Richmond · Occupational wage benchmark
Data Scientists Salary in Richmond
What Data Scientists actually earn in the Richmond metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Richmond, VA metro estimates for SOC 15-2051; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $122,510
- Data Scientists in Richmond
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $125,192
- Richmond price level 97.9 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #18 of 46
- #7 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 1,050
- in metro Richmond
What Data Scientists earn in Richmond, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Richmond moves up 11 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $185,080 | $167,610 |
| San Francisco | $170,110 | $147,137 |
| Seattle | $164,740 | $148,237 |
| New York | $135,980 | $120,803 |
| Baltimore | $134,320 | $128,552 |
| Charlotte | $132,460 | $136,069 |
| Washington DC | $132,200 | $121,414 |
| Boston | $132,040 | $121,959 |
| San Diego | $130,990 | $117,073 |
| Minneapolis | $129,780 | $123,810 |
| Los Angeles | $129,740 | $114,242 |
| Portland | $129,600 | $122,936 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $127,750 | $123,921 |
| Miami | $127,450 | $111,646 |
| Austin | $127,360 | $129,872 |
| Hartford | $126,340 | $122,963 |
| Jacksonville | $122,680 | $123,316 |
| Richmond | $122,510 | $125,192 |
| Raleigh | $120,710 | $122,976 |
| Salt Lake City | $114,990 | $114,000 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Data Scientists
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,240 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $85,660 | |
| Median (50th) | $120,230 | |
| 75th percentile | $158,880 | |
| 90th percentile | $199,130 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Richmond
How to read the Richmond number
The $122,510 median means half of Data Scientists in the Richmond area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 1,050 people in this role in the Richmond area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Data Scientists nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Data Scientists make in Richmond?
Data Scientists in the Richmond metro area earn a median of $122,510 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +1.9% vs national, ranking Richmond #18 of 46 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $122,510 a good salary in Richmond?
It depends on local prices. The Richmond area price level is 97.9 against a U.S. average of 100, so $122,510 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $125,192 nationally — about $2,682 more than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Richmond moves up 11 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Data Scientists in Richmond need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Data Scientists is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Richmond would not be supported by this data.
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Every figure on SalaryMBA is source-labeled. See our methodology for how we source and gate data.