Texas data scientists earn an average of $119,710, which sits 5.6% below the national mean of $126,800. California and New York pay considerably more at $156,000 and $137,690 respectively, but Texas tracks closely with Florida ($119,150), Illinois ($117,870), and Georgia ($115,940). If your company operates across multiple states, you can use Texas as a reasonable benchmark when setting compensation bands for those comparable markets.
Data scientist salary in Texas (2026)
In this article
The average annual salary for a data scientist in Texas is $119,710. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $122,090 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 25,860 data scientists, and the $2,380 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior data scientists in Texas typically earn around $64,540, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $170,780 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a data scientist hire in Texas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $122,090 |
Average Annual Salary | $119,710 |
vs. National Average | 5.6% below the national mean of $126,800 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 25,860 employed data scientists across Texas.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next data scientist hire.
Data scientist salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $64,540 |
25th Percentile | $83,880 |
75th Percentile | $146,030 |
90th Percentile | $170,780 |
Employers hiring mid-level data scientists in Texas should expect offers in the $83,880 to $146,030 range, while roles requiring deep specialization will push toward $170,780 and beyond. The wide spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile signals that experience level and domain expertise drive meaningful differences in what candidates will expect.
Data scientist salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Austin | $126,830 |
Dallas | $123,150 |
Houston | $116,010 |
San Antonio | $109,640 |
El Paso | $101,780 |
Where you hire within Texas will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a data scientist role. Austin leads the state at $126,830 on average, while El Paso comes in at $101,780, a difference of $25,050 that can shift your offer range depending on where the role is based. Employers with remote or hybrid flexibility may find lower-cost markets like San Antonio or El Paso offer access to qualified candidates at more moderate salary expectations.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $119,710 | $122,090 |
California | $156,000 | $141,590 |
New York | $137,690 | $130,460 |
Florida | $119,150 | $115,820 |
Illinois | $117,870 | $106,560 |
Georgia | $115,940 | $104,340 |
Texas offers employers a cost-effective market for data scientist talent relative to California and New York, without sacrificing access to a large candidate pool. California's average of $156,000 runs $36,290 above Texas, and New York's average of $137,690 sits $17,980 higher, making Texas a more budget-friendly option for companies that can operate outside those coastal markets. Florida, Illinois, and Georgia track closely to Texas, so employers competing across those states will find compensation expectations largely comparable.
Frequently asked questions about data scientist salary in Texas
How does Texas compare to other states for data scientist salary?
What do the top-earning data scientists make in Texas?
Data scientists at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $170,780 per year. Senior specialists with deep domain expertise or leadership responsibilities are the candidates most likely to command offers at or above that level. Budget accordingly if the role you are filling requires advanced skills or significant experience.
What is the salary range for a data scientist in Texas?
The full salary range for data scientists in Texas runs from $64,540 at the 10th percentile to $170,780 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $83,880 at the 25th percentile and $146,030 at the 75th percentile, which is the range most employers will be working within. Use the seniority and specialization of your specific role to determine where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average data scientist salary in Texas?
The average data scientist salary in Texas is $119,710 per year, though the median of $122,090 is a more reliable benchmark for most hiring decisions. The gap between those two figures reflects a small number of very high earners pulling the average slightly below the median. For budgeting purposes, anchoring to the median will give you a more accurate picture of what most candidates in the Texas market expect.
Data Scientist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-2051 (Data Scientists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Aug 24, 2026
|
2 min
Data scientist salary in California (2026)
California data scientists earn a median $141,590 and up to $224,920. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and state to benchmark your next hire.
Aug 24, 2026
|
3 min
Data scientist salary in Florida (2026)
Florida data scientists earn $115,820 median annually. Compare salaries by city, seniority, and state to budget your next hire confidently.
Aug 24, 2026
|
3 min
Data scientist salary in New York (2026)
Find data scientist salaries in New York for 2026, from $73,330 to $214,080, with city breakdowns and state comparisons to sharpen your hiring budget.
Aug 25, 2026
|
2 min
Data scientist salary in Michigan (2026)
Michigan data scientists earn $100,590 (median) to $162,670 at the 90th percentile. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states.
Aug 17, 2026
|
4 min
Dental hygienist salary in Texas (2026)
Find 2026 dental hygienist salary data for Texas, including median pay of $99,240, city breakdowns, and percentile ranges to guide your next hire.
Jun 29, 2026
|
3 min
Paralegal salary in Texas (2026)
Texas paralegals earn $62,310 at the median. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Texas compares to other states for your 2026 hiring budget.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Texas (2026)
Find 2026 medical assistant salary data for Texas: $39,520 median, city-by-city pay ranges, and how Texas compares to other states.
Aug 21, 2025
|
10 min
Do business credit cards affect your personal credit score?
Does a business credit card affect your personal credit? Learn how it impacts scores, when it happens, and how to protect your credit while growing your business.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.