Data Scientist salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Data Scientists in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $91,760 a year ($44.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,920 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 14% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $106,560. There are 1.3 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $99,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| 25th percentile | $74,000 | $35.58 |
| Median | $91,760 | $44.11 |
| 75th percentile | $121,750 | $58.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,920 | $64.86 |
| Average (mean) | $99,830 | $47.99 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,646.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,823.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,529.23 |
| Weekly | $1,764.62 |
| Hourly | $44.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $120,760 | 590 |
| Peoria, IL | $120,000 | 340 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $107,640 | 7,940 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,340 | 280 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $99,600 | 2,640 |
| Rockford, IL | $92,990 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $92,000 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $106,080 | $51.00 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $86,690 | $41.68 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $66,260 | $31.86 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $85,080 | $40.91 |
| Computer Network Architect | $111,780 | $53.74 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $78,100 | $37.55 |
| Computer Programmer | $89,380 | $42.97 |
| Information Security Analyst | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $86,130 | $41.41 |
| Web Developer | $85,880 | $41.29 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| Database Administrator | $114,630 | $55.11 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $69,320 | $33.33 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for data scientists in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $91,760 a year, or $44.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $134,920 a year. The top 25% earn $121,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,240 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $74,000 or less.
How many data scientists work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 140 data scientists are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.