What the numbers say
Data Scientists in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of $70,530 in 2024, about 39% below the US median of $115,636. That is one of the larger state-level gaps we see for this occupation across the country.
The spread within the state is narrower than the national picture suggests. The 10th percentile came in at $49,920, the 90th at $93,260. Top earners here make roughly 1.9 times what bottom earners make, which is a relatively compressed range for a technical role where experience and specialization tend to drive big differences elsewhere.
Louisiana's cost of living runs below the US baseline, with an overall index of 92.4. Adjusting for that, the median wage translates to about $76,300 in national-baseline dollars. That closes the gap somewhat, but a meaningful premium still exists in favor of the national figure.
The outlook is strong. BLS projects employment for Data Scientists to grow 33.5% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. With only around 1,120 people currently employed in this role across the state, that growth rate starts from a small base, so actual job additions will be modest in absolute terms.
The wage gap relative to national figures likely reflects the kinds of industries that hire Data Scientists here. Louisiana's economy leans toward energy, petrochemicals, and state government, sectors that generally pay less for analytical talent than the finance and technology industries concentrated in coastal metros. That structural difference shows up clearly in the wage data.
Salary distribution
Where Louisiana data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $56,070 and $80,940, with a median of $70,530.
Data Scientists in Louisiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 30 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,860. 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 | 7 | $61,194 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $72,960 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $80,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $127,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Louisiana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation | IS Business Intelligence Developer | 5 | $81,912 |
| Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund | Postdoctoral Fellow | 3 | $72,500 |
| Cleco Support Group LLC | Data Engineer II | 2 | $110,000 |
| IBM Corporation | SAP Functional Data Analyst | 2 | $130,678 |
| Takeo Tech LLC | Data analyst | 2 | $57,325 |
| Vultus, Inc. | LiDAR Data Analyst | 1 | $69,992 |
| Pelican Education Foundation Inc | Data Administrator/Data Scientist | 1 | $79,800 |
| A Joy Tour, LLC | Data Scientist | 1 | $64,500 |
| PLANET AI INVENTIONS LLC | Data Engineer | 1 | $71,032 |
| Expro Americas, LLC | Senior Business Development Analyst | 1 | $80,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- IS Business Intelligence Developer at Ochsner Clinic Foundation$70,408New OrleansDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-455792
- Postdoctoral Fellow at Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund$72,500New OrleansDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-414148
- Data Engineer II at Cleco Support Group LLC$110,000PinevilleDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-408607
- LiDAR Data Analyst at Vultus, Inc.$69,992Baton RougeDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-402043
- Data Administrator/Data Scientist at Pelican Education Foundation Inc$79,800Baton RougeDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-371657
- IS Business Intelligence Developer at Ochsner Clinic Foundation$70,408LafayetteDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-366064
- Data Scientist at Ochsner Clinic Foundation$81,912New OrleansDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25304-352895
- Data Scientist at A Joy Tour, LLC$64,500baton rougeWage Level IIDecided Aug 15, 2025I-200-25222-232678
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 Louisiana
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 Louisiana
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 17 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Engineer at a median of $110,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Engineer | Cleco Support Group LLC | 4 | $110,000 |
| Business Analyst | AI Consultants Inc | 4 | $72,960 |
| IS Business Intelligence Developer | Ochsner Clinic Foundation | 3 | $70,408 |
| Data Scientist | Ochsner Clinic Foundation | 3 | $81,912 |
| Data analyst | Takeo Tech LLC | 3 | $57,325 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in Louisiana, by industry
Median offered wage across 30 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $75,516.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | IBM Corporation | 10 | $75,516 |
| Healthcare | Ochsner Clinic Foundation | 6 | $82,858 |
| Education | Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund | 6 | $67,250 |
| Energy and utilities | Cleco Support Group LLC | 3 | $110,000 |
| Professional services | A Joy Tour, LLC | 3 | $70,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Qingning Appliances LLC | 2 | $70,460 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Louisiana 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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Metro-level salary data for data scientists in major Louisiana metropolitan areas.
- New Orleans$69,990
Compare Data Scientists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in Louisiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Louisiana is $70,530.
- How does Louisiana compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Louisiana median is -39.0% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Louisiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,920 and the 90th-percentile at $93,260, 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.