State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs South Dakota
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In South Dakota, $96,150. After cost-of-living, the gap is 17.9% — not 47.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+47.3%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+17.9%
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%
South Dakota
Data Scientists
- Median
- $96,150
- p25
- $83,810
- p75
- $123,260
- p10
- $67,510
- p90
- $145,510
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -71%
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.