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Hourly Wage for Data Scientist II Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Data Scientist II?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Data Scientist II in the United States is $45, which translates to an annual salary of about $94,102.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $52 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41 to $49 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Data Scientist II Salaries

A Data Scientist II'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 Data Scientist II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Data Scientist II'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 Scientist I (0-2 years): $73,816
  • Data Scientist II (2-4 years): $94,102
  • Data Scientist III (4-7 years): $115,546
  • Data Scientist IV (7+ years): $131,665
  • Data Scientist V (7-10 years): $176,574
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Data Scientist I0-2 years$73,816
Data Scientist II2-4 years$94,102
Data Scientist III4-7 years$115,546
Data Scientist IV7+ years$131,665
Data Scientist V7-10 years$176,574

Top Paying Cities for Data Scientist IIs

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: $118,691
  • San Francisco: $117,391
  • Oakland: $114,917

What Skills Can Increase a Data Scientist II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.13% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 3.52% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Big Data (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): Big data is a field that treats ways to analyze, systematically extract information from, or otherwise deal with data sets that are too large or complex to be dealt with by traditional data-processing application software. Data with many cases (rows) offer greater statistical power, while data with higher complexity (more attributes or columns) may lead to a higher false discovery rate. Big data challenges include capturing data, data storage, data analysis, search, sharing, transfer, visualization, querying, updating, information privacy and data source. Big data was originally associated with three key concepts: volume, variety, and velocity. Other concepts later attributed to big data are veracity (i.e., how much noise is in the data) and value. Current usage of the term big data tends to refer to the use of predictive analytics, user behavior analytics, or certain other advanced data analytics methods that extract value from data, and seldom to a particular size of data set. "There is little doubt that the quantities of data now available are indeed large, but that's not the most relevant characteristic of this new data ecosystem." Analysis of data sets can find new correlations to "spot business trends, prevent diseases, combat crime and so on." Scientists, business executives, practitioners of medicine, advertising and governments alike regularly meet difficulties with large data-sets in areas including Internet searches, fintech, urban informatics, and business informatics. Scientists encounter limitations in e-Science work, including meteorology, genomics, connectomics, complex physics simulations, biology and environmental research.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.13%
Computer Science 3.52%
Big Data 1.52%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Data Scientist II's salary.

  • Molecular Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Inference: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Molecular Biology $102,571
9%
Inference $97,866
4%
Project Management $97,866
4%

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

Data Scientist II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $105,055. While startup companies pay approximate $88,955.

Data Scientist II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $88,955
Growth Stage 51~500 $94,059
Established 501~5000 $101,439
Enterprise 5000+ $105,055

Data Scientist II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Data Scientist II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Data Scientist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Scientist II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Data Scientist II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$112,922$54.020%
Biotechnology$108,217$52.015%
Financial Services$108,217$52.015%
Software & Networking$108,217$52.015%
Energy & Utilities$103,512$50.010%

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

Understanding how a Data Scientist II'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 October 01, 2026
$86,124
Average $94,102/year
$101,456
$7,177
Average $7,842/month
$8,455
$1,656
Average $1,810/week
$1,951
$41
Average $45/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,456 $8,455 $1,951 $49
Average $94,102 $7,842 $1,810 $45
25th Percentile $86,124 $7,177 $1,656 $41

Most common benefits for Data Scientist II

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

Common company salaries for Data Scientist II

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

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FAQ about Data Scientist II

1. What are the responsibilities of Data Scientist II?

Collects, analyzes, and interprets large data sets to identify trends, patterns, and provide key business insights. Performs data mining, cleaning, and aggregation processes to prepare data, implement data models, conduct analysis, and develop databases. Develops insights and reports from multiple structured and unstructured data sources using programming, statistical, and analytical techniques and tools. Maintains continuous collaboration with teams to understand the underlying purpose, focus, and objective of each data analysis project to ensure alignment and support. Designs, develops, and implements the most valuable data-driven solutions for the organization. May require a master's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Data Scientist II

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Computer Science: Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.

3.)

Big Data: Big data is a field that treats ways to analyze, systematically extract information from, or otherwise deal with data sets that are too large or complex to be dealt with by traditional data-processing application software. Data with many cases (rows) offer greater statistical power, while data with higher complexity (more attributes or columns) may lead to a higher false discovery rate. Big data challenges include capturing data, data storage, data analysis, search, sharing, transfer, visualization, querying, updating, information privacy and data source. Big data was originally associated with three key concepts: volume, variety, and velocity. Other concepts later attributed to big data are veracity (i.e., how much noise is in the data) and value. Current usage of the term big data tends to refer to the use of predictive analytics, user behavior analytics, or certain other advanced data analytics methods that extract value from data, and seldom to a particular size of data set. "There is little doubt that the quantities of data now available are indeed large, but that's not the most relevant characteristic of this new data ecosystem." Analysis of data sets can find new correlations to "spot business trends, prevent diseases, combat crime and so on." Scientists, business executives, practitioners of medicine, advertising and governments alike regularly meet difficulties with large data-sets in areas including Internet searches, fintech, urban informatics, and business informatics. Scientists encounter limitations in e-Science work, including meteorology, genomics, connectomics, complex physics simulations, biology and environmental research.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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