What the numbers say
The median Data Scientist in DC earned $137,120 in 2024, about 19% above the national median of $115,636. That premium is real, but the DC cost of living index sits at 117.7, which means the money buys less than the headline suggests. After accounting for what the dollar actually purchases here, the effective advantage over the national figure shrinks to something closer to 1%.
The spread across the pay range is worth a look. Entry-level Data Scientists at the 10th percentile earned $82,210. At the 75th percentile and above, wages topped $208,600. That is a wide gap, and it reflects how much experience, specialization, and the type of employer matter in this market. The federal government, defense contractors, and policy research organizations all hire Data Scientists here, and they pay differently from one another.
The mean wage of $148,170 runs about $11,000 above the median. A smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up. For most Data Scientists in DC, the median is the more useful reference point.
BLS projects this occupation to grow 33.5% nationally between 2024 and 2034, which it categorizes as much faster than average. DC's 3,580 estimated positions put it among the smaller state-level counts by headcount, though density relative to the overall workforce is high given the district's size.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $102,440 and $208,600, with a median of $137,120.
Data Scientists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 137 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $115,939. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 35 | $87,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 52 | $116,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 15 | $145,250 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 15 | $172,900 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa U.S.A. Inc. | Data Scientist | 13 | $116,500 |
| PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC | Senior Associate | 6 | $149,500 |
| Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | Senior Data Analyst | 5 | $92,612 |
| WP Company LLC | Senior Data Analyst | 4 | $121,120 |
| Inrika Inc | Business Analyst | 4 | $111,966 |
| McKinsey & Company, Inc. United States | Specialist, Data Science | 3 | $197,400 |
| Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Clinical Data Manager | 3 | $100,000 |
| Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C. | Senior Data Analyst | 3 | $83,000 |
| The Urban Institute | Data Scientist | 2 | $60,825 |
| Mindlance Inc. | Data Scientist | 2 | $137,156 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Associate at PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC$175,000WashingtonDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-484131
- Client Services Representative at Immitranslate, LLC$88,462WashingtonDecided Dec 16, 2025I-203-25343-468537
- Sr. Data Scientist at Visa U.S.A. Inc.$170,872WashingtonDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-461885
- Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services LLC$154,000WashingtonDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462372
- Sr. Director - Business Intelligence Analyst - US Immunology at Eli Lilly and Company$231,909WashingtonDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-447624
- SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT at BATES WHITE, LLC$220,560WASHINGTONDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25328-433435
- Data Scientist at The Urban Institute$52,000WashingtonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-397681
- Data Scientist at Mindlance Inc.$126,090WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-370890
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Data Scientists pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Data Scientists specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 69 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Scientist at a median of $116,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | Visa U.S.A. Inc. | 31 | $116,500 |
| Senior Data Analyst | Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | 16 | $97,836 |
| Data Engineer | Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 5 | $110,000 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | BIZCLOUD ANALYTICS, INC. | 4 | $113,339 |
| Business Systems Analyst | Optum Care, Inc. | 4 | $113,953 |
| Analyst II, Data Science | Liberty Mutual Group Inc. | 3 | $90,000 |
| Senior Machine Learning Engineer | Surgeon's Data Science Collective, Inc. | 3 | $180,000 |
| Business Analyst | Inrika Inc | 3 | $111,966 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 137 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $115,939.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | WP Company LLC | 42 | $115,939 |
| Professional services | PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC | 41 | $125,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Visa U.S.A. Inc. | 19 | $116,500 |
| Healthcare | Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | 13 | $89,357 |
| Manufacturing | Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 6 | $133,429 |
| Nonprofit and civic | The Urban Institute | 5 | $82,680 |
| Education | Data Leaf Buyer, LLC | 3 | $110,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Dell Marketing L.P. | 3 | $189,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Xylem Services USA LLC | 2 | $156,471 |
| Government and public sector | Inframark, LLC | 1 | $172,900 |
| Transportation and logistics | Federal Express Corporation | 1 | $138,798 |
| Real estate | Getaround Operations LLC | 1 | $100,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+33.5%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for data scientists in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$135,190
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in District of Columbia is $137,120.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The District of Columbia median is +18.6% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,210 and the 90th-percentile at $208,600, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Data Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 33.5% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Data Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.