Data Scientist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Data Scientist Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Data Scientists in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$145,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$95,395 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$82,415 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $145,000 | $158,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $110,000 | $120,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $188,000 | $205,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $235,000 | $258,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $95,395▲ | $84,492 | +$10,903 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $125,271 | $135,992▲ | -$10,721 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,415▲ | $72,723 | +$9,692 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 24,000 | -9,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $13,000 more (median: $145,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($95,395 vs $84,492 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% vs 6.85%).
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Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.