Data Scientists Salary in State College, PA
The median pay for a data scientists in State College, PA is $85,370/year ($41.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $149K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.76), that's roughly $88,229 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,406/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in State College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by State College’s Regional Price Parity (96.76). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, State College, PA
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $149K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $159K | +41% | 7,930 |
| District of Columbia | $137K | +22% | 3,580 |
| California | $137K | +22% | 36,850 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +17% | 9,990 |
| New Jersey | $130K | +16% | 5,860 |
| Virginia | $126K | +12% | 6,200 |
| New York | $125K | +11% | 20,070 |
| Maryland | $124K | +10% | 3,400 |
| Hawaii | $124K | +10% | 240 |
| Vermont | $121K | +7% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $118K | +5% | 3,500 |
| Utah | $116K | +3% | 4,830 |
| North Carolina | $115K | +2% | 10,140 |
| Rhode Island | $114K | +2% | 1,190 |
| Illinois | $113K | +1% | 7,390 |
| Kansas | $110K | -2% | 340 |
| Connecticut | $110K | -2% | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $109K | -3% | 980 |
| Montana | $107K | -5% | 200 |
| Texas | $107K | -5% | 23,420 |
| Oregon | $106K | -6% | 2,650 |
| Arizona | $106K | -6% | 4,080 |
| Florida | $106K | -6% | 9,480 |
| Alabama | $105K | -6% | 1,620 |
| Tennessee | $105K | -7% | 2,550 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -7% | 470 |
| Georgia | $103K | -9% | 7,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $100K | -11% | 10,430 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | -11% | 3,640 |
| Michigan | $99K | -12% | 6,450 |
| New Hampshire | $99K | -12% | 870 |
| Ohio | $99K | -12% | 5,510 |
| Iowa | $98K | -13% | 2,330 |
| Nebraska | $96K | -14% | 1,850 |
| North Dakota | $96K | -15% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $96K | -15% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $96K | -15% | 220 |
| Maine | $94K | -16% | 1,040 |
| Kentucky | $93K | -17% | 1,700 |
| Nevada | $93K | -17% | 1,230 |
| South Dakota | $92K | -18% | 270 |
| South Carolina | $91K | -19% | 2,810 |
| Missouri | $86K | -24% | 4,350 |
| New Mexico | $85K | -24% | 510 |
| Indiana | $84K | -25% | 3,120 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -29% | 2,160 |
| Alaska | $77K | -31% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -37% | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $69K | -38% | 270 |
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 State College numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do data scientists make in State College, PA?
The median is $85,370 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,510, and experienced data scientists can clear $148,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in State College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,485/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,406/month, which eats 25.6% 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 State College?
State College has a Regional Price Parity of 96.76 (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 $88,229 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.