State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs West Virginia
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In West Virginia, $85,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 34.5% — not 66.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+66.4%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+34.5%
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%
West Virginia
Data Scientists
- Median
- $85,090
- p25
- $69,790
- p75
- $112,770
- p10
- $57,500
- p90
- $125,100
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +80%
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.