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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Principal Statistical Scientist stands at $108,113 per year. This figure reflects a competitive compensation for professionals skilled in statistical analysis and data interpretation. Salaries can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
For instance, experienced professionals in major metropolitan areas often earn more than their counterparts in rural settings. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the demand for data analytics in tech and finance sectors. Additionally, cities known for their tech hubs, such as San Francisco and Seattle, frequently report the highest salary figures.
Moreover, the level of expertise plays a crucial role; those with advanced degrees or specialized certifications can command significantly higher salaries. As industries increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, the demand for Principal Statistical Scientists continues to grow, presenting numerous opportunities for career advancement.
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The average principal statistical scientist salary in Nevada, Oregon, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average principal statistical scientist salary states are Florida, Nebraska, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $114,538 | $55.07 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $108,557 | $52.19 |
| 3 | Oregon | $113,414 | $54.53 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $106,833 | $51.36 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $107,309 | $51.59 |
| 6 | Arizona | $108,067 | $51.96 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $108,908 | $52.36 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $108,323 | $52.08 |
| 9 | Washington | $107,678 | $51.77 |
| 10 | Idaho | $104,112 | $50.05 |
| 11 | Delaware | $107,089 | $51.49 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $103,236 | $49.63 |
| 13 | New York | $107,814 | $51.83 |
| 14 | Virginia | $105,925 | $50.93 |
| 15 | Utah | $106,710 | $51.30 |
| 16 | Ohio | $103,845 | $49.93 |
| 17 | Maryland | $106,422 | $51.16 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $104,443 | $50.21 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $108,538 | $52.18 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $107,646 | $51.75 |
| 21 | Michigan | $103,490 | $49.75 |
| 22 | Maine | $103,163 | $49.60 |
| 23 | Texas | $103,143 | $49.59 |
| 24 | California | $112,609 | $54.14 |
| 25 | Indiana | $101,174 | $48.64 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $100,521 | $48.33 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $100,548 | $48.34 |
| 28 | Vermont | $103,317 | $49.67 |
| 29 | Alaska | $104,380 | $50.18 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $101,023 | $48.57 |
| 31 | Illinois | $100,416 | $48.28 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $101,107 | $48.61 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $102,014 | $49.05 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $101,083 | $48.60 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $98,535 | $47.37 |
| 36 | Alabama | $99,807 | $47.98 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $98,575 | $47.39 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $106,359 | $51.13 |
| 39 | Georgia | $99,732 | $47.95 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $98,091 | $47.16 |
| 41 | Montana | $93,870 | $45.13 |
| 42 | Colorado | $97,208 | $46.73 |
| 43 | Kansas | $95,852 | $46.08 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $95,371 | $45.85 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $93,718 | $45.06 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $93,289 | $44.85 |
| 47 | Missouri | $96,488 | $46.39 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $94,354 | $45.36 |
| 49 | Iowa | $97,176 | $46.72 |
| 50 | Florida | $94,926 | $45.64 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $56,865 | $27.34 |
The highest-paying cities for principal statistical scientists are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $118,121 | $56.79 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $108,970 | $52.39 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $108,800 | $52.31 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,568 | $52.20 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $108,034 | $51.94 |
| 6 | Hoboken, NJ | $107,994 | $51.92 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,366 | $51.62 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $106,693 | $51.29 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $106,484 | $51.19 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $106,466 | $51.19 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $105,174 | $50.56 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $104,714 | $50.34 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $104,352 | $50.17 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $100,730 | $48.43 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $99,564 | $47.87 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $99,325 | $47.75 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,119 | $47.17 |
| 19 | Chesterfield, MO | $97,375 | $46.81 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $96,837 | $46.56 |
A principal statistical scientist's salary ranges from $71,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $163,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $163,000 | $13,583 | $78 |
| 75th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| Average | $108,113 | $9,009 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
The highest paying types of principal statistical scientists are associate director of biostatistics, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Biostatistician | $85,645 | $7,137 | $41.18 | 17,972 |
Top companies hiring principal statistical scientists now:
Principal statistical scientist salaries at Genentech and Edwards Lifesciences are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average principal statistical scientist salary at companies like Critical Path Institute and Merck are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genentech | $139,472 | $67.05 |
| 2 | Edwards Lifesciences | $125,402 | $60.29 |
| 3 | Critical Path Institute | $123,732 | $59.49 |
| 4 | Merck | $116,772 | $56.14 |
| 5 | Bayer | $116,396 | $55.96 |
| 6 | BioMarin | $112,253 | $53.97 |
| 7 | Duke University Health System | $107,212 | $51.54 |
| 8 | QuintilesIMS | $106,839 | $51.36 |
| 9 | Bridgestone | $105,004 | $50.48 |
| 10 | Monsanto | $104,585 | $50.28 |
| 11 | Glaxosmithkline | $104,325 | $50.16 |
| 12 | Ice Cream | $104,162 | $50.08 |
| 13 | Allen Institute | $99,790 | $47.98 |
| 14 | Exponent | $95,009 | $45.68 |
The average principal statistical scientist salary has risen by $21,548 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average principal statistical scientist earned $86,565 annually, but today, they earn $108,113 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for principal statistical scientists over the last decade.
Compare principal statistical scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare principal statistical scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $108,000 | $51.98 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $107,000 | $51.35 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $103,000 | $49.45 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $98,500 | $47.35 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $94,300 | $45.35 | +0.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genentech, Inc. | Principal Statistical Scientist (Biostatistician) | South San Francisco, CA | 03/20/2024 | $165,600 |
| Genentech, Inc. | Principal Statistical Scientist (Biostatistician) | South San Francisco, CA | 03/20/2024 | $165,600 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Scientist, Systems Biology and Statistical Learning | San Diego, CA | 01/29/2024 | $139,050 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Scientist, Systems Biology and Statistical Learning | San Diego, CA | 01/29/2024 | $139,050 |
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