Data Scientist Salary
in Pittsburgh
2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities
Last updated: September 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS · May 2025 release · series OEUM003830000000015205113
Typical range: $72,800 – $127,250
✓ Based on official government occupation survey data — not estimated.
How much does a Data Scientist make in Pittsburgh, PA?
A Data Scientist in Pittsburgh earns a median of $96,670/year (about $46/hour). Most earn between $72,800 (25th percentile) and $127,250 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $157,600 or more — 20% below the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.
Understanding these Data Scientist salary numbers
We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.
Median (P50) — $96,670
Half of Data Scientists in Pittsburgh earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.
25th percentile (P25) — $72,800
The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Data Scientists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.
75th percentile (P75) — $127,250
Your negotiation target: only 25% of Data Scientists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.
90th percentile (P90) — $157,600
Top earners: only 10% of Data Scientists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.
Gross vs after-tax pay
These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.
National vs Pittsburgh pay
City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so Pittsburgh differs from the US average by -20%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.
Hourly rate — $46/hr
The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.
Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale
Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.
How current and reliable is this number?
This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.
What counts as a "good" Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh?
Around the median ($96,670) is solid and $127,250+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for Pittsburgh.
Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.
Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh, PA: median $96,670 (P75 $127,250), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.
Free JSON: /api/salary?job=data-scientist&city=pittsburgh — no key. API & widgets →
Key insights for Data Scientists in Pittsburgh
- ›Data Scientists in Pittsburgh earn about 20% less than the national median for the role ($97K vs $120K).
- ›Cost of living in Pittsburgh runs about 8% below the US average, so $97K is worth roughly $105K at national prices.
- ›After a simplified take-home estimate, $97K nets about $72K/yr — roughly $41K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
- ›Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Data Scientist reaches about $143K — a +48% step from mid-level.
Data Scientists in Pittsburgh typically earn $73K–$127K a year.
The market median is $97K — half earn above, half earn below.
Top earners (top 10%) make $158K or more.
Based on BLS OEWS 2025 metro-area survey (2026) official survey data.
Data Scientist Salary Analysis — Pittsburgh
Data Scientists in Pittsburgh earn a median salary of $97K, which is 20% below the national median of $120K. Pittsburgh's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Pittsburgh.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Pittsburgh's cost of living is 8% below the US average. Your $97K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $105K in a city with average US living costs.
Salary Distribution — Pittsburgh
5-band distribution from employer payroll records
New graduates, 0–1 yr exp
1–3 years experience
3–7 years, typical professional
Senior / high-performer — target
Staff / principal / lead
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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™
Is $97K a good salary for Data Scientist in Pittsburgh?
Benchmarked against the official BLS wage distribution for Data Scientists in Pittsburgh
Half of Data Scientists in Pittsburgh earn more, half earn less. Enter your own salary in the checker above to see your exact percentile against this distribution.
Why This Salary?
How we arrived at $97K for Data Scientists in Pittsburgh
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 metro-area survey. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.
Data Scientist Salary by Experience Level in Pittsburgh
How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead
| Experience Level | Years | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 | 0 yrs | $65,736 | $5,478 | $32 |
| Junior | 2 | 2 yrs | $81,203 | $6,767 | $39 |
| Mid-LevelTypical | 4 | 4 yrs | $91,514 | $7,626 | $44 |
| Senior | 6 | 6 yrs | $105,950 | $8,829 | $51 |
| Staff | 10 | 10 yrs | $143,072 | $11,923 | $69 |
| Principal | 14 | 14 yrs | $179,420 | $14,952 | $86 |
| Distinguished | 18 | 18 yrs | $188,507 | $15,709 | $91 |
Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.
Skills That Earn More — Data Scientist
Estimated premium above the Pittsburgh median based on market demand
Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.
Data Scientist Intelligence Report
Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data
Career Opportunity Score
Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4
Total Compensation — Data Scientist
Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits
Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.
Typical Benefits for Data Scientists
— show
Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay
Compare Data Scientist Salaries by City
How Pittsburgh, PA stacks up against other major markets
| City | Median | P75 | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA (current) | $96,670 | $127,250+ | -20% |
| New York, NY | $135,980 | $173,160+ | +13% |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $212,970+ | +41% |
| Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $210,370+ | +37% |
| Austin, TX | $127,360 | $161,560+ | +6% |
| Boston, MA | $132,040 | $166,120+ | +10% |
| Chicago, IL | $107,640 | $138,210+ | -10% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $129,740 | $168,420+ | +8% |
| Denver, CO | $112,520 | $147,950+ | -6% |
Official Salary Career GPS™
What should I do next as a Data Scientist?
Master's or PhD in Statistics, Math, CS, or related field · Ranked by income potential
Other Technology Jobs in Pittsburgh
Same industry, same city
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh, PA?
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), data scientists in the Pittsburgh metro area earn a median of $96,670 per year (BLS series OEUM003830000000015205113). The top 25% earn $127K+ per year.
What is a good Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh, PA?
The 75th percentile ($127K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($97K) is above-average for this role in Pittsburgh, PA.
How much does a Data Scientist earn per hour in Pittsburgh, PA?
Based on the median annual salary of $97K, a Data Scientist in Pittsburgh, PA earns approximately $46/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$61/hr.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good market for Data Scientists?
Pittsburgh, PA pays 20% below the US national average for this role. BLS projects 36% employment growth for Data Scientists over 2022–2032, and AI automation risk is rated moderate for this occupation.
How do I negotiate a higher Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh, PA?
Cite the BLS P75 figure ($127K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.
What is the entry-level Data Scientist salary in Pittsburgh, PA?
Entry-level Data Scientists in Pittsburgh, PA (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $61K–$73K per year, rising toward the $97K median with experience and in-demand skills.
What does a senior Data Scientist earn in Pittsburgh, PA?
Senior Data Scientists in Pittsburgh, PA — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $127K–$158K per year, with the top 10% making $158K+.
How Is This Salary Calculated?
Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.
Where does the salary data come from?
US metro figures are published estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, which covers roughly 1.1 million employer establishments. Where BLS does not publish a figure for an occupation and area, this site shows a modeled estimate and labels it as one.
How is the Pittsburgh figure calculated?
The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Pittsburgh, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.
What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?
These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.
How is take-home pay estimated?
Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.
How often is data updated?
US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.
Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.
What a Data Scientist salary really means in Pittsburgh
Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $96,670 median.
Estimated take-home
≈ $6,347/month net
- Gross median
- $96,670
- Income tax
- −$13,108
- Social / FICA
- −$7,395
- Effective rate
- 21%
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.
Rent affordability
of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,084/mo)
The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$2,580/mo), roughly $3,767/mo is left to save or invest.
Cost-of-living estimate for Pittsburgh; rent ≈ 42% of budget.
Remote vs onsite
typical fully-remote benchmark range
Onsite Data Scientists in Pittsburgh earn the local median of $96,670. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($120,230) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.
Compare all Data Scientist markets →How to reach the top 25% as a Data Scientist in Pittsburgh
The gap between a typical Data Scientist and the top quartile in Pittsburgh is $30,580/year — about $2,548/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($127,250) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise. Pay for this role has grown about 3.8% per year, so the target keeps moving up.
Data Scientist Salary Trend (2019–2024)
BLS OES historical national medians
Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.
Education Premium — Data Scientist
How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data
Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.
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Data Scientist in Other Cities
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Data Source & Attribution
This page’s figures are published estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey , May 2025 release, series OEUM003830000000015205113. Verify them directly at bls.gov/oes. International figures draw on OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, and ILO ILOSTAT.