781
Effective tax rate25.6%

Tax Breakdown on $97,218

Gross salary$97,218
Federal income tax−$13,089.96
New Mexico state tax−$4,374.81
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,437.177
Take-home (net)$72,316.053

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Data Scientist Salary by Experience — Albuquerque

Career-stage progression for Data Scientists in Albuquerque.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$70,380
2–3 yr$76,500
4–6 yr$112,500
7–10 yr$148,500
11–15 yr$175,230
15+ yr$157,091

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Albuquerque's 0.90× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$15,680
2026 median:$97,218
Change:+$81,538

Technology sector growth driven by demand for LLMs and PyTorch.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$103,423
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in Albuquerque

Walk-away anchor: $84,537 (offers below this are below market for Albuquerque).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $149K–$166K for experienced roles, citing Albuquerque market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — Albuquerque

What is the average Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque, NM?
The average Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque is $97,218 per year as of April 2026 — $8,102/month, $1,870/week, or about $47/hour. Salaries range from $61,002 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $165,681 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Albuquerque's cost-of-living multiplier (0.90×).
Is $97,218 a good Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Albuquerque's cost-of-living index is 94 (vs 100 nationally), giving $97,218 a real purchasing power of approximately $103,423 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $97,218 in Albuquerque?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Albuquerque specifically (median home price $320,000), a $97,218 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $97,218 enough for a single person in Albuquerque?
A single adult in Albuquerque typically needs ~$42,300 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $97,218 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $97,218 enough for a couple in Albuquerque?
A couple (one earner) in Albuquerque typically needs ~$67,680 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $97,218 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $97,218 each ($194,436 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $97,218 enough for a family of 4 in Albuquerque?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Albuquerque typically needs ~$103,400 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $97,218 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Albuquerque. Childcare costs in Albuquerque typically run $14K-$26K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Albuquerque?
On a $97,218 Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque, NM, you take home approximately $72,316.053 per year ($6,026/month, $2,781 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $13,089.96, state $4,374.81, FICA $7,437.177. Effective tax rate: 25.6%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Data Scientists in Albuquerque earn compared to the US average?
Data Scientists in Albuquerque earn approximately 10% less than the US national median for this role ($108,020 nationally vs $97,218 in Albuquerque). However, Albuquerque's cost-of-living index of 94 means real purchasing power is approximately $103,423 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in Albuquerque?
Entry-level Data Scientists in Albuquerque typically start at around $76,500 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Data Scientists earn $148,500 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $165,681+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Albuquerque increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Albuquerque grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $15,680 in 2025 to $97,218 in 2026 (+$81,538). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Albuquerque?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. Albuquerque's top industries include Government, Defense (Sandia), Healthcare, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Data Scientists are: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Albuquerque.
Who are the top employers hiring Data Scientists in Albuquerque?
Top employers hiring Data Scientists in or near Albuquerque include: Google, Meta, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, OpenAI. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Albuquerque?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., Google Data Analytics or TensorFlow Developer). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Data Scientist in Albuquerque?
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Albuquerque's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Data Scientist salary figures for Albuquerque are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($108,020) by Albuquerque's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.90× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Albuquerque

Software Engineer →Machine Learning Engineer →Product Manager →Web Developer →DevOps Engineer →Cybersecurity Analyst →

Data Scientist Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$100KJacksonville, FL$99KIndianapolis, IN$100KDetroit, MI$100KMemphis, TN$95KOklahoma City, OK$95KLas Vegas, NV$103KLouisville, KY$98K

Land a $97K+ Data Scientist Role in Albuquerque

Knowing the salary is step one. Step two: getting past the ATS. CVCraft scans your resume, finds missing keywords, and fixes formatting issues in 60 seconds.

Scan My Resume Free

No signup required · Works for all Technology roles