Data Scientists pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,590 or more. The middle half of data scientists in State College earn between $76,920 and $95,770.
- $59K10th
- $77K25th
- $82KMedian
- $96K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,590 | $7,549 | $43.55 |
| Median | $81,840 | $6,820 | $39.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,920 | $6,410 | $36.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,770 | $7,981 | $46.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $90,590, a single filer in State College takes home about $69,779 a year, or $5,815 a month and $2,684 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $90,590 buys what about $93,621 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 11th of 13 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($121,630).
- Philadelphia$121,630
- Allentown$110,430
- Reading$106,240
- York$104,140
- Pittsburgh$102,360
- Harrisburg$101,030
- Lancaster$97,870
- Scranton$92,590
- Chambersburg$92,350
- State College$90,590
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in State College: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in State College?
$43.55 an hour on average, and $39.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in State College?
About $69,779 a year ($5,815 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,590. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do data scientists earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($128,761).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2051; area State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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