Junior Data Scientist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$101,000
national median salary
$79,000 to $132,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$142,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$106,000
Detroit, MI
Lowest Paying
$78,000
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 Junior Data Scientist salary in the United States is $101,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $79,000 at the 25th percentile to $132,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $142,000, while Detroit offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Junior Data Scientist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Junior Data Scientist salary by city
Skills that increase Junior Data Scientist pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Junior Data Scientists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,140 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,140 per year
≈ +$13,130 per year
≈ +$12,120 per year
≈ +$11,110 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$9,090 per year
What you should know
Junior 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 Junior Data Scientists specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 67%+ variance across the compensation band.
Junior 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. Junior Data Scientists specifically are entry-level; the first 2 to 3 years build foundational skills before the mid-level transition.
Total compensation for Junior Data Scientists runs roughly $113K 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 Junior Data Scientists typically earn $91,000 (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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