Defense Data Scientist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$137,000
national median salary
$106,000 to $177,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$185,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$143,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$104,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-2051. Full methodology.
The average Defense Data Scientist salary in the United States is $137,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $106,000 at the 25th percentile to $177,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $185,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Defense Data Scientist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Defense Data Scientist salary by city
Skills that increase Defense Data Scientist pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Defense Data Scientists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $19,180 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$19,180 per year
≈ +$17,810 per year
≈ +$16,440 per year
≈ +$15,070 per year
≈ +$13,700 per year
≈ +$13,700 per year
≈ +$13,700 per year
≈ +$12,330 per year
What you should know
Defense Data Scientist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 12% in a typical year. Within tech-sector Defense Data Scientists specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 67%+ variance across the compensation band.
Defense Data Scientists progress Research Engineer → Senior → Staff → Principal → Distinguished over 8 to 15 years. Frontier-AI labs compress this ladder — a strong PhD can land at L5/Senior directly. The VP Research track diverges around year 10 for those who choose to lead labs.
Total compensation for Defense Data Scientists runs roughly $153K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~12% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Defense Data Scientists typically earn $123,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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