Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Idaho is $89,380/year ($42.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $95,207 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Idaho?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for data scientists in Idaho runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Idaho
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | $168K | +88% | 230 |
| Boise City | $98K | +10% | 600 |
| Twin Falls | $93K | +4% | 30 |
| Lewiston | $81K | -9% | 40 |
| Pocatello | $79K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,839/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $89K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for data scientists?
Idaho pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Idaho?
The median is $89,380 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,980, and experienced data scientists can clear $169,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 20.3% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $95,207 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.