Technology Houston, TX Pop. 2,304,580

Data Scientist Salary in Houston, Texas

The median data scientist salary in Houston, TX is $110,180 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median and 4.1% above the Texas state average.

City Median
$110,180
vs State Avg
+$4,320
vs National
+$2,160
Cost of Living
96%

Data Scientist Pay in Houston: What to Expect (2026)

Houston offers a median data scientist salary of $110,180, which is $4,320 above the Texas state average of $105,860. Compared to the national median of $108,020, Houston pays above average for this role.

Houston's cost of living is 96% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data scientists in Houston spans from $62,628 at the 10th percentile to $181,764 at the 90th percentile — a $119,136 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $73,440, while senior data scientists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $168,300. As a major metro area with a population of 2,304,580, Houston typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Scientist Salary in Houston by Experience

In Houston, an entry-level data scientist earns around $73,440, while experienced professionals earn up to $168,300 per year. The local cost of living index is 96% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$73,440
+$1,440 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$114,240
+$2,240 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$168,300
+$3,300 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Houston, TX

Percentile Houston
10th Percentile $62,628
25th Percentile $85,884
Median (50th) $110,180
75th Percentile $143,820
90th Percentile $181,764

Data Scientist Salary in Other Texas Cities

Austin, TX
$119,902
Pop. 978,908
Dallas, TX
$114,501
Pop. 1,304,379
Fort Worth, TX
$105,860
Pop. 918,915
San Antonio, TX
$101,539
Pop. 1,434,625

How to Become a Data Scientist in Houston

Education

Most data scientist positions require a bachelor's degree. Houston and the surrounding Texas area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization

Job Outlook

Nationally, data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Houston may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Scientist Jobs in Houston

Browse open data scientist positions in Houston, TX:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Scientist Salary in Houston

How much does a Data Scientist make in Houston, TX? ▼
The median data scientist salary in Houston, Texas is $110,180 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $62,628 (10th percentile) to $181,764 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Scientist make per hour in Houston? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $110,180, a data scientist in Houston earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Houston compare to the Texas state average for data scientist pay? ▼
Houston's median data scientist salary of $110,180 is 4.1% above the Texas state average of $105,860. The local cost of living index is 96% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Houston, TX? ▼
Houston has a cost of living index of 96% compared to the national average. This means a data scientist salary of $110,180 in Houston has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data scientist in Houston? ▼
Most data scientist positions in Houston require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning. The job market is projected to grow 35% nationally over the next decade.