AI Data Scientist.
Newark.
$128,000
median salary, 13% above the national average
$88,000 to $184,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating an AI Data Scientist offer in Newark, NJ, here is the reality: $88,000 to $184,000, with $128,000 as the midpoint. 13% above 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 Newark, 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 $135,980 for Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, based on 23,160 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$79,870
25th percentile
$101,320
Median
$135,980
75th percentile
$173,160
90th percentile
$216,030
Workers surveyed
23,160
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 Newark range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such. Newark is reported by BLS within the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $115,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$83,000
to $102,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$109,000
to $134,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$141,000
to $166,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$160,000
to $198,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $61,000 to the total package.
Base
$128,000
Equity
$37,000
Bonus
$16,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $189,000
How Newark compares.
Newark, NJ
$128,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$113,000
Newark is $15,000 above
AI Data Scientist salary by city.
Salary by role in Newark.
What you should know.
The AI Data Scientist landscape in Newark is not what most salary sites will tell you. Newark is experiencing a major revitalization, anchored by Prudential Financial, Audible, and a growing tech and startup scene. The city's proximity to Manhattan, combined with significantly lower office costs, has attracted companies seeking New York area talent at reduced overhead. Transportation, pharmaceutical, and logistics companies also have a strong presence. 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 Newark, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: new Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75%, one of the highest in the nation. Newark has a payroll tax but no separate city income tax. The high state rate makes salary negotiation critical. When someone quotes you $128,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate aggressively to account for New Jersey's high state taxes. Employers near NYC understand the tax burden and often adjust compensation upward for NJ-based talent. The range for AI Data Scientists in Newark runs from $88,000 to $184,000. 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 Reinforcement Learning Engineer in Newark earns $129,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Newark is CTO at $354,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"AI Data Scientist Salary in Newark, NJ." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ai-data-scientist/newark
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