Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Michigan is $100,590/year ($48.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $107,136 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Michigan?
About data scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for data scientists in Michigan runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Michigan can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Michigan
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $113K | +12% | 340 |
| Jackson | $108K | +7% | 70 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $103K | +3% | 3,810 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $97K | -4% | 850 |
| Monroe | $96K | -4% | 40 |
| Niles | $95K | -5% | 50 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $87K | -13% | 490 |
| Saginaw | $85K | -15% | 80 |
| Midland | $85K | -16% | 70 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $81K | -20% | 150 |
| Flint | $80K | -21% | 110 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $79K | -21% | 40 |
| Traverse City | $77K | -23% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,650/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $101K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for data scientists?
Michigan pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Michigan?
The median is $100,590 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,830, and experienced data scientists can clear $162,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,240/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 20.4% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $107,136 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.