2026 Salary — New Jersey
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in New Jersey: $121K Median
Data Scientists in New Jersey earn between $76K and $206K per year.
That's +12% above the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in New Jersey is $120,982 per year — +12% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $75,914 (entry, 25th percentile) to $206,181 (90th percentile). New Jersey's cost-of-living index is 116. State income tax applies.
Median
$120,982
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$95,200
Experienced
$184,800
Top 10%
$206,181
About Data Scientists in New Jersey
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
How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in New Jersey
Walk-away anchor: $105,202.
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 — New Jersey
What is the average Data Scientist salary in New Jersey?
The average Data Scientist salary in New Jersey is $120,982 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $75,914 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $206,181 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in New Jersey compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in New Jersey earn approximately 12% more than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $120,982 in New Jersey). New Jersey's cost-of-living index of 116 partially offsets the higher salary.
Did Data Scientist salaries in New Jersey increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in New Jersey grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $19,513 in 2025 to $120,982 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which New Jersey cities pay Data Scientists the most?
New Jersey has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in New Jersey?
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 Jersey's top industries include Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Logistics, and the state's unemployment rate is 4.6% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does New Jersey have state income tax?
Yes, New Jersey has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $120,982, 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 New Jersey employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey: $105,202.
Methodology
New Jersey Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by New Jersey's state multiplier (1.12×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
Land a $121K+ Data Scientist Role in New Jersey
CVCraft scans your resume against New Jersey ATS systems — free, 60 seconds.
Scan My Resume Free