Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Pennsylvania is $106,850/year ($51.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $112,509 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 19.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $107K get you in Pennsylvania?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for data scientists in Pennsylvania runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Pennsylvania can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $110K | +3% | 6,480 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $102K | -5% | 490 |
| Reading | $100K | -6% | 190 |
| York-Hanover | $98K | -9% | 130 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $97K | -9% | 500 |
| Pittsburgh | $97K | -10% | 2,270 |
| Altoona | $91K | -15% | 50 |
| Lancaster | $91K | -15% | 190 |
| Chambersburg | $86K | -19% | 40 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $85K | -21% | 200 |
| State College | $82K | -23% | 90 |
| Erie | $80K | -26% | 140 |
| Williamsport | $70K | -34% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,800/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $107K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for data scientists?
Pennsylvania pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $106,850 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,340, and experienced data scientists can clear $162,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,690/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 20.2% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $112,509 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.