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2026 Salary — Washington
Updated April 29, 2026

Data Scientist Salary in Washington: $124K Median

Data Scientists in Washington earn between $78K and $212K per year.

That's +15% above the US national median.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Washington is $124,223 per year — +15% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $77,947 (entry, 25th percentile) to $211,703 (90th percentile). Washington's cost-of-living index is 115. Washington has no state income tax.

Median
$124,223
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$97,750
Experienced
$189,750
Top 10%
$211,703

About Data Scientists in Washington

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 Washington Metros

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

CityMedian
Seattle$142,586

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in Washington

Walk-away anchor: $108,020.

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 — Washington

What is the average Data Scientist salary in Washington?
The average Data Scientist salary in Washington is $124,223 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $77,947 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $211,703 (90th percentile). Washington has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Data Scientist pay in Washington compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in Washington earn approximately 15% more than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $124,223 in Washington). Washington's cost-of-living index of 115 partially offsets the higher salary.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Washington increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Washington grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $20,036 in 2025 to $124,223 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which Washington cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Top-paying Washington metros for Data Scientists: Seattle ($143K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Washington?
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. Washington's top industries include Tech (Amazon, Microsoft), Aerospace (Boeing), Agriculture, and the state's unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does Washington have state income tax?
No, Washington has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $124,223, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
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 Washington employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Washington?
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 Washington: $108,020.

Methodology

Washington Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by Washington's state multiplier (1.15×). 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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