Is remote work affecting Director of Data Science salaries in Salt Lake City?

Remote work is compressing geographic salary premiums for Director of Data Sciences. Salt Lake City's range of $162,000 to $274,000 reflects both remote and in office positions.

Director of Data Science.

Q: What is the average Director of Data Science salary in Salt Lake City?

The average Director of Data Science salary in Salt Lake City, UT is $211,000 in 2026. The 25th percentile is $162,000 and the 75th percentile is $274,000.

Salt Lake City.

$211,000

median salary, 2% below the national average

$162,000 to $274,000. Updated for 2026.

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The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

The median Director of Data Science salary in Salt Lake City is $211,000, 2% below the national average. Entry level starts near $162,000. Experienced professionals push past $274,000. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. That spread is your negotiation window.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$162,000

per year

Median

$211,000

per year

75th Percentile

$274,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$162,000$274,000

How Salt Lake City compares

Salt Lake City, UT

$211,000

Cost of living: 2% below average

National Average

$215,000

Salt Lake City is $4,000 below

What you should know

If you are interviewing for Director of Data Science roles in Salt Lake City, here is what you are walking into. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. The region has attracted significant venture investment and tech relocations. Utah's business friendly environment, young educated workforce, and outdoor lifestyle make it a rising destination for tech professionals seeking affordability without sacrificing career growth. 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 Salt Lake City, 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: utah has a flat 4.65% state income tax. Salt Lake City imposes no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with affordable living costs results in strong net compensation. 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: Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent. The range for Director of Data Sciences in Salt Lake City 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.

Top industries in Salt Lake City

Technology & SaaSHealthcareFinancial ServicesOutdoor RecreationAerospace

Negotiating in Salt Lake City

Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent.

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.

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 Salt Lake City, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $162,000 to the 75th percentile of $274,000 or beyond.

In 2026, the average Director of Data Science salary in Salt Lake City, UT is $211,000. The 25th percentile sits at $162,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $274,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

Remote work has compressed geographic salary premiums for Director of Data Sciences. Some Salt Lake City employers offer location adjusted pay, while others maintain local rates to attract in office talent. In Salt Lake City's moderate cost market, remote and local salaries are converging. The $162,000 to $274,000 range reflects both arrangements.