What the numbers say
West Virginia's median wage for Data Scientists was $95,760 in 2024, about 17% below the national median of $115,636. That gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
The state's cost of living sits at roughly 87.5% of the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective median lands closer to $109,400 in national-dollar terms. The gap with the US figure narrows to under 6%.
The spread from bottom to top earners is wide. Data Scientists at the 10th percentile earned $49,000 in 2024, while those at the 90th earned $165,660. Top earners made about 3.4 times what the lowest-paid workers in the same role did. That kind of range usually reflects big differences in seniority, sub-specialty, or the sector a person works in, whether healthcare, energy, or state government, all of which are meaningful employers in West Virginia.
Employment is small in absolute terms. BLS counted roughly 220 Data Scientists in the state, so individual job changes can shift the figures noticeably from year to year.
On growth, BLS projects the occupation to expand 33.5% between 2024 and 2034, an outlook BLS classifies as much faster than average. The base is small, so even a modest number of new roles would clear that threshold. Still, the directional signal is clear.
Salary distribution
Where West Virginia data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $72,250 and $118,820, with a median of $95,760.
Data Scientists in West Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 9 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $97,302. 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 | $64,958 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $93,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $97,302 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $105,999 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in West Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Inc. | Lead Data Scientist | 1 | $169,541 |
| West Virginia University | Senior Clinical Data Scientist | 1 | $113,800 |
| Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital Association | Quality Analyst | 1 | $64,958 |
| Move Sales, Inc | Data Quality Analyst | 1 | $84,876 |
| Form Energy, Inc. | Analytics Engineer | 1 | $115,000 |
| Finovax Technologies Inc. | Business Intelligence Analyst | 1 | $47,029 |
| West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. | Artificial Intelligence Supervisor IT | 1 | $98,197 |
| Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. | Data Engineer | 1 | $97,302 |
| WINSOFT GLOBAL SYSTEMS INC | Data Engineering Analyst | 1 | $72,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lead Data Scientist at Humana Inc.$169,541MorgantownDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-366010
- Senior Clinical Data Scientist at West Virginia University$113,800MorgantownWage Level IVDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-273034
- Quality Analyst at Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital Association$64,958South CharlestonWage Level IDecided Jul 15, 2025I-200-25189-158021
- Data Quality Analyst at Move Sales, Inc$84,876MorgantownWage Level IDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-035640
- Analytics Engineer at Form Energy, Inc.$115,000WeirtonWage Level IIDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-003209
- Business Intelligence Analyst at Finovax Technologies Inc.$47,029MorgantownWage Level IDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-998331
- Artificial Intelligence Supervisor IT at West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc.$98,197MorgantownWage Level IVDecided Jan 16, 2025I-200-25009-608084
- Data Engineer at Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc.$97,302CharlestonWage Level IIIDecided Oct 31, 2024I-200-24298-431135
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 West Virginia
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 West Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 9 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $97,302.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital Association | 3 | $97,302 |
| Technology and software | Finovax Technologies Inc. | 2 | $59,514 |
| Professional services | Humana Inc. | 1 | $169,541 |
| Education | West Virginia University | 1 | $113,800 |
| Real estate | Move Sales, Inc | 1 | $84,876 |
| Manufacturing | Form Energy, Inc. | 1 | $115,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in West Virginia is $95,760.
- How does West Virginia compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The West Virginia median is -17.2% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in West Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,000 and the 90th-percentile at $165,660, 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.