Austin's data science market is growing rapidly with Apple, Dell, and Tesla relocations. No state income tax gives a strong edge over California at equivalent salaries. Austin has no state income tax and a 28% cost-of-living advantage vs San Francisco — a data scientist earning $152K here matches the purchasing power of $195K in SF.
Key fact: Austin has no state income tax and a 28% cost-of-living advantage vs San Francisco — a data scientist earning $152K here matches the purchasing power of $195K in SF.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| DS L3 | $128,000 |
| Senior DS L4 | $162,000 |
| Staff DS L5 | $198,000 |
| ML Engineer L4 | $172,000 |
| Principal DS | $228,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Apple Austin | $168,000 |
| Dell Technologies | $145,000 |
| Oracle | $152,000 |
| Tesla Austin | $148,000 |
| IBM | $138,000 |
| Indeed | $155,000 |