Staff Data Scientist Salary in Austin (2026)
Staff Data Scientists in Austin earn a median base salary of $222K per year, based on 5,000 verified data points. This guide covers salary ranges, total comp, and negotiation tactics specific to the staff level in 2026.
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Data Scientist salary by level in Austin
See how staff-level pay compares to other seniority bands for the same role and location.
* Figures are approximate estimates relative to the staff-level verified data above.
What does a Staff Data Scientist earn in Austin in 2026?
The median base salary for a Staff Data Scientist in Austin is $222K per year, with the 25th–75th percentile range spanning $173K–$281K. Total annual compensation — including bonuses and equity — typically reaches $332K at the median for staff-level engineers.
At the staff level, engineers operate across team boundaries, influencing technical direction at the organisational level. Staff+ roles are genuinely scarce: most engineering organisations have fewer Staff engineers than Senior, which keeps compensation elevated.
To negotiate effectively, open at $257K — the 65th percentile for this level and location — which gives you room to settle above median while appearing reasonable. Know your walk-away floor: $173K.
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Top-paying companies for Staff Data Scientists in Austin
| Company | Median Base |
|---|---|
| Netflix | $363K |
| $305K | |
| Meta | $297K |
| OpenAI | $404K |
| Anthropic | $413K |
| Palantir | $310K |
| Microsoft Research | $322K |
Skills that pay more at the staff level
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