Data Science Instructor Salary in the United States

How much does a Data Science Instructor make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Science Instructor in the United States is $116,002 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,451
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,737 to $128,276
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,481

Key Factors That Influence Data Science Instructor Salaries

A Data Science Instructor'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Data Science Instructor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Data Science Instructor'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $145,326
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,320
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,784
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $164,009
  • Expert (over 8 years): $204,865
Levels Salary
Internal ... Level Data Science Instructor$145,326
Internal ... Level Data Science Instructor$104,320
Data Scie... Level Data Science Instructor$116,784
Internal ... Level Data Science Instructor$164,009
Internal ... Level Data Science Instructor$204,865

How Do Data Science Instructor 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 Science Instructors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $128,437.
  • California: $127,950.
  • Massachusetts: $126,245.

Top Paying Cities for Data Science Instructors

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: $146,313
  • San Francisco: $144,711
  • Oakland: $141,662

What Skills Can Increase a Data Science Instructor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.95% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
  • Public Relations (Mentioned in 0.78% Job Postings): Public relations (PR) is the practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public. Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications. Public relations is the idea of creating coverage for clients for free, rather than marketing or advertising. But now, advertising is also a part of greater PR Activities. An example of good public relations would be generating an article featuring a client, rather than paying for the client to be advertised next to the article. The aim of public relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a positive or favorable view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. Public relations professionals typically work for PR and marketing firms, businesses and companies, government, and public officials as PIOs and nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Jobs central to public relations include account coordinator, account executive, account supervisor, and media relations manager.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.95%
Business Administration 1.67%
Public Relations 0.78%

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 Science Instructor's salary.

  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Zendesk: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Marketing $139,202
20%
Zendesk $122,962
6%
Influencing $121,802
5%

Data Science Instructor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Data Science Instructor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Data Science Instructor positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Science Instructor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Data Science Instructor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$145,002$70.025%
Construction$139,202$67.020%
Energy & Utilities$133,402$64.015%
Media$129,922$62.012%
Aerospace & Defense$127,602$61.010%

How Education impacts a Data Science Instructor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Data Science Instructors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Data Science Instructor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $121,878 and $131,183).

Data Science Instructor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Data Science Instructor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 2.7%
Associates 4.7%
Bachelors 58.7%
Masters 32.7%
Doctorate 1.3%

Data Science Instructor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Data Science Instructor'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
$104,737
Average $116,002/year
$128,276
$8,728
Average $9,667/month
$10,690
$2,014
Average $2,231/week
$2,467
$50
Average $56/hour
$62
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $128,276 $10,690 $2,467 $62
Average $116,002 $9,667 $2,231 $56
25th Percentile $104,737 $8,728 $2,014 $50

Most common benefits for Data Science Instructor

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

Common company salaries for Data Science Instructor

Here are companies hiring for Data Science Instructor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Data Science Instructor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Data Science Instructor?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Data Science Instructor roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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