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

Data Scientist Salary in Austin: $124K Median

Data Scientists in Austin, TX earn between $78K and $212K per year.

That's +15% above the US national median of $108,020 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Austin, TX is $124,223 per year — +15% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $77,947 (entry, 25th percentile) to $211,703 (90th percentile). Data Scientists in Austin earned approximately $20,036 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$124,223
+520.0% YoY · $10,352/mo
Entry
$97,750
0–2 years
Experienced
$189,750
5+ years
Top 10%
$211,703
Senior/lead
Data Scientist Salary — Austin vs Nearby
Austin
$124K
Houston
$113K
+10% vs Austin
San Antonio
$100K
+24% vs Austin
Dallas
$113K
+10% vs Austin

Free ATS scan · Austin employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Data Scientists in Austin

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

Austin Job Market

Texas tech capital with major Tesla, Apple, Oracle, and startup presence.

Population
974K
Cost of Living
119
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.7%
Median Home
$510K

Top Industries in Austin

TechGovernmentEducationHealthcareMusic/Entertainment

Top Employers Hiring Data Scientists

Major employers active in Austin 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 — Austin

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$77,947$124,223$211,703
Monthly$6,496$10,352$17,642
Weekly$1,499$2,389$4,071
Hourly$37$60$102

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($108,020) adjusted for Austin's cost-of-living multiplier (1.15×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Data Scientist Take-Home Pay in Austin

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$95,563.421
Per month$7,964
Biweekly paycheck$3,676
Effective tax rate23.1%

Tax Breakdown on $124,223

Gross salary$124,223
Federal income tax−$19,156.52
Texas state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$9,503.06
Take-home (net)$95,563.421

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 — Austin

Career-stage progression for Data Scientists in Austin.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$89,930
2–3 yr$97,750
4–6 yr$143,750
7–10 yr$189,750
11–15 yr$223,905
15+ yr$200,727

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Austin's 1.15× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$20,036
2026 median:$124,223
Change:+$104,187

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
$104,389
Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in Austin

Walk-away anchor: $108,020 (offers below this are below market for Austin).

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 $190K–$212K for experienced roles, citing Austin market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — Austin

What is the average Data Scientist salary in Austin, TX?
The average Data Scientist salary in Austin is $124,223 per year as of April 2026 — $10,352/month, $2,389/week, or about $60/hour. Salaries range from $77,947 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $211,703 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Austin's cost-of-living multiplier (1.15×).
Is $124,223 a good Data Scientist salary in Austin?
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. Austin's cost-of-living index is 119 (vs 100 nationally), giving $124,223 a real purchasing power of approximately $104,389 in national terms. Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.
Can you live on $124,223 in Austin?
Dual-income households are functionally required to raise a family at this cost level. Single earners on the median typically rent rather than buy and delay starting a family. Many residents spend 35-40% of pre-tax income on rent here, but the textbook target is still 30%. Going above 35% will materially crimp retirement and emergency savings. For Austin specifically (median home price $510,000), a $124,223 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $124,223 enough for a single person in Austin?
A single adult in Austin typically needs ~$53,550 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $124,223 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $124,223 enough for a couple in Austin?
A couple (one earner) in Austin typically needs ~$85,680 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $124,223 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $124,223 each ($248,446 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $124,223 enough for a family of 4 in Austin?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Austin typically needs ~$130,900 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $124,223 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 Austin. Childcare costs in Austin typically run $18K-$33K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Austin?
On a $124,223 Data Scientist salary in Austin, TX, you take home approximately $95,563.421 per year ($7,964/month, $3,676 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $19,156.52, state $0, FICA $9,503.06. Effective tax rate: 23.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Data Scientists in Austin earn compared to the US average?
Data Scientists in Austin earn approximately 15% more than the US national median for this role ($108,020 nationally vs $124,223 in Austin). However, Austin's cost-of-living index of 119 means real purchasing power is approximately $104,389 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in Austin?
Entry-level Data Scientists in Austin typically start at around $97,750 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Data Scientists earn $189,750 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $211,703+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Austin increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Austin grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $20,036 in 2025 to $124,223 in 2026 (+$104,187). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Austin?
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. Austin's top industries include Tech, Government, Education, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.7% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
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 Austin.
Who are the top employers hiring Data Scientists in Austin?
Top employers hiring Data Scientists in or near Austin 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 Austin?
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 Austin?
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 Austin?
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Austin'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 Austin are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($108,020) by Austin's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.15× — 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 Austin

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

Data Scientist Salary in Other Cities

Houston, TX$113KSan Antonio, TX$100KSan Diego, CA$127KDallas, TX$113KFort Worth, TX$110KDenver, CO$119KEl Paso, TX$92KPortland, OR$119K

Land a $124K+ Data Scientist Role in Austin

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