For informational purposes only. Not financial or career advice. Rates vary by experience and market.
Freelance Data Scientist Rates in Seattle
Data-driven rate insights to help you price your services confidently.
Entry Level
$75
/hour
Mid-Range
$150
/hour
Expert Level
$300
/hour
Annual Equivalent (40hrs/week)
Entry
$156,000
Mid
$312,000
Expert
$624,000
Based on 2,080 billable hours/year (actual may be 1,500-1,800 after admin, marketing, and time off)
Rates by Experience Level
Core Skills
- Python (pandas, scikit-learn)
- SQL and data querying
- Machine learning
- Statistical analysis
- Data visualization
- A/B testing
- Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure)
Premium Skills (+20-50%)
- Deep learning (PyTorch/TensorFlow)
- MLOps and model deployment
- NLP and LLMs
- Computer vision
- Real-time ML systems
Top Industries
Typical Clients
Rate Setting Tips
These are general suggestions, not professional advice. Your situation may differ.
- Seattle's Amazon and Microsoft presence sets high rate benchmarks
- MLOps skills (model deployment) justify significant premiums
- Healthcare and biotech clients pay well for specialized expertise
- Frame your work in terms of business impact and revenue
- Contract roles at tech giants often pay $150-200/hr+
Common Pricing Mistakes
- Undervaluing data engineering work required for ML
- Not accounting for model maintenance and monitoring
- Accepting vague project scopes
- Overcommitting to unrealistic ML expectations
Negotiation Tips
- Reference contractor rates at Amazon/Microsoft as benchmarks
- Emphasize production ML experience (not just notebooks)
- Show measurable business impact from past projects
- Offer milestone-based pricing for defined deliverables
Frequently Asked Questions
What do freelance data scientists charge in Seattle?
Freelance data scientists in Seattle charge $75-300/hr. Mid-level rates average $150/hr, with ML engineers and deep learning specialists earning $225-300/hr.
Is Seattle a top market for data science freelancers?
Yes, Seattle is a top-3 US market for data science due to Amazon, Microsoft, and a strong startup ecosystem. Contractor demand is consistently high.
What's the difference between data scientist and ML engineer rates?
ML engineers who can deploy and maintain production models typically earn 15-25% more than analysts focused primarily on insights and dashboards.
Are contractor positions available at Amazon and Microsoft?
Yes, both companies extensively use contractors for data science and ML work. Rates are typically $150-225/hr, engaged through staffing agencies.
What cloud skills are most valued in Seattle?
AWS skills are highly valued (Amazon), followed by Azure (Microsoft). Experience with cloud-native ML services like SageMaker or Azure ML adds premium value.
Methodology
Rates compiled from contractor data, job postings, and freelancer surveys. Seattle's tech concentration drives premium rates.
Data Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024
- Levels.fyi Contractor Data 2024
- Kaggle State of Data Science Survey 2024
- Seattle Tech Industry Report 2025
Important Disclaimer
These rates are estimates for educational purposes. Actual rates vary based on experience, skills, client industry, and negotiation. This is not financial advice.
Rate estimates are not guarantees. Actual rates depend on your specific experience, portfolio, negotiation skills, client budget, and market conditions.
This is not financial or career advice. Consult with a financial advisor or career counselor for personalized guidance on pricing and business decisions.
Data limitations: Freelance rates are notoriously difficult to benchmark accurately. Our data is compiled from multiple sources but may not reflect your specific market segment.
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