Cognizant Data Scientist salary
Based on 67 H-1B filings by Cognizant, fiscal years 2025–2026. Base salary only.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $97,214 |
| 25th | $109,491 |
| 50th (median) | $118,893 |
| 75th | $141,472 |
| 90th | $159,285 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $79,560 | $68,848 | $101,452 | 15 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2025 | $120,000 | $103,470 | $140,878 | 38 |
| FY2026 | $118,893 | $109,491 | $141,773 | 29 |
By state
Bar length: number of filings (Texas 10). Figure: average salary in that state.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | – | 0 |
| Level II · Qualified | $109,491 | 23 |
| Level III · Experienced | $119,268 | 26 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $157,904 | 18 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Questions
How much does a data scientist make at Cognizant?
In H-1B filings, Cognizant's median base salary for Data Scientist is $118,893; half of filings fall between $109,491 and $141,472. Bonus and stock are not included.
Does Cognizant sponsor H-1B visas for data scientists?
Yes. Cognizant filed 67 certified Labor Condition Applications for this role in FY2025–FY2026. A filing is a step before the visa petition, not an approval.
Which job titles are included?
Filings are grouped by occupation code 15-2051 (Data Scientists), so this page covers every job title Cognizant filed under that code.
Where does this data come from?
The U.S. Department of Labor's public LCA disclosure files, updated every quarter. Methodology