State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs Virginia
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In Virginia, $126,430. After cost-of-living, the gap is 2.3% — not 12%.
Nominal pay gap
+12%
California vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+2.3%
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%
Virginia
Data Scientists
- Median
- $126,430
- p25
- $97,390
- p75
- $165,610
- p10
- $76,420
- p90
- $207,890
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -53%
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.