Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Abilene, TX is $83,600/year ($40.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.36), which stretches that salary to about $92,519 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $84K get you in Abilene?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Abilene’s Regional Price Parity (90.36). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About data scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Abilene
Pay for data scientists in Abilene runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Abilene can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for data scientists in metros near Abilene, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler | $109K | $118K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $128K | $124K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $107K | $108K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $127K | $130K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Abilene, TX
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Data Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163K | +36% | 9,600 |
| California | $142K | +18% | 39,310 |
| Maryland | $136K | +13% | 3,340 |
| New Jersey | $135K | +13% | 6,430 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +10% | 9,420 |
| New York | $130K | +9% | 23,970 |
| Minnesota | $129K | +7% | 4,020 |
| Vermont | $127K | +6% | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $126K | +5% | 2,680 |
| Virginia | $126K | +5% | 8,920 |
| Connecticut | $126K | +5% | 1,760 |
| Oregon | $126K | +5% | 2,140 |
| Texas | $122K | +2% | 25,860 |
| North Carolina | $119K | -1% | 11,430 |
| Colorado | $117K | -2% | 6,280 |
| Florida | $116K | -4% | 10,240 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -9% | 530 |
| Utah | $108K | -10% | 4,360 |
| Arizona | $107K | -11% | 4,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $107K | -11% | 13,810 |
| Wisconsin | $107K | -11% | 4,370 |
| Illinois | $107K | -11% | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $104K | -13% | 9,260 |
| Alabama | $103K | -14% | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $103K | -15% | 6,100 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | -15% | 1,160 |
| Hawaii | $102K | -15% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -16% | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $101K | -16% | 7,360 |
| Montana | $100K | -16% | 220 |
| Tennessee | $100K | -17% | 2,790 |
| Nevada | $99K | -18% | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $98K | -18% | 1,980 |
| Kansas | $98K | -18% | 490 |
| Missouri | $97K | -19% | 4,730 |
| South Dakota | $96K | -20% | 220 |
| New Mexico | $96K | -20% | 560 |
| Iowa | $96K | -20% | 2,300 |
| South Carolina | $92K | -23% | 3,750 |
| Kentucky | $92K | -24% | 1,540 |
| Indiana | $91K | -24% | 3,580 |
| Maine | $91K | -24% | 1,210 |
| Idaho | $89K | -26% | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $86K | -28% | 1,900 |
| West Virginia | $85K | -29% | 390 |
| Alaska | $84K | -30% | 230 |
| North Dakota | $82K | -32% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -34% | 1,300 |
| Mississippi | $69K | -42% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Abilene numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Abilene?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Abilene?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,309/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in Abilene?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $84K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Abilene compare to the national average for data scientists?
Abilene pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Abilene, TX?
The median is $83,600 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,490, and experienced data scientists can clear $149,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Abilene?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,600/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 22.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a data scientists salary go in Abilene?
Abilene has a Regional Price Parity of 90.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median data scientists salary is worth about $92,519 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do data scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.