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Chief Data Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Data Scientist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Data Scientist in the United States is $454,129 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $218.

However, a Chief Data Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $495,158
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $429,392 to $475,605
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $406,870
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Data Scientist Salaries

A Chief Data Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief Data Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Data Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Data Science Senior Manager (5+ years): $194,318
  • Data Science Director (5+ years): $237,137
  • VP of Data Science (5+ years): $308,832
  • SVP of Data Science (5+ years): $390,280
  • Chief Data Scientist (5+ years): $454,129
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Data Science Senior Manager5+ years$194,318
Data Science Director5+ years$237,137
VP of Data Science5+ years$308,832
SVP of Data Science5+ years$390,280
Chief Data Scientist5+ years$454,129
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How Do Chief Data Scientists Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chief Data Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $502,812.
  • California: $500,904.
  • Massachusetts: $494,229.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Data Scientist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $572,793
  • San Francisco: $566,521
  • Oakland: $554,582

Chief Data Scientist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Data Scientist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $508,371. While startup companies pay approximate $430,070.

Chief Data Scientist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $430,070
Growth Stage 51~500 $454,850
Established 501~5000 $490,923
Enterprise 5000+ $508,371

Chief Data Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Data Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Chief Data Scientist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Data Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Data Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$554,037$266.022%
Energy & Utilities$522,248$251.015%
Insurance$508,624$245.012%
Chemicals$499,542$240.010%
Software & Networking$490,459$236.08%

Chief Data Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Data Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$429,392
Average $454,129/year
$475,605
$35,783
Average $37,844/month
$39,634
$8,258
Average $8,733/week
$9,146
$206
Average $218/hour
$229
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $475,605 $39,634 $9,146 $229
Average $454,129 $37,844 $8,733 $218
25th Percentile $429,392 $35,783 $8,258 $206

Most common benefits for Chief Data Scientist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief Data Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Chief Data Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief Data Scientist

1. Where can a Chief Data Scientist earn the most?

A Chief Data Scientist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief Data Scientist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief Data Scientist is $572,793.

2. What is the highest pay for Chief Data Scientist?

The highest pay for Chief Data Scientist is $495,158.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chief Data Scientist?

The lowest pay for Chief Data Scientist is $406,870.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chief Data Scientist?

Develops the vision, strategy, and resources to execute and support an organization's long-term, short-term, and mission-critical goals. Provides the organization with data insights, analytics, and tools to achieve business goals, foster innovation, and promote data-driven decision-making. Leads the design and implementation of big data solutions for an organization, ensuring technical specifications, requirements, and applications are effectively communicated and understood by stakeholders. Researches and adopts emerging technologies and methods to continuously improve analytic capabilities and enhance capacity to provide valuable results. Requires a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). C-Suite level management. Develops functional or business unit strategy for an organization. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve organizational goals. Defines vision, strategy, and focus for a major functional or business unit. Substantial experience with setting key metrics like KPIs or OKRs and shaping plans to meet objectives. Typically requires progressive leadership experience in senior management roles. Has expert level knowledge of the overall departmental function. Demonstrated experience in developing and executing long term business strategies.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Data Scientist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Data Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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