Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Virginia is $126,430/year ($60.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $133,379 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $126K get you in Virginia?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Data scientists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $126K locally vs. $120K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 21.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $131K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $150K | +18% | N/A |
| Winchester | $130K | +3% | 60 |
| Richmond | $123K | -3% | 1,050 |
| Roanoke | $106K | -16% | N/A |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $100K | -21% | 770 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $89K | -30% | 60 |
| Harrisonburg | $80K | -37% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 21.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,585/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $126K locally vs. $120K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for data scientists?
Virginia pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Virginia?
The median is $126,430 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,420, and experienced data scientists can clear $207,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,535/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 21.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a data scientists salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median data scientists salary is worth about $133,379 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do data scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.