What the numbers say
Wisconsin's median Data Scientist wage was $100,020 in 2024, about 13.5% below the national median of $115,636. That gap is real, but it is not the whole picture.
The spread here is wide. Bottom earners at the 10th percentile brought in $73,900, while those at the 90th percentile reached $148,180. Top earners make roughly twice what entry-level peers do, which signals that experience, specialization, and the specific employer matter a lot in this state.
Cost of living shifts the comparison. Wisconsin's overall cost index sits at 92.7, meaning goods, housing, and services run about 7% cheaper than the national baseline. After adjusting for that, the $100,020 median stretches to somewhere around $107,900 in national-baseline dollars. The gap with the US figure narrows to roughly $7,700. That is still a discount, but a far smaller one than the headline numbers suggest.
On growth, BLS projects a 33.5% increase for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as much faster than average. That is the same direction most states are tracking for Data Scientists, though Wisconsin's starting employment base of 3,640 means the raw job additions will be smaller than what coastal tech hubs see.
We computed the cost-of-living adjusted figure using BEA Regional Price Parity data embedded in our index. All wage figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2024 release.
Salary distribution
Where Wisconsin data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,230 and $124,960, with a median of $100,020.
Data Scientists in Wisconsin: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 117 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $107,328. 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 | 22 | $78,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 33 | $94,037 |
| Level III — experienced | 18 | $127,800 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 23 | $138,715 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Wisconsin. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | Data Scientist | 7 | $141,287 |
| Federal Express Corporation | Marketing Data Science Advisor | 5 | $132,229 |
| Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | Senior Data Engineer | 4 | $128,299 |
| Uline, Inc. | Senior Business Intelligence Developer | 4 | $150,555 |
| FedEx Dataworks, Inc. | Data Scientist Lead | 4 | $126,598 |
| KFORCE INC. | ADVANCED DATA ANALYST | 3 | $116,064 |
| University of Wisconsin System | DATA SCIENTIST II | 3 | $80,332 |
| GB Minimart LLC | Business Intelligence Analyst | 3 | $70,054 |
| Schneider Enterprise Resources, LLC | Data Scientist Sr. | 3 | $129,076 |
| Populus Group LLC | Business Analyst | 2 | $104,624 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- DATA ANALYST at ARTIFINT TECHNOLOGIES LLC$70,907JEFFERSONDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503423
- IT Business Analyst at Toyota Material Handling Inc.$76,861MadisonDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498738
- Data Scientist Principal at Federal Express Corporation$181,374New BerlinDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-489958
- Business Analyst at Tek Resource Inc$96,000MadisonDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-484186
- Data Engineer at Policy Confluence, Inc.$90,522MadisonDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-479524
- Sr Data Scientist at Federal Express Corporation$124,409New BerlinDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471539
- Business Analyst at Populus Group LLC$96,928MadisonDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-469810
- Power BI Developer at Corporate Employment Resources, Inc.$114,400RacineDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462155
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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 63 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Scientist at a median of $107,328.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | FedEx Dataworks, Inc. | 25 | $107,328 |
| DATA ANALYST | ARTIFINT TECHNOLOGIES LLC | 9 | $73,840 |
| Senior Data Engineer | Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | 8 | $128,299 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | GB Minimart LLC | 7 | $74,298 |
| Business Analyst | Tek Resource Inc | 4 | $103,049 |
| Senior Business Intelligence Developer | Uline, Inc. | 4 | $144,761 |
| ADVANCED DATA ANALYST | KFORCE INC. | 3 | $116,064 |
| Analytics Engineer | Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | 3 | $117,082 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in Wisconsin, by industry
Median offered wage across 116 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $93,642.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Mindedge Solutions Inc | 33 | $93,642 |
| Manufacturing | Molson Coors Beverage Company USA LLC | 19 | $110,000 |
| Professional services | FedEx Dataworks, Inc. | 17 | $112,320 |
| Finance and insurance | American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | 16 | $130,064 |
| Retail and wholesale | Uline, Inc. | 16 | $102,542 |
| Transportation and logistics | Federal Express Corporation | 8 | $130,652 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin System | 4 | $77,166 |
| Healthcare | INDEPENDENT PHYSICIANS OF WISCONSIN LLC | 2 | $86,764 |
| Real estate | The Kriete Group, LLC | 1 | $74,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin metropolitan areas.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in Wisconsin?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Wisconsin is $100,020.
- How does Wisconsin compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Wisconsin median is -13.5% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Wisconsin?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $73,900 and the 90th-percentile at $148,180, 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.