Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Missoula, MT is $90,850/year ($43.68/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.44), that's roughly $94,204 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,361/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $91K get you in Missoula?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Missoula’s Regional Price Parity (96.44). 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
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What this looks like in Missoula
Pay for data scientists in Missoula runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,361/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Missoula 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 Missoula, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $97K | $104K |
| Bozeman | $121K | $118K |
| Boise City | $98K | $100K |
| Idaho Falls | $168K | $178K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missoula, MT
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $106K 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
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 Missoula numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missoula?
Yes — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,361/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Missoula?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,688/month. At HUD’s $1,361/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Missoula?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $91K here vs. $120K nationally.
How does Missoula compare to the national average for data scientists?
Missoula pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Missoula, MT?
The median is $90,850 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,460, and experienced data scientists can clear $167,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Missoula?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,671/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,361/month, which eats 24% 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 Missoula?
Missoula has a Regional Price Parity of 96.44 (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 $94,204 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.