Data Science Rates Calculator
Data Science Hourly Rate Distribution
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How Much Do Data Scientists Charge?
Data scientists aren’t just coders — they’re the reason you get actionable insights, machine learning predictions, and a fighting chance against the competition. But in this market, real data expertise comes at a price — and the rate bands say it all.
The Market Landscape: A Breakdown by Seniority
Middle-level data scientists mostly charge between $61–80/hr — this is your biggest segment by far. About one-third are still available at $41–60/hr, but that’s shrinking fast as the market matures. Above $80/hr, the options thin out — only a handful of mids make it into the $81–100/hr or $101/hr+ territory.
Senior data scientists step into higher price bands. Most are in the $61–100/hr range, split mainly between $61–80/hr and $81–100/hr, with a significant share at $101–120/hr. Below $60/hr, the market is almost empty; at $121/hr+, you’re looking at rare outliers or domain experts who can own your whole analytics stack.
Strong senior data scientists are concentrated at the top: the bulk charge $81–120/hr, with a majority leaning toward $101–120/hr. There are zero strong seniors below $80/hr. If you want a technical leader who can architect, deploy, and interpret complex models — expect to pay for it.
The Global Talent Map: Regional Variation
The USA is the clear powerhouse for data science talent at all levels. Canada is the next biggest source, with mids, seniors, and strong seniors present, but in much smaller numbers. Australia, Switzerland, South Korea, and Singapore offer a handful of data scientists across seniorities, mostly strong seniors or seniors.
Western Europe — UK, France, Germany, Austria, Norway — delivers specialists, but not at the same scale as North America. Central/Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Ukraine) supplies a modest pipeline, and the rest of the world (Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil) shows up in low numbers.
Bottom line: If you want serious data science muscle, you’ll pay USA/Canada rates, or you’ll fight for the small global pool. There are no bargains in this talent segment — just what you get for what you pay.