What the numbers say
The median wage for Data Scientists in Missouri was $85,570 in 2024, about 26% below the national median of $115,636. That is a meaningful gap. Part of the story is cost of living: Missouri's overall price index sits at 90.6, roughly 10% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the real gap narrows to something closer to 17%. Still a discount, but a smaller one than the headline suggests.
The spread within the state is wide. A Data Scientist at the 10th percentile earned $51,720 in 2024. One at the 90th percentile earned $152,630. Top earners here make nearly three times what those at the bottom do, which tells you experience, specialty, and the type of employer matter a lot. The mean wage of $95,310 sits well above the median, which means a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Missouri had roughly 4,350 Data Scientists employed in 2024. BLS projects the occupation to grow 33.5% nationally between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. State-level projections track that national figure closely for roles with this kind of broad industry demand.
The in-state wage discount relative to the coasts is real, and Missouri's lower cost base does not close it completely. For anyone weighing a Missouri-based offer against one in a higher-cost market, the purchasing-power math still favors the higher-nominal states at most experience levels, though the margin is narrower than the raw numbers show.
Salary distribution
Where Missouri data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $61,910 and $123,180, with a median of $85,570.
Data Scientists in Missouri: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 252 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,649. 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 | 45 | $60,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 101 | $80,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 42 | $100,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 41 | $118,789 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Missouri. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Communications Inc. | BI ETL Developer II | 21 | $111,509 |
| Mastercard International Incorporated | Senior Data Scientist | 10 | $117,000 |
| Shelter Insurance Companies | Enterprise Data Engineer | 9 | $85,630 |
| Charter Communications, Inc. | Lead Business Analyst | 8 | $115,149 |
| Washington University | Data Analyst III | 8 | $73,210 |
| The Curators of the University of Missouri | Postdoctoral Fellow | 6 | $75,250 |
| Mastercard Technologies, LLC | Senior Analyst, Analytics & Metrics | 6 | $117,000 |
| Limelightlogic Inc. | Data Engineer | 5 | $75,962 |
| ASPIRE SYSTEMS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INC. | DATA ENGINEER | 5 | $105,000 |
| Bayer Research and Development Services LLC | Data Scientist | 4 | $144,029 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Manager, Product Management-Technical at Mastercard International Incorporated$119,000O'FallonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501424
- Business Analyst at Millennium Software, Inc.$126,922St CharlesDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498841
- Lead Business Analyst at Charter Communications, Inc.$118,789Maryland HeightsDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493520
- Data Engineer at SYSTEM SOFT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC$87,000Kansas CityDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462139
- Expert IT Business Systems at NESTLE REGIONAL GLOBE OFFICE NORTH AMERICA, INC$148,831St. LouisDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-454508
- Manager JC50 - Data Scientists at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$98,446Creve CoeurDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-446792
- Data Scientist at SRISAN GROUP INC$78,998HarrisonvilleDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-440372
- Sr. Reporting Data Analyst at Marathon Health, LLC$75,130Jefferson CityDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-437973
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 Missouri
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 Missouri
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 157 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Scientist at a median of $108,254.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | Schnuck Markets, Inc. | 30 | $108,254 |
| Data Engineer | Limelightlogic Inc. | 29 | $76,000 |
| Data Analyst | Washington University | 25 | $74,878 |
| Business Analyst | ENDEAVOUR TECHNOLOGIES INC | 21 | $78,083 |
| Senior Manager, Business Intelligence | Charter Communications Inc. | 10 | $115,149 |
| BI ETL Developer | Charter Communications Inc. | 10 | $93,725 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | ASPIRE SYSTEMS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INC. | 9 | $86,700 |
| Director, Business Intelligence | Mastercard International Incorporated | 7 | $141,300 |
| Sr. Enterprise Data Analyst | Shelter Insurance Companies | 5 | $100,000 |
| Enterprise Data Engineer | Shelter Insurance Companies | 4 | $81,981 |
| BI Analyst | Charter Communications Inc. | 4 | $93,725 |
| Senior Analyst, Analytics & Metrics | Mastercard Technologies, LLC | 3 | $88,023 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in Missouri, by industry
Median offered wage across 250 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $89,199.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Charter Communications Inc. | 126 | $89,199 |
| Finance and insurance | Mastercard International Incorporated | 42 | $108,044 |
| Professional services | Bayer Research and Development Services LLC | 35 | $96,247 |
| Education | Washington University | 16 | $70,100 |
| Manufacturing | Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC | 10 | $89,115 |
| Retail and wholesale | Schnuck Markets, Inc. | 9 | $86,700 |
| Healthcare | Truman Medical Centers, Inc. | 6 | $67,808 |
| Transportation and logistics | Kansas City Southern Railway Company | 4 | $100,738 |
| Nonprofit and civic | James S. McDonnell Foundation | 1 | $80,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Hornblower Group, Inc. | 1 | $88,023 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Missouri 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Missouri
Metro-level salary data for data scientists in major Missouri metropolitan areas.
- Kansas City$96,540
- St. Louis$90,330
Compare Data Scientists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in Missouri?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Missouri is $85,570.
- How does Missouri compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Missouri median is -26.0% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Missouri?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $51,720 and the 90th-percentile at $152,630, 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.