What is the entry level Director of Data Science salary in Seattle?

Entry level Director of Data Science positions in Seattle start near $205,000. Candidates with strong backgrounds negotiate toward $267,000.

What certifications help Director of Data Sciences earn more in Seattle?

Certifications add 5 to 15% to Director of Data Science salaries in Seattle. They help bridge the gap between the median of $267,000 and the 75th percentile of $347,000.

What is the career path for a Director of Data Science?

Senior data scientists earn $140,000 to $175,000. Seattle's COL multiplier amplifies compensation at senior levels.

Should I relocate to Seattle for a Director of Data Science role?

Seattle's cost of living is above the national average. Calculate take home pay after housing and taxes before relocating for a Director of Data Science role.

Director of Data Science.

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

The average Director of Data Science salary in Seattle, WA is $267,000 in 2026. The 25th percentile is $205,000 and the 75th percentile is $347,000.

Seattle.

$267,000

median salary, 24% above the national average

$205,000 to $347,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Seattle is 24% more expensive than the national average. For Director of Data Sciences, that shakes out to a median of $267,000, with the full range spanning $205,000 to $347,000. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors. Know the range before you walk in.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$205,000

per year

Median

$267,000

per year

75th Percentile

$347,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$205,000$347,000

How Seattle compares

Seattle, WA

$267,000

Cost of living: 24% above average

National Average

$215,000

Seattle is $52,000 above

What you should know

The Director of Data Science landscape in Seattle is not what most salary sites will tell you. Seattle is home to Amazon, Microsoft, and a dense cluster of cloud computing, gaming, and AI companies. The presence of major tech headquarters drives some of the highest engineering salaries outside the Bay Area. Seattle's job market is particularly strong for cloud infrastructure, machine learning, and enterprise software roles. 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 Seattle, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 24% above average, and employers adjust to compete.

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: washington State has no personal income tax, which significantly boosts take home pay. However, state and local sales taxes are among the highest in the country at roughly 10.25%. When someone quotes you $267,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Remind employers that no state income tax makes your effective compensation higher. You can accept a slightly lower gross salary and still take home more than in California. The range for Director of Data Sciences in Seattle runs from $205,000 to $347,000. 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 Seattle

Cloud ComputingE-CommerceAerospaceGamingArtificial Intelligence

Negotiating in Seattle

Remind employers that no state income tax makes your effective compensation higher. You can accept a slightly lower gross salary and still take home more than in California.

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 Seattle, WA is $267,000. The 25th percentile sits at $205,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $347,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

Entry level Director of Data Science positions in Seattle typically start near $205,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $267,000. Senior data scientists earn $140,000 to $175,000.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Director of Data Science's base salary in Seattle. Specifically, team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors. In a market where the range spans $205,000 to $347,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

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 Seattle, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Seattle's cost of living is 24% above the national average. Seattle is home to Amazon, Microsoft, and a dense cluster of cloud computing, gaming, and AI companies. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $267,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.