Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Texas is $122,090/year ($58.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $133,446 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $122K get you in Texas?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in Texas
Data scientists pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $122K locally vs. $120K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $106K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Texas
18 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $128K | +5% | 10,120 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $127K | +4% | 3,730 |
| Midland | $125K | +3% | 100 |
| Corpus Christi | $113K | -7% | 80 |
| Tyler | $109K | -11% | N/A |
| Longview | $107K | -12% | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $107K | -13% | 4,060 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $103K | -15% | 1,730 |
| Amarillo | $101K | -17% | 70 |
| College Station-Bryan | $100K | -18% | 110 |
| Killeen-Temple | $99K | -19% | 100 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $98K | -20% | 90 |
| Waco | $96K | -22% | 100 |
| El Paso | $95K | -22% | 320 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $92K | -25% | 130 |
| Lubbock | $89K | -27% | 90 |
| Abilene | $84K | -32% | 40 |
| Laredo | $78K | -36% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 18 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,872/month. At HUD’s $1,415/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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $122K locally vs. $120K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for data scientists?
Texas pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Texas?
The median is $122,090 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,540, and experienced data scientists can clear $170,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,850/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 18% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $133,446 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.