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

Data Scientist Salary in Phoenix: $108K Median

Data Scientists in Phoenix, AZ earn between $68K and $184K per year.

That's +0% above the US national median of $108,020 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Phoenix, AZ is $108,020 per year — +0% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $67,780 (entry, 25th percentile) to $184,090 (90th percentile). Data Scientists in Phoenix earned approximately $17,423 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$108,020
+520.0% YoY · $9,002/mo
Entry
$85,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$165,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$184,090
Senior/lead
Data Scientist Salary — Phoenix vs Nearby
Phoenix
$108K
Tucson
$97K
+11% vs Phoenix
Mesa
$106K
+2% vs Phoenix
Dallas
$113K
-5% vs Phoenix

Free ATS scan · Phoenix employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Data Scientists in Phoenix

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

Phoenix Job Market

Fast-growing Sunbelt city with major TSMC semiconductor expansion driving tech jobs.

Population
1608K
Cost of Living
103
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4%
Median Home
$425K

Top Industries in Phoenix

Tech (TSMC fab)HealthcareAerospaceTourismManufacturing

Top Employers Hiring Data Scientists

Major employers active in Phoenix 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 — Phoenix

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$67,780$108,020$184,090
Monthly$5,648$9,002$15,341
Weekly$1,303$2,077$3,540
Hourly$33$52$89

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($108,020) adjusted for Phoenix's cost-of-living multiplier (1.00×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Data Scientist Take-Home Pay in Phoenix

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$81,589.57
Per month$6,799
Biweekly paycheck$3,138
Effective tax rate24.5%

Tax Breakdown on $108,020

Gross salary$108,020
Federal income tax−$15,466.4
Arizona state tax−$2,700.5
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$8,263.53
Take-home (net)$81,589.57

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 — Phoenix

Career-stage progression for Data Scientists in Phoenix.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$78,200
2–3 yr$85,000
4–6 yr$125,000
7–10 yr$165,000
11–15 yr$194,700
15+ yr$174,545

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Phoenix's 1.00× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$17,423
2026 median:$108,020
Change:+$90,597

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
$104,874
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 Phoenix

Walk-away anchor: $93,930 (offers below this are below market for Phoenix).

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 $165K–$184K for experienced roles, citing Phoenix market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — Phoenix

What is the average Data Scientist salary in Phoenix, AZ?
The average Data Scientist salary in Phoenix is $108,020 per year as of April 2026 — $9,002/month, $2,077/week, or about $52/hour. Salaries range from $67,780 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $184,090 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Phoenix's cost-of-living multiplier (1.00×).
Is $108,020 a good Data Scientist salary in Phoenix?
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. Phoenix's cost-of-living index is 103 (vs 100 nationally), giving $108,020 a real purchasing power of approximately $104,874 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 $108,020 in Phoenix?
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 Phoenix specifically (median home price $425,000), a $108,020 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $108,020 enough for a single person in Phoenix?
A single adult in Phoenix typically needs ~$46,350 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $108,020 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $108,020 enough for a couple in Phoenix?
A couple (one earner) in Phoenix typically needs ~$74,160 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $108,020 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $108,020 each ($216,040 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $108,020 enough for a family of 4 in Phoenix?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Phoenix typically needs ~$113,300 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $108,020 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 Phoenix. Childcare costs in Phoenix typically run $15K-$29K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Phoenix?
On a $108,020 Data Scientist salary in Phoenix, AZ, you take home approximately $81,589.57 per year ($6,799/month, $3,138 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $15,466.4, state $2,700.5, FICA $8,263.53. Effective tax rate: 24.5%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Data Scientists in Phoenix earn compared to the US average?
Data Scientists in Phoenix earn approximately 0% more than the US national median for this role ($108,020 nationally vs $108,020 in Phoenix). However, Phoenix's cost-of-living index of 103 means real purchasing power is approximately $104,874 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in Phoenix?
Entry-level Data Scientists in Phoenix typically start at around $85,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Data Scientists earn $165,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $184,090+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Phoenix increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Phoenix grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $17,423 in 2025 to $108,020 in 2026 (+$90,597). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Phoenix?
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. Phoenix's top industries include Tech (TSMC fab), Healthcare, Aerospace, 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 Phoenix.
Who are the top employers hiring Data Scientists in Phoenix?
Top employers hiring Data Scientists in or near Phoenix 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 Phoenix?
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 Phoenix?
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 Phoenix?
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Phoenix'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 Phoenix are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($108,020) by Phoenix's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.00× — 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 Phoenix

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

Data Scientist Salary in Other Cities

Philadelphia, PA$112KFort Worth, TX$110KColumbus, OH$105KCharlotte, NC$110KNashville, TN$108KTucson, AZ$97KMesa, AZ$106KColorado Springs, CO$108K

Land a $108K+ Data Scientist Role in Phoenix

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