RateOrchard
State comparison · 2025

Data Scientists salary: California vs District of Columbia

Occupation

Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In District of Columbia, $126,490. After cost-of-living, the gap is 11.1% — not 11.9%.

Nominal pay gap
+11.9%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
+11.1%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

California

Data Scientists

Median
$141,590
p25
$103,360
p75
$186,820
p10
$77,480
p90
$224,920
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
110.7
Hiring velocity (180d)
-39%
See full breakdown for California

District of Columbia

Data Scientists

Median
$126,490
p25
$105,320
p75
$174,650
p10
$89,750
p90
$209,730
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
109.9
Hiring velocity (180d)
-62%
See full breakdown for District of Columbia

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.