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Occupation · SOC 15-2051

Data Scientists

There are 262,440 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $120,230 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Computer & MathTypical education: Bachelor's degree
262,440
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$120,230
Median pay a year
Middle half: $85,660–$158,880
24,800
Annual openings
10-year change: +34.6%
32,451
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+29.6% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 288 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $135,980 · LCA filings 4,99123,160$135,9804,991
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $170,110 · LCA filings 2,54610,460$170,1102,546
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $127,750 · LCA filings 3,35510,120$127,7503,355
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $129,740 · LCA filings 1,0179,850$129,7401,017
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $132,200 · LCA filings 1,4119,260$132,2001,411
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $164,740 · LCA filings 3,1948,370$164,7403,194
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $107,640 · LCA filings 1,6517,940$107,6401,651
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $132,040 · LCA filings 1,4527,930$132,0401,452
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $108,940 · LCA filings 1,2146,820$108,9401,214
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $109,910 · LCA filings 8326,480$109,910832

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 6,060 · LCA filings 2,988$185,0806,0602,988
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 10,460 · LCA filings 2,546$170,11010,4602,546
Idaho Falls, IDEmployment 230 · LCA filings 0$167,8402300
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 8,370 · LCA filings 3,194$164,7408,3703,194
Kennewick–Richland, WAEmployment 150 · LCA filings 14$156,83015014

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 1,889 · Employment 23,1604,9911,88923,160
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXEmployers with LCA filings 1,514 · Employment 10,1203,3551,51410,120
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployers with LCA filings 562 · Employment 8,3703,1945628,370
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 609 · Employment 6,0602,9886096,060
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 835 · Employment 10,4602,54683510,460

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $115,835 · Level III $144,414 · Level IV $172,994$87,256$115,835$144,414$172,994
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $142,438 · Level III $174,512 · Level IV $206,565$110,386$142,438$174,512$206,565
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $99,299 · Level III $122,907 · Level IV $146,515$75,691$99,299$122,907$146,515
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $106,995 · Level III $136,406 · Level IV $165,818$77,584$106,995$136,406$165,818
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $118,040 · Level III $143,250 · Level IV $168,459$92,830$118,040$143,250$168,459
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $127,026 · Level III $160,118 · Level IV $193,232$93,912$127,026$160,118$193,232
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $97,490 · Level III $118,664 · Level IV $139,818$76,336$97,490$118,664$139,818
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $112,861 · Level III $136,781 · Level IV $160,722$88,920$112,861$136,781$160,722
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $98,946 · Level III $120,037 · Level IV $141,107$77,875$98,946$120,037$141,107
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $98,134 · Level III $121,410 · Level IV $144,685$74,859$98,134$121,410$144,685
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $168,917 · Level III $212,326 · Level IV $255,757$125,486$168,917$212,326$255,757

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Data ScienceCIP 30.70Varies by program4,588Varies by program
StatisticsCIP 27.05STEM OPT · up to 36 months3,695STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Computer ScienceCIP 11.07STEM OPT · up to 36 months27,204STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Data AnalyticsCIP 30.71STEM OPT · up to 36 months8,130STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Data Scientists in every metro area

All 288 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

Find jobs on Where They Hire

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology