Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Principal Data Scientist in Virginia is $171,506 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $82.
However, a Senior Principal Data Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
Senior Principal Data Scientist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $181,049 | $15,087 | $3,482 | $87 |
| Average | $171,506 | $14,292 | $3,298 | $82 |
| 25th Percentile | $158,242 | $13,187 | $3,043 | $76 |
Mission Lane - Richmond, VA
Red Arch Solutions - Reston, VA
Watermark Risk Management International - Arlington, VA
Morgan Business Consulting, LLC - Arlington, VA
A Senior Principal 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Principal 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Data Scie... Level Senior Principal Data Scientist | $114,048 |
| Data Scie... Level Senior Principal Data Scientist | $129,963 |
| Senior Pr... Level Senior Principal Data Scientist | $174,270 |
| Data Scie... Level Senior Principal Data Scientist | $180,352 |
| Data Scie... Level Senior Principal Data Scientist | $116,310 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Senior Principal Data Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Senior Principal Data Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Senior Principal Data Scientist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Principal Data Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $257,259 | $124.0 | 50% |
Understanding how a Senior Principal 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $181,049 | $15,087 | $3,482 | $87 |
| Average | $171,506 | $14,292 | $3,298 | $82 |
| 25th Percentile | $158,242 | $13,187 | $3,043 | $76 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior Principal Data Scientist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Tripoint Solutions LLC
Arlington, VA
Tripoint Solutions LLC | Arlington, VA
Job Description. Job Description. About Company. About Tripoint Solutions. We are technology innovators, partnered with state-of-the-art providers, such as... more
1 Day Ago
Dev Technology
Ashburn, VA
Dev Technology | Ashburn, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Senior Data Scientist - Databricks Genie & AI Analytics #1087. Clearance. U.S. Citizenship is required. Current CBP/DHS c... more
1 Day Ago
Castellum, Inc.
Fort Belvoir, VA
Castellum, Inc. | Fort Belvoir, VA
Job Description. Job Description. JOB SUMMARY. GTMR, Inc. is seeking a Data Scientist to support advanced data analytics, machine learning development, and... more
2 Days Ago
GRVTY
Springfield, VA
GRVTY | Springfield, VA
Job Description. Job Description. What Impact You'll Have. We are seeking a Senior Data Scientist to support mission-driven analytic and modernization effo... more
2 Days Ago
Bow Wave LLC
Arlington, VA
Bow Wave LLC | Arlington, VA
Job Description. Job Description. 4+ years of experience in custom AI training (to include supervised and unsupervised) and Natural Language Processing (NL... more
3 Days Ago
BLN24
McLean, VA
BLN24 | McLean, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Senior Data Scientist — Data Quality & Statistical Methodology. Company. BLN24. About Us. We find strength in ... more
3 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
