Lead Fraud Data Scientist.
Lexington.
$153,000
median salary, 16% below the national average
$120,000 to $200,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A Lead Fraud Data Scientist in Lexington earns a median of $153,000 in 2026. That is 16% below the national average. The range runs from $120,000 to $200,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Lead Fraud Data Scientist compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $138,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$99,000
to $122,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$130,000
to $161,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$168,000
to $199,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$191,000
to $237,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $45,000 to the total package.
Base
$153,000
Equity
$26,000
Bonus
$16,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $198,000
How Lexington compares
Lexington, KY
$153,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$182,000
Lexington is $29,000 below
Lead Fraud Data Scientist salary by city
Salary by role in Lexington
What you should know
The Lead Fraud Data Scientist landscape in Lexington is not what most salary sites will tell you. Lexington is Kentucky's second largest city with an economy driven by the University of Kentucky, healthcare, and the equine industry. A growing tech startup scene and affordable cost of living are attracting remote workers. The bourbon and manufacturing sectors also contribute to the local economy. Lead Fraud 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 Lead Fraud Data Scientists specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 67%+ variance across the compensation band.
Lead Fraud 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. For Lead Fraud Data Scientists specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. In Lexington, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation for Lead Fraud Data Scientists runs roughly $204K 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. And on the tax side: kentucky has a flat 4% state income tax. Lexington has an occupational tax of about 2.25%. The combined rate is moderate and the very affordable housing stretches salaries further. When someone quotes you $153,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UK Health and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries in Lexington. The range for Lead Fraud Data Scientists in Lexington runs from $120,000 to $200,000. 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 NLP Engineer in Lexington earns $152,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Lexington is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $307,000
Common questions.
Lead Fraud Data Scientist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Lexington
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Lead Fraud Data Scientists in Lexington.
Related tools
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget , one script tag, free forever.
Related tools