Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Alabama is $103,120/year ($49.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $116,704 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Alabama?
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for data scientists in Alabama runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Alabama
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $112K | +8% | 620 |
| Birmingham | $94K | -9% | 490 |
| Tuscaloosa | $93K | -10% | 50 |
| Montgomery | $88K | -15% | 80 |
| Mobile | $84K | -19% | 100 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $71K | -31% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,548/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Alabama?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $103K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for data scientists?
Alabama pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Alabama?
The median is $103,120 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,130, and experienced data scientists can clear $161,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,328/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 $116,704 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.