AI Data Scientist.
Atlanta.
$113,000
median salary, at the national average
$78,000 to $162,000. Last updated August 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating an AI Data Scientist offer in Atlanta, GA, here is the reality: $78,000 to $162,000, with $113,000 as the midpoint. Right at the national average. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for AI Data Scientist in Atlanta, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $108,940 for Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, based on 6,820 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$72,430
25th percentile
$90,510
Median
$108,940
75th percentile
$144,670
90th percentile
$172,130
Workers surveyed
6,820
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) rather than AI Data Scientist specifically. The Atlanta range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $102,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$73,000
to $90,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$96,000
to $119,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$124,000
to $147,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$141,000
to $175,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $54,000 to the total package.
Base
$113,000
Equity
$33,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$7,000
Estimated total: $167,000
How Atlanta compares.
Atlanta, GA
$113,000
Cost of living: 2% above average
National Average
$113,000
Same as local rate
AI Data Scientist salary by city.
Salary by role in Atlanta.
What you should know.
The AI Data Scientist landscape in Atlanta is not what most salary sites will tell you. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. Atlanta offers strong salaries relative to its moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for professionals. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Industry sector matters significantly, with finance and healthcare paying 15 to 25% above retail or media. Proficiency in both Python and cloud ML platforms like SageMaker or Vertex AI is increasingly expected and adds 10 to 15% to offers.
Junior AI data scientists earn $115,000 to $135,000 with a master's degree. Mid-level scientists with 3 to 5 years reach $152,000 to $198,000. Senior data scientists earn $200,000 to $260,000, while principal scientists and directors of data science can command $280,000 to $380,000. In Atlanta, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at tech companies includes RSUs worth 15 to 30% of base salary and annual bonuses of 10 to 20%. Financial services firms substitute higher cash bonuses of 25 to 50% in lieu of equity, making total compensation comparable. And on the tax side: georgia has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.49%. Atlanta does not impose a separate city income tax, keeping the combined burden below most northeastern cities. When someone quotes you $113,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention Atlanta's role as a regional tech capital. Employers are investing heavily to retain talent against poaching from coastal firms offering remote positions. The range for AI Data Scientists in Atlanta runs from $78,000 to $162,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Deep Learning Engineer in Atlanta earns $114,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Atlanta is CTO at $312,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
AI Data Scientist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Atlanta.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to AI Data Scientists in Atlanta.
Related tools.
Do you work as an ai data scientist in Atlanta?
Your individual figure is never published. Submissions appear only as aggregate percentiles, and nothing is shown for a role and city until at least five people have reported. It is stored against your account, which is what keeps the dataset clean.
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"AI Data Scientist Salary in Atlanta, GA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ai-data-scientist/atlanta
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget. One script tag, free forever.
Related tools