What does a Data Scientists salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Data Scientists earning $94,420 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $104,562 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Montana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $52,800 | $58,471 | +$5,671 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $68,520 | $75,880 | +$7,360 |
| Median (P50) | $94,420 | $104,562 | +$10,142 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $105,970 | $117,353 | +$11,383 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $147,210 | $163,023 | +$15,813 |
A Data Scientists in Montana earns $94,420 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $104,562 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Data Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #30 out of 51 states for Data Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Data Scientists take-home pay in Montana after taxes →
A Data Scientists in Montana earns a median salary of $94,420 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $104,562 — a +10.7% difference.
Montana's cost of living is 9.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Montana is 90.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Data Scientists in Montana: $94,420 x (100 / 90.3) = $104,562. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Data Scientists in Montana enjoys 10.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.