Prevailing wage, wage year 2025-26
Data Scientists prevailing wage in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Short answer
For data scientists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage runs from $46.21 an hour at Level 1 ($96,117 a year) to $94.67 an hour at Level 4 ($196,914 a year), wage year 2025-26. The Level 2 wage of $62.36 ranks 5 of 530 areas and is 59% above the median area ($39.14).
Wage by level
| Wage level | Per hour | Per year | Per month | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $46.21 | $96,117 | $8,010 | $1,848 |
| Level 2 | $62.36 | $129,709 | $10,809 | $2,494 |
| Level 3 | $78.52 | $163,322 | $13,610 | $3,141 |
| Level 4 | $94.67 | $196,914 | $16,410 | $3,787 |
| Published average | $78.67 | $163,634 | $13,636 | $3,147 |
Annual = hourly x 2080 hours, the convention DOL uses. Weekly = hourly x 40. Gross pay before tax. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), prevailing wage data, wage year 2025-26.
Minimum bill rate calculator
Start from the prevailing wage for this area, add your payroll costs and a margin.
Minimum wage
$62.36/hr
Prevailing wage for data scientists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Cost with payroll costs
$67.13/hr
$62.36 plus 7.65%
Bill rate for the margin
$78.98/hr
Cost divided by 0.85
Assumes the consultant is paid the prevailing wage for every billed hour, with no bench pay or other costs. Real pay is usually above the minimum. General information, not legal advice.
How Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA compares
Across 530 areas, the Level 2 wage for data scientists has a median of $39.14 an hour. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is at $62.36, which is 59% above that median and ranks 5 of 530. Inside WA, it ranks 1 of 15 areas. The gap between Level 1 and Level 4 here is 105% ($48.46 an hour), so the level a job is filed at changes the minimum pay by about $100,797 a year.
Other WA areas for the same occupation
| Area | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $46.11 | $62.26 | $94.56 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46.01 | $62.12 | $94.33 |
| Yakima, WA | $43.32 | $58.70 | $89.47 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $43.19 | $58.46 | $88.99 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $43.05 | $58.36 | $88.97 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $43.97 | $57.85 | $85.60 |
Reading the four levels
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, moving a data scientists role from Level 1 to Level 2 adds $16.15 an hour (35%), from Level 2 to Level 3 adds $16.16 (26%), and from Level 3 to Level 4 adds $16.15 (21%). The biggest steps come at the senior end, so a role filed one level too low saves more on paper than it would at the entry end. At Level 1 the minimum is $8,010 a month gross; at Level 4 it is $16,410.
Areas with a Level 2 wage close to $62.36
These are the 6 areas anywhere in the country whose data scientists Level 2 wage is nearest to this one. Use them when a requirement could be worked from several places and you want the wage floor to stay about the same.
| Area | Level 2 per hour | Difference from here |
|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $62.26 | -$0.10 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $62.12 | -$0.24 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64.40 | +$2.04 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $64.90 | +$2.54 |
| Yakima, WA | $58.70 | -$3.66 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $58.46 | -$3.90 |
WA and this occupation
WA has 15 areas in the data. The state median Level 2 wage for data scientists is $57.39 an hour, and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is at or above it. The highest area in WA is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $62.36, and the lowest is Lewiston, ID-WA at $36.57.
Among IT occupations here
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, data scientists ranks 7 of 16 IT occupations by Level 2 wage. The highest is computer and information research scientists at $85.58 an hour and the lowest is computer user support specialists at $31.63.
What this means for your desk
- At Level 2 the consultant must be paid at least $129,709 a year, or $10,809 a month gross, for work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA.
- Your bill rate must cover that wage plus payroll costs and margin: try $62.36 an hour in the W2 burden rate calculator and the markup and margin calculator.
Which level applies, and what an LCA means, is explained on the prevailing wage guide. Not legal advice.
Other occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Occupation | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysts | $44.32 | $55.37 | $77.47 |
| Information Security Analysts | $52.32 | $63.60 | $86.17 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $68.18 | $85.58 | $120.37 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $35.55 | $44.03 | $61.00 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $26.04 | $31.63 | $42.81 |
| Computer Network Architects | $54.03 | $66.82 | $92.41 |
| Database Administrators | $36.51 | $48.41 | $72.21 |
| Database Architects | $52.15 | $63.30 | $85.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $33.56 | $44.53 | $66.47 |
| Computer Programmers | $52.19 | $66.26 | $94.40 |
| Software Developers | $56.61 | $71.75 | $102.02 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $40.23 | $52.25 | $76.30 |
| Web Developers | $36.71 | $48.42 | $71.83 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $37.75 | $53.32 | $84.45 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $40.30 | $53.63 | $80.30 |
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for data scientists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
$46.21, $62.36, $78.52 and $94.67 an hour for Levels 1 to 4, with a published average of $78.67, in wage year 2025-26. Multiply by 2080 hours for the annual figure.
How much more does Level 4 pay than Level 1 in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
$48.46 more an hour, or $100,797 more a year (105% above Level 1).
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