AI Data Scientist.
Washington DC.
$138,000
median salary, 22% above the national average
$96,000 to $198,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Washington DC is 25% more expensive than the national average. For AI Data Scientists, that shakes out to a median of $138,000, with the full range spanning $96,000 to $198,000. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for AI Data Scientist in Washington DC, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $132,200 for Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, based on 9,260 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$85,250
25th percentile
$105,700
Median
$132,200
75th percentile
$172,960
90th percentile
$212,320
Workers surveyed
9,260
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) rather than AI Data Scientist specifically. The Washington DCrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $124,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$90,000
to $110,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$117,000
to $145,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$152,000
to $179,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$173,000
to $214,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $65,000 to the total package.
Base
$138,000
Equity
$40,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $203,000
How Washington DC compares.
Washington DC, DC
$138,000
Cost of living: 25% above average
National Average
$113,000
Washington DC is $25,000 above
AI Data Scientist salary by city.
Salary by role in Washington DC.
What you should know.
The AI Data Scientist landscape in Washington DC is not what most salary sites will tell you. Washington DC's job market is shaped by the federal government, defense contractors, and a growing commercial tech sector. Cybersecurity, cloud computing, and consulting firms drive demand for cleared professionals. The region's stability, combined with high government pay scales, creates a salary floor that pulls private sector compensation upward. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Industry sector matters significantly, with finance and healthcare paying 15 to 25% above retail or media. Proficiency in both Python and cloud ML platforms like SageMaker or Vertex AI is increasingly expected and adds 10 to 15% to offers.
Junior AI data scientists earn $115,000 to $135,000 with a master's degree. Mid-level scientists with 3 to 5 years reach $152,000 to $198,000. Senior data scientists earn $200,000 to $260,000, while principal scientists and directors of data science can command $280,000 to $380,000. In Washington DC, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 25% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at tech companies includes RSUs worth 15 to 30% of base salary and annual bonuses of 10 to 20%. Financial services firms substitute higher cash bonuses of 25 to 50% in lieu of equity, making total compensation comparable. And on the tax side: dC income tax rates reach 10.75% for high earners. Maryland and Virginia residents working in DC face their own state taxes. Choose your residence jurisdiction carefully to optimize net pay. When someone quotes you $138,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: A security clearance is your strongest negotiation asset. Cleared professionals in DC command 20 to 30% premiums, and transferring your clearance to a new employer saves them significant time and cost. The range for AI Data Scientists in Washington DC runs from $96,000 to $198,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A UX Designer in Washington DC earns $137,000 (1% less)
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- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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