State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs Iowa
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In Iowa, $95,830. After cost-of-living, the gap is 17.2% — not 47.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+47.8%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+17.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Data Scientists
- Median
- $141,590
- p25
- $103,360
- p75
- $186,820
- p10
- $77,480
- p90
- $224,920
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -39%
Iowa
Data Scientists
- Median
- $95,830
- p25
- $71,010
- p75
- $127,340
- p10
- $56,070
- p90
- $146,700
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -75%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.