Data Scientist
Salary in London
£72K–£228K across all experience levels. Updated 2025.
England, UK
Senior Data Scientist · Median
£146K
Base salary · 5–8 years experience
Total comp median: £212K
Salary by experience level — London
London is Europe's leading tech hub, with DeepMind, Meta, Amazon, and a thriving fintech ecosystem. Salaries are in GBP; strong by European standards but below US coastal equivalents.
£86K
median base salary
£113K
median base salary
£146K
median base salary
£190K
median base salary
| Level | Experience | 25th %ile | Median | 75th %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 yrs | £72K | £86K | £100K |
| Mid Level | 3–5 yrs | £94K | £113K | £131K |
| Senior | 5–8 yrs | £123K | £146K | £172K |
| Staff / Principal | 8+ yrs | £157K | £190K | £228K |
Base salary in GBP. Data reflects 2025 compensation benchmarks from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Zari platform data.
Senior Data Scientist · Total Compensation
£212K
Median total comp (base + equity + bonus)
Total comp range
Negotiation opportunity
£49K
Gap between 25th and 75th percentile for senior Data Scientist in London
Most candidates who don't negotiate land at the 25th percentile. Strong negotiation moves you toward the 75th — a difference of £49K per year.
How to negotiate a Data Scientist offer in London
The difference between the 25th and 75th percentile is £49K/year — and it comes down to this conversation.
Anchor above the median
Open at £172K — the 75th percentile. This gives you room to "meet in the middle" at or above the median. Never give a range; ranges get taken at the low end.
Use competing offers as leverage
A competing offer — even from a less preferred employer — is the single most powerful negotiating tool in London. Get at least one before negotiating.
Negotiate total comp, not just base
Base salary is often the hardest component to move. Signing bonus and equity are frequently more flexible. In London, a £16K signing bonus has the same year-1 value.
Never accept on the call
Ask for the offer in writing and follow up in 24–48 hours. This creates space to counter without pressure. No legitimate employer rescinds an offer because a candidate asked for review time.