Source: https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/united-states/ Title: Data Scientist hourly rate in the United States | Deftridge Summary: Data Scientist pay in the United States: median wage $89 an hour, typical part-time contractor rate $130. The rate is on every task, before you apply. United States · **Updated November 3, 2026** # Data Scientist hourly rate in United States The market median wage for a Data Scientist in the United States is **$89.05 an hour**. A senior part-time contractor typically receives **$130 an hour** on Deftridge. **$130/hr** typical contractor rate, senior **$89.05/hr** median wage **$63-118** middle half of wages **$2,820** a month at 5 hours a week ## Data Scientist wage percentiles in United States Employee wages for the role. The yellow row is the median. | Percentile | Per hour | 5 h a week, per month | Full time, per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10th | $49.80 | $1,080 | $103,600 | | 25th | $63.44 | $1,370 | $132,000 | | Median | $89.05 | $1,930 | $185,200 | | 75th | $117.68 | $2,550 | $244,800 | | 90th | $147.49 | $3,200 | $306,800 | Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025; aged to October 2026; about 233,440 people employed in the role. [How rates are built](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/). ## United States in numbers What sets the United States apart for a Data Scientist, from the same sources as the table above. - **$126.62** highest median wage, California - **$56.97** lowest median wage, Mississippi - **233,440** people employed in the role - **$160.27** median wage in the San Jose metro area, the highest in the country - **$35** country floor: no United States rate is published below it - Self-employment tax is 15.3%: 12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare; the employer-equivalent half is deductible in working out adjusted gross income. [Source](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes) - For 2026 the first $184,500 of combined wages, tips and net self-employment earnings is subject to the Social Security part. [Source](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes) ## What contractors receive The Deftridge rate for a Data Scientist in the United States by level and by format. The company adds 15% on top; you keep all of the rate shown. | Level | Per hour | Per month at 5 h/week | | --- | --- | --- | | Senior | $130 | $2,820 | | Manager | $155 | $3,360 | | Director | $185 | $4,010 | - Regular role **$130** - One-off task **$145** - Task bundle **$135** - Expert hour **$170** ## Data Scientist pay by region in United States Typical contractor rate for a senior Data Scientist, highest first; 9 of 51 places shown. | Place | Median wage | Contractor rate | | --- | --- | --- | | California | $126.62 | $185 | | Washington | $124.81 | $180 | | District of Columbia | $112.51 | $165 | | New York | $103.61 | $150 | | Massachusetts | $103.09 | $150 | | Hawaii | $101.66 | $145 | | Virginia | $99.31 | $145 | | Vermont | $99.01 | $145 | | New Jersey | $97.35 | $140 | ## Highest-paying metro areas Median employee wage for the role in the metro area (BLS OEWS). - [San Jose $160.27/hr median wage · range $136-202](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [San Francisco $153.93/hr median wage · range $119-186](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [Idaho Falls $134.59/hr median wage · range $110-135](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/idaho/) - [El Centro $126.62/hr median wage · range $91-164](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [Hanford $126.62/hr median wage · range $91-164](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [Merced $126.62/hr median wage · range $91-164](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [Yuba City $126.62/hr median wage · range $91-164](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/california/) - [Kennewick $124.81/hr median wage · range $85-157](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/washington/) - [Longview $124.81/hr median wage · range $85-157](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/washington/) - [Mount Vernon $124.81/hr median wage · range $85-157](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/washington/) ## Questions about pay, fees and privacy The same rules apply to every task, so they live on two pages: [Pricing](https://deftridge.com/pricing/) explains the 15% fee, prepayment and when you are paid; [How it works](https://deftridge.com/how-it-works/) covers matching, what a company sees and side work next to a job. [Data Scientist rates in every country](https://deftridge.com/rates/data-scientist/) · [Data Scientist jobs in United States](https://deftridge.com/jobs/data-scientist/united-states/) · [Methodology](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/)