Montana · SOC 15-2051

Data Scientists in Montana

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Montana; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$100,490

per year in this state

16% below

National Median

$120,230

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$48.31/hr

median hourly

Employment

220

jobs in MT

Salary Range in Montana

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$67,120
25th$70,990
Median$100,490
75th$127,840
90th$167,150

What This Means for Data Scientists in Montana

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Montana ranks #30 of 50 states and territories for Data Scientists pay, the middle tier (60th percentile) nationally. Data Scientists working in Montana earn a median salary of $100,490, which is 16% below the national median of $120,230. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $67,120 at the 10th percentile to $167,150 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Data Scientists labor market inside Montana using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $100,490 ($48.31/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 220 workers in this SOC code (15-2051). Relative to the national median of $120,230, the state estimate is 16% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Montana, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $67,120, the 25th earns $70,990, the 75th reaches $127,840, and the 90th hits $167,150. The upper boundary is roughly 2.5× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Montana where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Montana

Similar Occupations in Montana

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Data Scientists pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Montana. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($100,490 here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 15-2051. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Montana

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Data Scientists make in Montana?
The median annual salary for Data Scientists in Montana is $100,490 (16% below national avg). Pay ranges from $67,120 (10th percentile) to $167,150 (90th percentile).
How many Data Scientists work in Montana?
There are approximately 220 Data Scientists employed in Montana, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Data Scientists in Montana?
The median hourly wage for Data Scientists in Montana is $48.31/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Montana.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Montana figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.