Director of Data Science Salary.
Across 83 U.S. cities.
$215,000
national median salary
$165,000 to $280,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$303,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$224,000
Los Angeles, CA
Lowest Paying
$161,000
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.
The average Director of Data Science salary in the United States is $215,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $165,000 at the 25th percentile to $280,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $303,000, while Los Angeles offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors.
Director of Data Science salary by city
Skills that increase Director of Data Science pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Director of Data Sciences based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $30,100 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$30,100 per year
≈ +$27,950 per year
≈ +$25,800 per year
≈ +$23,650 per year
≈ +$23,650 per year
≈ +$21,500 per year
≈ +$21,500 per year
≈ +$19,350 per year
What you should know
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.
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.