Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Missouri is $97,090/year ($46.68/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $109,127 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 17.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for data scientists in Missouri runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 18.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Missouri
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $100K | +3% | 1,260 |
| St. Louis | $100K | +3% | 2,640 |
| Joplin | $97K | -0% | 60 |
| Springfield | $81K | -16% | 190 |
| Columbia | $81K | -17% | 190 |
| Jefferson City | $80K | -17% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 18.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,538/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $97K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for data scientists?
Missouri pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Missouri?
The median is $97,090 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,960, and experienced data scientists can clear $151,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,070/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 18.1% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $109,127 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.