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2026 Salary — District of Columbia
Updated April 29, 2026

Data Scientist Salary in District of Columbia: $135K Median

Data Scientists in District of Columbia earn between $85K and $230K per year.

That's +25% above the US national median.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in District of Columbia is $135,025 per year — +25% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $84,725 (entry, 25th percentile) to $230,113 (90th percentile). District of Columbia's cost-of-living index is 152. State income tax applies.

Median
$135,025
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$106,250
Experienced
$206,250
Top 10%
$230,113

About Data Scientists in District of Columbia

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

Hot 2026 Skills

LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI

ATS Keywords

PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn

Data Scientist Salary in District of Columbia Metros

Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay calculator.

CityMedian
Washington$140,426

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in District of Columbia

Walk-away anchor: $117,413.

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

Negotiate Beyond Base

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

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — District of Columbia

What is the average Data Scientist salary in District of Columbia?
The average Data Scientist salary in District of Columbia is $135,025 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $84,725 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $230,113 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in District of Columbia compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in District of Columbia earn approximately 25% more than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $135,025 in District of Columbia). District of Columbia's cost-of-living index of 152 partially offsets the higher salary.
Did Data Scientist salaries in District of Columbia increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in District of Columbia grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $21,778 in 2025 to $135,025 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which District of Columbia cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Top-paying District of Columbia metros for Data Scientists: Washington ($140K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in District of Columbia?
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. District of Columbia's top industries include Federal Government, Defense, Lobbying/Consulting, and the state's unemployment rate is 5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does District of Columbia have state income tax?
Yes, District of Columbia has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $135,025, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with District of Columbia employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in District of Columbia?
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? Beyond base, negotiate: 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. Walk-away anchor for District of Columbia: $117,413.

Methodology

District of Columbia Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by District of Columbia's state multiplier (1.25×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.

Data Scientist Salary in Other States

Alabama$95KAlaska$113KArizona$106KArkansas$92KCalifornia$127KColorado$113KConnecticut$121KDelaware$110K

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