Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in West Virginia is $85,090/year ($40.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $95,575 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in West Virginia?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for data scientists in West Virginia runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in West Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $91K | +7% | 50 |
| Charleston | $80K | -6% | 100 |
| Morgantown | $79K | -7% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,450/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $85K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for data scientists?
West Virginia pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in West Virginia?
The median is $85,090 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,500, and experienced data scientists can clear $125,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,398/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 18.7% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $95,575 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.