Best cities for a Data Scientist
The best cities for data scientists are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for data scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for data scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a data scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for data scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for data scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a data scientist. While the absolute best city for data scientists is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for data scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a Data Scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for Data scientists In 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Data Scientist Jobs in San FranciscoTotal Data Scientist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $129,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 18.61 2. San Jose, CA
Data Scientist Jobs in San JoseTotal Data Scientist jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $128,959 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 7.22 3. Seattle, WA
Data Scientist Jobs in SeattleTotal Data Scientist jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $112,311 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 12.03 4. Oakland, CA
Data Scientist Jobs in OaklandTotal Data Scientist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $129,657 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 3.24 5. Fremont, CA
Data Scientist Jobs in FremontTotal Data Scientist jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $129,244 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 2.75 6. Chandler, AZ
Data Scientist Jobs in ChandlerTotal Data Scientist jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $89,338 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 3.90 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Data Scientist Jobs in PittsburghTotal Data Scientist jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $83,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 4.22 8. Los Angeles, CA
Data Scientist Jobs in Los AngelesTotal Data Scientist jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $117,736 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 2.86 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Data Scientist Jobs in ScottsdaleTotal Data Scientist jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $89,917 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 3.09 10. Austin, TX
Data Scientist Jobs in AustinTotal Data Scientist jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $85,437 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 5.32
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Best cities for data scientists
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Austin, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for a Data Scientist
Rank  | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $129,854 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 52 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $128,959 | $91,000 | 1,025,350 | 91 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $112,311 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 169 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $129,657 | $91,000 | 420,005 | 52 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $129,244 | $91,000 | 233,136 | 93 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $89,338 | $63,000 | 247,477 | 65 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $83,364 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 214 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $117,736 | $82,000 | 3,976,322 | 155 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $89,917 | $63,000 | 246,645 | 54 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $85,437 | $61,000 | 947,890 | 85 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $128,969 | $91,000 | 495,234 | 69 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $111,060 | $78,000 | 1,406,630 | 39 |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $80,455 | $59,000 | 660,388 | 144 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $84,200 | $61,000 | 385,809 | 68 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $82,117 | $60,000 | 860,090 | 204 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $99,006 | $71,000 | 8,537,673 | 254 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $94,169 | $68,000 | 673,184 | 84 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,886 | $62,000 | 1,567,872 | 200 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $82,798 | $60,000 | 458,880 | 167 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $81,806 | $59,000 | 672,795 | 107 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,707 | $59,000 | 298,800 | 99 |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $115,109 | $81,000 | 266,122 | 97 |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $82,748 | $60,000 | 263,016 | 93 |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $96,572 | $67,000 | 632,912 | 59 |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $81,796 | $59,000 | 286,057 | 17 |
| 26 | Madison, WI | $79,710 | $59,000 | 252,551 | 113 |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,897 | $63,000 | 1,615,017 | 186 |
| 28 | Chicago, IL | $83,084 | $61,000 | 2,704,958 | 182 |
| 29 | Henderson, NV | $95,945 | $67,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $116,108 | $81,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $84,972 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 128 |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $85,599 | $61,000 | 1,492,510 | 75 |
| 33 | Arlington, TX | $82,728 | $60,000 | 392,772 | 20 |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $82,364 | $59,000 | 238,289 | 170 |
| 35 | Santa Ana, CA | $115,542 | $81,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $96,441 | $67,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $82,404 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 253 |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $90,513 | $65,000 | 264,152 | 196 |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $90,478 | $65,000 | 281,764 | 70 |
| 40 | Atlanta, GA | $78,389 | $57,000 | 472,522 | 162 |
| 41 | Stockton, CA | $128,920 | $91,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $99,293 | $70,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 43 | Gilbert, AZ | $89,288 | $63,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 44 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,834 | $86,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 45 | Saint Paul, MN | $82,835 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 90 |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $78,522 | $58,000 | 311,404 | 178 |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $89,907 | $63,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $89,397 | $63,000 | 484,587 | 6 |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $84,804 | $61,000 | 252,506 | 8 |
| 50 | Greensboro, NC | $82,140 | $60,000 | 287,027 | 21 |
Highest paying cities for data scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. Data Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $129,871 |
| 2 | Redmond, WA | $112,336 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $99,006 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $94,169 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $90,513 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,897 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $89,632 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $88,948 |
| 9 | Hillsboro, OR | $88,069 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $86,787 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $86,108 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,886 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $85,437 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $83,084 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,821 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $82,798 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $82,117 |
| 18 | Dearborn, MI | $81,703 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $80,120 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $79,710 |
Data Scientist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025