Director of Data Science.
Virginia Beach.
$211,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$162,000 to $274,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Director of Data Science in Virginia Beach earns a median of $211,000 in 2026. That is 2% below the national average. The range runs from $162,000 to $274,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $190,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$137,000
to $169,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$179,000
to $222,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$232,000
to $274,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$264,000
to $327,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $137,000 to the total package.
Base
$211,000
Equity
$74,000
Bonus
$46,000
Signing
$17,000
Estimated total: $348,000
How Virginia Beach compares
Virginia Beach, VA
$211,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$215,000
Virginia Beach is $4,000 below
Director of Data Science salary by city
Salary by role in Virginia Beach
What you should know
Here is what the Director of Data Science market actually looks like in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach anchors the Hampton Roads region with a strong military presence, growing cybersecurity sector, and expanding tech corridor. Naval Station Norfolk drives significant defense contractor employment. The lower cost of living compared to Northern Virginia attracts remote workers and military-to-civilian transitions. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors. Directors overseeing ML engineers alongside data scientists earn more than those managing analytics-only teams. Industry premiums are highest in fintech, adtech, and healthcare AI where model accuracy directly drives revenue.
Senior data scientists earn $140,000 to $175,000. Data science managers advance to $165,000 to $210,000. Directors start at $195,000 to $250,000. Senior directors overseeing multiple teams earn $245,000 to $300,000. VP of data science or CDO is the next step at $260,000 to $380,000. In Virginia Beach, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity grants at tech companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. Cash bonuses of 15 to 25% of base tied to model performance metrics and business impact are typical. Signing bonuses of $30,000 to $75,000 are common due to talent scarcity. And on the tax side: virginia's flat 5.75% state income tax applies. Virginia Beach has no city income tax. The moderate rate combined with lower housing costs than Northern Virginia creates good take home pay. When someone quotes you $211,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage military transition benefits. Hampton Roads employers value candidates with security clearances and military technical experience. The range for Director of Data Sciences in Virginia Beach runs from $162,000 to $274,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Hardware/Chip Design Engineer in Virginia Beach earns $210,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Virginia Beach is Distinguished Engineer at $336,000
Common questions.
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