Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Data Scientist II Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Scientist II in the United States is $90,325 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,845
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,656 to $97,402
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,674
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $73,822
  • Data Scientist II (2-4 years): $90,325
  • Data Scientist III (4-7 years): $115,543
  • Data Scientist IV (7+ years): $131,667
  • Data Scientist V (7-10 years): $176,554
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Data Scientist I0-2 years$73,822
Data Scientist II2-4 years$90,325
Data Scientist III4-7 years$115,543
Data Scientist IV7+ years$131,667
Data Scientist V7-10 years$176,554
View as Graph

How Do Data Scientist IIs 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 Data Scientist IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $100,008.
  • California: $99,628.
  • Massachusetts: $98,301.

Top Paying Cities for Data Scientist II

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: $113,927
  • San Francisco: $112,680
  • Oakland: $110,305

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%
See More Skills

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 $98,454
9%
Inference $93,938
4%
Project Management $93,938
4%
Get Latest Data

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 $101,114. While startup companies pay approximate $85,540.

Data Scientist II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $85,540
Growth Stage 51~500 $90,468
Established 501~5000 $97,643
Enterprise 5000+ $101,114

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$108,390$52.020%
Biotechnology$103,874$50.015%
Financial Services$103,874$50.015%
Software & Networking$103,874$50.015%
Energy & Utilities$99,358$48.010%

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 August 01, 2026
$82,656
Average $90,325/year
$97,402
$6,888
Average $7,527/month
$8,117
$1,590
Average $1,737/week
$1,873
$40
Average $43/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $97,402 $8,117 $1,873 $47
Average $90,325 $7,527 $1,737 $43
25th Percentile $82,656 $6,888 $1,590 $40

Data Scientist II Salary Growth & Career Path

Data Scientist II

Next Role

Advancement

For a Data Scientist II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Data Scientist III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $115,543 - a projected growth of 28% over your current level.

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.

Find Your Next Data Scientist II Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Data Scientist II job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Data Scientist II

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

A Data Scientist II'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 Data Scientist II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Data Scientist II is $113,927.

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

The highest pay for Data Scientist II is $103,845.

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

The lowest pay for Data Scientist II is $75,674.

4. 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.

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Data Scientist II roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job