As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Principal Data Scientist in Houston, TX is $180,342, equivalent to $87 per hour, $3,468 weekly, or $15,029 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Principal Data Scientist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Principal Data Scientist in Houston, TX vary widely, spanning from $155,942 to $198,665. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($167,570) and 75th percentile ($189,933), while top earners (90th percentile) make $198,665 per year. This $22,363 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Computer Science, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Houston Principal Data Scientist often earn 2.1% lower than national averages. However, Houston currently ranks 360 statewide for Principal Data Scientist job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Principal Data Scientist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Principal Data Scientist Salary $155,942 Houston, TX July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Principal Data Scientist Salary $167,570 Houston, TX July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Principal Data Scientist Salary $180,342 Houston, TX July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Principal Data Scientist Salary $189,933 Houston, TX July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Principal Data Scientist Salary $198,665 Houston, TX July 01, 2026
25% $167,570 10% $155,942 90% $198,665 75% $189,933 $180,342 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Principal Data Scientist

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Job Openings for Principal Data Scientist in Houston, TX

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Data Scientist IV

    7 + years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  2. This Job:

    Principal Data Scientist

    10 + years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  3. Up a level:

    Data Scientist VI

    12 + years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Principal Data Scientist, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
167570
189933
180342

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
193747
243304
215871
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Principal Data Scientist in Houston, TX. The base salary for Principal Data Scientist ranges from $167,570 to $189,933 with the average base salary of $180,342. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $193,747 to $243,304 with the average total cash compensation of $215,871.
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167570
189933

 

About Houston, Texas    Houston is located 165 miles (266 km) east of Austin, 88 miles (142 km) west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles (400 km) south of Dallas. The city....More

Houston, Texas  area prices were up 2.3% from a year ago

Principal Data Scientist Salary in popular cities: San AntonioDallasAustin

Skills associated with Principal Data Scientist: Data Science, Design, Machine Learning, Modeling ...More

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