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2026 Salary Data — New Orleans, LA
Updated April 28, 2026

Data Scientist Salary in New Orleans: $99K Median

Data Scientists in New Orleans, LA earn between $62K and $169K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $108,020 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in New Orleans, LA is $99,378 per year — -8% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $62,358 (entry, 25th percentile) to $169,363 (90th percentile). Data Scientists in New Orleans earned approximately $16,029 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$99,378
+520.0% YoY · $8,282/mo
Entry
$78,200
0–2 years
Experienced
$151,800
5+ years
Top 10%
$169,363
Senior/lead
Data Scientist Salary — New Orleans vs Nearby
New Orleans
$99K
Houston
$113K
-12% vs New Orleans
Milwaukee
$103K
-3% vs New Orleans
Jacksonville
$99K
+0% vs New Orleans

Free ATS scan · New Orleans employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Data Scientists in New Orleans

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

New Orleans Job Market

Major tourism and port city with strong cultural identity.

Population
376K
Cost of Living
96
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
5%
Median Home
$285K

Top Industries in New Orleans

TourismEnergyHealthcareLogistics (Port)Education

Top Employers Hiring Data Scientists

Major employers active in New Orleans 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 — New Orleans

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$62,358$99,378$169,363
Monthly$5,197$8,282$14,114
Weekly$1,199$1,911$3,257
Hourly$30$48$81

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($108,020) adjusted for New Orleans's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Data Scientist Take-Home Pay in New Orleans

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$75,229.083
Per month$6,269
Biweekly paycheck$2,893
Effective tax rate24.3%

Tax Breakdown on $99,378

Gross salary$99,378
Federal income tax−$13,565.16
Louisiana state tax−$2,981.34
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,602.417
Take-home (net)$75,229.083

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 — New Orleans

Career-stage progression for Data Scientists in New Orleans.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$71,944
2–3 yr$78,200
4–6 yr$115,000
7–10 yr$151,800
11–15 yr$179,124
15+ yr$160,582

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for New Orleans's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$16,029
2026 median:$99,378
Change:+$83,349

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
$103,519
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in New Orleans

Walk-away anchor: $86,416 (offers below this are below market for New Orleans).

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 $152K–$169K for experienced roles, citing New Orleans market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — New Orleans

What is the average Data Scientist salary in New Orleans, LA?
The average Data Scientist salary in New Orleans is $99,378 per year as of April 2026 — $8,282/month, $1,911/week, or about $48/hour. Salaries range from $62,358 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $169,363 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for New Orleans's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $99,378 a good Data Scientist salary in New Orleans?
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. New Orleans's cost-of-living index is 96 (vs 100 nationally), giving $99,378 a real purchasing power of approximately $103,519 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $99,378 in New Orleans?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For New Orleans specifically (median home price $285,000), a $99,378 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $99,378 enough for a single person in New Orleans?
A single adult in New Orleans typically needs ~$43,200 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $99,378 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $99,378 enough for a couple in New Orleans?
A couple (one earner) in New Orleans typically needs ~$69,120 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $99,378 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $99,378 each ($198,756 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $99,378 enough for a family of 4 in New Orleans?
A family of 4 (one earner) in New Orleans typically needs ~$105,600 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $99,378 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 New Orleans. Childcare costs in New Orleans typically run $14K-$27K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in New Orleans?
On a $99,378 Data Scientist salary in New Orleans, LA, you take home approximately $75,229.083 per year ($6,269/month, $2,893 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $13,565.16, state $2,981.34, FICA $7,602.417. Effective tax rate: 24.3%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Data Scientists in New Orleans earn compared to the US average?
Data Scientists in New Orleans earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($108,020 nationally vs $99,378 in New Orleans). However, New Orleans's cost-of-living index of 96 means real purchasing power is approximately $103,519 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in New Orleans?
Entry-level Data Scientists in New Orleans typically start at around $78,200 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Data Scientists earn $151,800 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $169,363+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Data Scientist salaries in New Orleans increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in New Orleans grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $16,029 in 2025 to $99,378 in 2026 (+$83,349). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in New Orleans?
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. New Orleans's top industries include Tourism, Energy, Healthcare, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 5% — 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 New Orleans.
Who are the top employers hiring Data Scientists in New Orleans?
Top employers hiring Data Scientists in or near New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans?
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, New Orleans'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 New Orleans are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($108,020) by New Orleans's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — 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 New Orleans

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

Data Scientist Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$100KJacksonville, FL$99KColumbus, OH$105KIndianapolis, IN$100KDetroit, MI$100KMemphis, TN$95KOklahoma City, OK$95KLas Vegas, NV$103K

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