What the numbers say
The median Data Scientist in Arkansas earned $104,320 in 2024, about 9.8% below the US median of $115,636. The mean came in at $104,560, nearly identical to the median. That closeness means the upper end of the pay range isn't pulling the average up the way it does in many tech-heavy states.
The spread from bottom to top is wide. The 10th percentile sat at $57,830 and the 90th at $164,120. Top earners made roughly 2.8 times what the lowest-paid workers in the role did. That gap reflects real differences in experience, specialty, and the kinds of organizations hiring here. Arkansas has around 470 Data Scientists employed statewide, a small pool, so a handful of high-paying roles can shift the picture quickly.
Arkansas's cost of living runs about 11.7% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the $104,320 median is worth closer to $118,200 in national-dollar terms. On that basis, Arkansas Data Scientists come out slightly ahead of the national median, not behind it.
BLS projects the Data Scientist occupation to grow 33.5% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as much faster than average. That outlook applies at the national level. Arkansas's small employment base means local hiring could look lumpy year to year, but the underlying demand driving that national number affects employers here too.
Salary distribution
Where Arkansas data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,370 and $125,390, with a median of $104,320.
Data Scientists in Arkansas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 491 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $134,511. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 24 | $81,786 |
| Level II — qualified | 129 | $112,530 |
| Level III — experienced | 260 | $144,806 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 38 | $164,329 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Arkansas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | Data Scientist III | 394 | $140,000 |
| Tredence Inc. | Associate Manager | 7 | $132,080 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Data Warehouse Administrator Senior | 5 | $81,600 |
| ArcBest II, Inc. | Machine Learning Engineer III | 4 | $112,735 |
| Uber Freight US LLC | Sr. Applied Scientist | 4 | $167,500 |
| BANK OZK | Manager, Data Science | 4 | $102,500 |
| J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. | Senior Data Scientist | 3 | $115,000 |
| Federal Express Corporation | Senior Data Analyst | 3 | $111,384 |
| Cohesity, Inc. | Staff Applied Scientist | 2 | $113,131 |
| Tyson Foods, Inc. | Senior IT Data Engineer | 2 | $100,618 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Group Director, Data Science at WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC.$308,963BentonvilleDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497302
- Associate Manager at Tredence Inc.$132,080BentonvilleDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-474700
- Manager, Credit Operations Modeling at Synchrony Bank$100,000BentonVilleDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-476371
- DATA SCIENCE ENGINEER at INFO KEYS INC$75,525BENTONVILLEDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-461173
- Staff Applied Scientist at Cohesity, Inc.$113,131Little RockDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-448005
- Director, Data Science at Humana Inc.$192,507BentonvilleDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-437697
- Senior Data Analyst at WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC.$142,530BentonvilleDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-436412
- Senior, Data Analyst at WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC.$115,131BENTONVILLEDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-435509
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Data Scientists pay by experience level in Arkansas
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Data Scientists specialties in Arkansas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 369 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Manager, Data Analytics at a median of $138,670.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Manager, Data Analytics | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 146 | $138,670 |
| Senior Data Scientist | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 96 | $134,206 |
| Senior Product Manager | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 46 | $139,294 |
| Senior Data Analyst | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 38 | $117,429 |
| Director, Data Science | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 18 | $194,917 |
| Data Engineer | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 11 | $104,250 |
| Analyst III, Technology Operations | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 4 | $107,781 |
| Business Analyst | ASWi, Inc. | 4 | $80,000 |
| Staff Applied Scientist | Cohesity, Inc. | 3 | $113,131 |
| Senior Technology Operations | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 3 | $122,400 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in Arkansas, by industry
Median offered wage across 491 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Retail and wholesale leads with a median of $140,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail and wholesale | WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 399 | $140,000 |
| Technology and software | Tredence Inc. | 43 | $94,661 |
| Transportation and logistics | ArcBest II, Inc. | 14 | $115,485 |
| Professional services | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 12 | $120,393 |
| Manufacturing | Tyson Foods, Inc. | 8 | $100,618 |
| Finance and insurance | BANK OZK | 6 | $105,000 |
| Education | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 6 | $75,151 |
| Healthcare | NOVANT HEALTH | 2 | $86,903 |
| Government and public sector | State of Arkansas - Administrative Office of the Courts | 1 | $81,786 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Arkansas over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+33.5%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in Arkansas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Arkansas is $104,320.
- How does Arkansas compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Arkansas median is -9.8% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Arkansas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $57,830 and the 90th-percentile at $164,120, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Data Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 33.5% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Data Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.