Data Scientist salary in State College, PA
Data Scientists in the State College, PA metro area earn a median of $81,840 a year ($39.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,590 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 23% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $106,850. There are 1.3 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $90,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in State College, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,470 | $28.59 |
| 25th percentile | $76,920 | $36.98 |
| Median | $81,840 | $39.35 |
| 75th percentile | $95,770 | $46.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,590 | $61.82 |
| Average (mean) | $90,590 | $43.55 |
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 | $6,820 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,410 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,147.69 |
| Weekly | $1,573.85 |
| Hourly | $39.35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $109,910 | 6,480 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $101,970 | 490 |
| Reading, PA | $100,340 | 190 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $97,510 | 130 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $96,760 | 500 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $96,670 | 2,270 |
| Altoona, PA | $91,170 | 50 |
| Lancaster, PA | $90,960 | 190 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $86,060 | 40 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $84,750 | 200 |
| Erie, PA | $79,560 | 140 |
| Williamsport, PA | $70,190 | 40 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in State College, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Statistician | $93,830 | $45.11 |
| Software Developer | $103,620 | $49.82 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $84,330 | $40.54 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $78,520 | $37.75 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $93,680 | $45.04 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,040 | $30.79 |
| Computer Programmer | $87,610 | $42.12 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $78,040 | $37.52 |
| Web Developer | $91,300 | $43.89 |
| Computer Network Architect | $112,410 | $54.04 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in State College, PA
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 State College, PA?
The median salary for data scientists in the State College, PA metro area is $81,840 a year, or $39.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in State College, PA?
The top 10% of data scientists in the State College, PA metro area earn at least $128,590 a year. The top 25% earn $95,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in State College, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,470 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $76,920 or less.
How many data scientists work in State College, PA?
About 90 data scientists are employed in the State College, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.