How does company size affect Director of Data Science pay in Philadelphia?

Large enterprises in Philadelphia pay Director of Data Sciences 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $180,000 to $305,000 spans both.

What does total compensation look like for a Director of Data Science in Philadelphia?

Equity grants at tech companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. Base salaries in Philadelphia range from $180,000 to $305,000.

Director of Data Science.

Q: What is the average Director of Data Science salary in Philadelphia?

The average Director of Data Science salary in Philadelphia, PA is $234,000 in 2026. The 25th percentile is $180,000 and the 75th percentile is $305,000.

Philadelphia.

$234,000

median salary, 9% above the national average

$180,000 to $305,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

If you are evaluating a Director of Data Science offer in Philadelphia, PA, here is the reality: $180,000 to $305,000, with $234,000 as the midpoint. 9% above the national average. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$180,000

per year

Median

$234,000

per year

75th Percentile

$305,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$180,000$305,000

How Philadelphia compares

Philadelphia, PA

$234,000

Cost of living: 9% above average

National Average

$215,000

Philadelphia is $19,000 above

What you should know

Here is what the Director of Data Science market actually looks like in Philadelphia. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. 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 Philadelphia, 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: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $234,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Director of Data Sciences in Philadelphia runs from $180,000 to $305,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Philadelphia

Healthcare & PharmaFinancial ServicesHigher EducationTechnologyManufacturing

Negotiating in Philadelphia

Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.

Common questions.

Directors overseeing ML engineering and model deployment teams earn 15 to 25% more than those leading business analytics or BI teams. ML engineering requires managing complex infrastructure, production model serving, and specialized talent that commands higher individual salaries, increasing the director's scope and compensation.

Directors of data science typically manage teams that build predictive models and ML systems, commanding higher pay. Directors of analytics focus on dashboards, reporting, and business insights. The data science role earns 10 to 20% more due to the technical complexity and specialized talent management required.

In 2026, the average Director of Data Science salary in Philadelphia, PA is $234,000. The 25th percentile sits at $180,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $305,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

In Philadelphia, large enterprises typically pay Director of Data Sciences 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Equity grants at tech companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. The $180,000 to $305,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

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. In Philadelphia's market, the base range of $180,000 to $305,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

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. In Philadelphia, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $180,000 to the 75th percentile of $305,000 or beyond.