State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs Montana
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In Montana, $100,490. After cost-of-living, the gap is 20.4% — not 40.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+40.9%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+20.4%
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%
Montana
Data Scientists
- Median
- $100,490
- p25
- $70,990
- p75
- $127,840
- p10
- $67,120
- p90
- $167,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +100%
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.