AI Data Scientist.
Omaha.
$96,000
median salary, 15% below the national average
$67,000 to $138,000. Last updated July 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating an AI Data Scientist offer in Omaha, NE, here is the reality: $67,000 to $138,000, with $96,000 as the midpoint. 15% below the national average. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $87,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$62,000
to $77,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$82,000
to $101,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$106,000
to $125,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$120,000
to $149,000
Salary trend.
+10% YoYTotal compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $46,000 to the total package.
Base
$96,000
Equity
$28,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$6,000
Estimated total: $142,000
How Omaha compares.
Omaha, NE
$96,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$113,000
Omaha is $17,000 below
AI Data Scientist salary by city.
Salary by role in Omaha.
What you should know.
The AI Data Scientist landscape in Omaha is not what most salary sites will tell you. Omaha punches above its weight with Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, and a strong financial services cluster. The city has a growing tech scene and is home to several Fortune 500 companies. Very affordable living costs combined with corporate headquarters salaries create exceptional purchasing power. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Industry sector matters significantly, with finance and healthcare paying 15 to 25% above retail or media. Proficiency in both Python and cloud ML platforms like SageMaker or Vertex AI is increasingly expected and adds 10 to 15% to offers.
Junior AI data scientists earn $115,000 to $135,000 with a master's degree. Mid-level scientists with 3 to 5 years reach $152,000 to $198,000. Senior data scientists earn $200,000 to $260,000, while principal scientists and directors of data science can command $280,000 to $380,000. In Omaha, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 12% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at tech companies includes RSUs worth 15 to 30% of base salary and annual bonuses of 10 to 20%. Financial services firms substitute higher cash bonuses of 25 to 50% in lieu of equity, making total compensation comparable. And on the tax side: nebraska's top income tax rate is 5.84%. Omaha has no city income tax. The moderate rate is offset by some of the most affordable housing costs among major metros. When someone quotes you $96,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Fortune 500 headquarters pay scales. Omaha's corporate density means employers benchmark against national compensation data, not just regional rates. The range for AI Data Scientists in Omaha runs from $67,000 to $138,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL), state pay-transparency job postings, and community submissions. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Deep Learning Engineer in Omaha earns $98,000 (2% more)
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Common questions.
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