What the numbers say
The median Data Scientist in Mississippi earned $69,430 in 2024, about 40% below the US median of $115,636. That gap is one of the largest we see for this occupation across US states.
The spread within Mississippi is wide. The 10th percentile sits at $42,950 and the 90th at $112,010. Top earners in the state make roughly 2.6 times what someone at the entry level makes. That range suggests real variation by experience, sub-specialty, and the type of employer. A data scientist working in finance or healthcare likely lands near the top of that band. One working in state government or a smaller organization likely does not.
Cost of living shifts the picture somewhat. Mississippi's price index is 87.6 against the national baseline of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 12% lower than the US average. After adjusting for that, the state's median of $69,430 translates to roughly $79,300 in national-baseline dollars. The gap with the national median narrows, but it remains about 31%. Mississippi still pays less in real terms, not just nominal ones.
On growth, BLS projects the Data Scientist category to expand 33.5% between 2024 and 2034, a pace BLS classifies as much faster than average. That projection is national, not state-specific, so it reflects broad demand rather than anything particular to Mississippi. With only 270 Data Scientists currently employed in the state, even strong growth will produce a small absolute number of new positions.
Salary distribution
Where Mississippi data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $53,980 and $97,150, with a median of $69,430.
Data Scientists in Mississippi: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 17 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,000. 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 | 3 | $62,400 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $79,573 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $91,291 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $125,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Mississippi. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark Technologies, Inc. | Clinical Data Specialist | 2 | $66,300 |
| University of Mississippi | Assistant Professor of Scholar Support and Data Services | 1 | $57,173 |
| View Operating Corporation | Sr. Data Scientist | 1 | $101,472 |
| Parexel International LLC | Senior Business Systems Analyst | 1 | $125,000 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Advancement Data Services Manager | 1 | $64,000 |
| GMA SOFT INC. | CRM CLOUD MANAGER | 1 | $91,291 |
| Ergon, Inc. | Data Ingestion Developer | 1 | $120,000 |
| Hexad Solutions Group LLC | Data Engineer | 1 | $64,000 |
| Greenlight Financial Technology, Inc. | Data Analyst I | 1 | $120,900 |
| Indiana University Indianapolis | Data Analyst | 1 | $70,746 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Assistant Professor of Scholar Support and Data Services at University of Mississippi$57,173UniversityDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-467854
- Sr. Data Scientist at View Operating Corporation$101,472Olive BranchDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-413057
- Senior Business Systems Analyst at Parexel International LLC$125,000BrandonDecided Nov 4, 2025I-200-25268-335506
- Advancement Data Services Manager at University of Southern Mississippi$64,000HattiesburgWage Level IDecided Sep 22, 2025I-200-25258-310216
- CRM CLOUD MANAGER at GMA SOFT INC.$91,291FLOWOODWage Level IIIDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-251682
- Data Ingestion Developer at Ergon, Inc.$120,000FlowoodWage Level IVDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-244086
- Data Engineer at Hexad Solutions Group LLC$64,000STE 201Wage Level IIDecided Aug 13, 2025I-200-25218-225627
- Data Analyst I at Greenlight Financial Technology, Inc.$120,900MeridianWage Level IIIDecided Aug 6, 2025I-200-25211-209851
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 Mississippi
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 in Mississippi, by industry
Median offered wage across 16 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $67,373.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | University of Mississippi | 6 | $67,373 |
| Technology and software | Spark Technologies, Inc. | 4 | $80,100 |
| Professional services | Parexel International LLC | 3 | $100,000 |
| Manufacturing | View Operating Corporation | 2 | $115,736 |
| Energy and utilities | Ergon, Inc. | 1 | $120,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Mississippi is $69,430.
- How does Mississippi compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Mississippi median is -40.0% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Mississippi?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $42,950 and the 90th-percentile at $112,010, 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.