State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs Washington
Data Scientists in Washington earn a median of $163,350. In California, $141,590. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.2% — not 13.3%.
Nominal pay gap
-13.3%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-16.2%
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%
Washington
Data Scientists
- Median
- $163,350
- p25
- $105,240
- p75
- $208,320
- p10
- $79,930
- p90
- $220,040
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -35%
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.