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Data Annotation Specialist Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Aston Carter

Paralegal

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$125/hr

... legal analyst, contracts specialist, litigation paralegal, or legal operations professional ... Comfort working with AI tools, AI training workflows, data annotation, and large language models ...

All JobsData Annotation Specialist JobsData Annotation Specialist Jobs in Virginia

Data Annotation Specialist information

See Virginia salary details

$27.8K

$72.3K

$87.2K

How much do data annotation specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for data annotation specialist in Virginia is $72,321.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,600.00 and $86,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a data annotation specialist?

Data Annotation Specialists are professionals who label and categorize data—such as images, text, audio, or video—to make it usable for machine learning models and artificial intelligence systems. Their work ensures that algorithms can accurately interpret data by providing clear examples of what different data points represent. Tasks may include drawing bounding boxes on images, transcribing audio, or tagging keywords in text. This role is crucial for improving the accuracy and reliability of AI applications across various industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a data annotation specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Annotation Specialist, you need a keen attention to detail, strong analytical abilities, and basic knowledge of data labeling concepts, often supported by a high school diploma or relevant coursework. Familiarity with data annotation tools (such as Labelbox or Supervisely), basic computer skills, and sometimes an understanding of programming languages like Python are valuable. Excellent communication, time management, and the ability to follow guidelines precisely help you stand out in this position. These skills ensure accurate and consistent data labeling, which is essential for training reliable machine learning models.

What are some common challenges a data annotation specialist faces, and how can they be addressed?

Data Annotation Specialists often encounter challenges such as maintaining high accuracy while labeling large volumes of data, managing repetitive tasks, and understanding complex annotation guidelines. To overcome these, it's important to stay detail-oriented, take regular breaks to avoid fatigue, and seek clarification on ambiguous instructions. Collaborating with team members and participating in quality review sessions can also help ensure consistency and improve annotation quality over time.

What is the difference between Data Annotation Specialist vs Data Labeler?

AspectData Annotation SpecialistData Labeler
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer certifications in data management or annotation toolsTypically high school diploma or equivalent; minimal formal requirements
Work EnvironmentOffice or remote; often involves using specialized annotation softwarePrimarily remote or in-house; focuses on labeling data within specific datasets
Industry UsageUsed across AI, machine learning, and data science projectsPrimarily in AI and machine learning industries for training data
Job FocusInvolves detailed annotation, quality control, and understanding project guidelinesFocuses on labeling data accurately according to instructions

While both roles involve working with data to train AI models, Data Annotation Specialists typically handle more complex annotation tasks and quality assurance, whereas Data Labelers focus on straightforward labeling tasks. The Specialist role often requires a deeper understanding of project guidelines and may involve using advanced annotation tools.

Does data annotation specialist actually pay you?

A data annotation specialist is a paid role that involves labeling data for machine learning models. Compensation varies depending on the employer, project, and whether the work is freelance or full-time, but most positions offer hourly or project-based pay. Skills in tools like labeling software and attention to detail are often required.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia?

For Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Data Annotation Specialist jobs in Virginia are:

Data Annotation Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Data Annotation Specialist job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 32% Contract. Highlights an 78% In-person, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,321 per year, or $34.8 per hour.

Lead Specialist, Federal Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering

KPMG US

Ashburn, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
KPMG is a leading advisory firm that offers excellent opportunities for career advancement and professional development. They are seeking a Lead Specialist to join their Federal Advisory practice, responsible for leading AI engagements, managing complex projects, and collaborating with clients to deliver innovative analytical solutions.
Responsibilities:
• Plan, lead, and execute delivery of data / AI engagements (including definition of objectives, key deliverables, mitigating risk in data, modeling, validation, delivery)
• Lead workshops and innovation sessions with clients, multi-disciplinary, and cross-functional teams to identify business opportunities, define problem statements, and design high level analytical solutions
• Work with clients to discover data sources and create date requests; lead data discovery, ETL/ELT processes to ingest structured data / annotation processes to enrich unstructured data leveraging a variety of data sources (social media, news, internal / external documents, images, video, voice, emails, financial data, and operational data)
• Oversee the creation of analytics and machine learning models through all phases of development, from design through training, evaluation, validation, implementation, to delivery
• Lead in a fast-paced / dynamic environment utilizing virtual and face-to-face interactions; manage complex work streams, expectations, budgets, and deliverables
• Define, monitor, and report key business metrics to management; design, implement, and manage various reporting processes / dashboards
• Ability to travel as required to support firm engagements
Qualifications:
Required:
• A minimum of five years of Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and/or Data Science experience; U.S. Federal government consulting experience preferred
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university
• Experience utilizing analytics / software development processes for natural language processing, machine learning on unstructured data, and/or information retrieval
• Deep technical understanding of data preparation approaches and machine learning algorithms
• Knowledge / experience performing data science from data discovery, cleaning, model selection, validation, to deployment
• Experience coding artificial intelligence methods using object-oriented programming in software development processes (ability to restructure, refactor, and optimize code for efficiency)
• Hands-on experience and knowledge in distributed computing architecture, massive-parallel processing big data platforms (Hadoop, MapReduce, HDFS, Spark, PySpark, Hive/Impala, H-Base / MongoDB / Cassandra, and Teradata / Netezza / Redshift), mainstream cloud infrastructure (AWS, MS Azure, GCP, and their D&A related microservices)
• Experience with Web/RESTful service development, HTML5, JavaScript / Angular / React / Redux
• Experience with command-line scripting, data structures, and algorithms; ability to work in Linux and/or cloud environments; ability to write production level code
• Ability to travel as required to support firm engagements
• Applicant must possess or be eligible for U.S. Government clearance
Company:
KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services firms and the fastest growing Big Four accounting firm in the United States. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in New York, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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