2026 Salary — Rhode Island
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in Rhode Island: $111K Median
Data Scientists in Rhode Island earn between $70K and $190K per year.
That's +3% above the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Rhode Island is $111,261 per year — +3% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $69,813 (entry, 25th percentile) to $189,613 (90th percentile). Rhode Island's cost-of-living index is 110. State income tax applies.
Median
$111,261
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$87,550
Experienced
$169,950
Top 10%
$189,613
About Data Scientists in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island
Walk-away anchor: $96,749.
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 — Rhode Island
What is the average Data Scientist salary in Rhode Island?
The average Data Scientist salary in Rhode Island is $111,261 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $69,813 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $189,613 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in Rhode Island compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in Rhode Island earn approximately 3% more than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $111,261 in Rhode Island). Rhode Island's cost-of-living index of 110 is close to the national average.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Rhode Island increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Rhode Island grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $17,945 in 2025 to $111,261 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which Rhode Island cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
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. Rhode Island's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Defense (Naval), and the state's unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does Rhode Island have state income tax?
Yes, Rhode Island has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $111,261, 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 Rhode Island employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island: $96,749.
Methodology
Rhode Island Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by Rhode Island's state multiplier (1.03×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
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