When Pennsylvania announced its intent to host the Big Data & Analytics for Pharma Summit in 2016, it became clear the state was taking a keener interest in data science capabilities. Still, as early as 2014 the United States Department of Labor noticed that data science professionals in the state were earning top salaries and seeing some of the best employment opportunities in the state. In fact, Pennsylvania held the second highest concentration of data scientists working in the area of survey research nationwide, with some 2,670 survey researchers working in the state that year.
Starting Salary Ranges for Data Scientist in Pennsylvania’s Major Cities
The recent upswing in tech employment throughout Pennsylvania has many data scientists planting roots here, and gaining earning the kind of money that only competitive employers can offer. Between 2014 and 2015 alone 1,354 new jobs were created in the tech industry.
In 2016, the Pittsburg Business Times reported that Pennsylvania ranked #8 for tech employment in the country. Still more, workers in the tech industry such as data scientists earned average wages that were 82% greater than the average wage afforded to other workers in the private sector.
In that year, tech workers in Pennsylvania received an average annual salary of $92,179. Meanwhile, data scientists employed statewide were collected an average starting salary range between $80,000 and $180,000.
Pittsburg’s startup scene has recently inspired a growth spurt of tech companies; companies that keep creating high paying positions for data scientists. According to Pricewater Cooper Money Tree, in 2015 Pittsburg was named the #6 in the nation for its high number of tech companies funded by venture capital.
To help data scientists zero in on the most promising job opportunities in Pittsburg, the weekly publication NEXTpittsburg compiled its list of “16 Pittsburg tech companies to watch in 2016.” Each of these companies showed strong evidence of product innovation, national influence, expansion capability, and new hires:
- 4moms
- ALung
- Aquion
- Avere
- BoXYZ
- ContainerShip
- Digital Dream Labs
- Duolingo
- Interface Materials
- Jazz
- Niche
- Rorus
- Schell Games
- Sole Power
- Uber Pittsburg
- Wombat Security Technologies
In 2016, the IT recruitment company Robert Half Technologies reviewed thousands of its job placements in recent years to determine the starting salary ranges for data scientist working in major cities cross Pennsylvania. However, these salary figures did not include additional compensation through bonuses or other incentives:
Philadelphia Area
- Philadelphia: $125,000-$177,000
- Upper Darby: $125,000-$177,000
Pittsburg Area
- Pittsburg: $107,000-$151,000
- Youngstown: $80,000-$112,000
Allentown Area
- Allentown: $100,000-$141,000
- Bethlehem: $100,000-$141,000
- Reading: $96,000-$136,000
Erie Area
- Erie: $85,000-$121,000
- Warren: $80,000-$112,000
- Boardman: $80,000-$112,000
Harrisburg Area
- Harrisburg: $104,000-$146,000
- York: $94,000-$132,000
- Carlisle: $103,000-$146,000
- Lebanon: $81,000-$114,000
- Hanover: $94,000-$132,000
Other Cities
- Scranton: $83,000-$118,000
Salaries for Data Science Professionals in Pennsylvania by Industry
The United States Department of Labor published the following salary data for Pennsylvania’s data scientists in key roles and industries (2014):
Statistical Modeling
- Mean: $77,480
- Median: $68,800
- 75th Percentile: $95,300
- 90th Percentile: $136,100
Computer and Information Research Science
- Mean: $111,670
- Median: $113,000
- 75th Percentile: $133,400
- 90th Percentile: $147,900
Operations Research
- Mean: $74,090
- Median: $70,200
- 75th Percentile: $91,600
- 90th Percentile: $113,900
Financial Services
- Mean: $77,910
- Median: $69,100
- 75th Percentile: $92,300
- 90th Percentile: $126,500
Survey Research
- Mean: $40,800
- Median: $32,400
- 75th Percentile: $49,300
- 90th Percentile: $80,700
Epidemiology/Public Health
- Mean: $79,940
- Median: $75,900
- 75th Percentile: $100,100
- 90th Percentile: $119,200
Lehigh Valley’s Statistical Modeling Professionals Earn Top Salaries
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor reported that Pennsylvania had the unique distinction of having the fourth highest employment level and second highest concentration of statistical modeling professionals in the country. That year, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region was the best paying location for statistical modelers statewide. The average annual salary for statistical modelers working here was $90,920 that year. A full analysis is available below:
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton – $142,130
- Harrisburg-Carlisle – $88,880
- Philadelphia PA Metropolitan Division – $152,630
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington – $152,900
- Pittsburgh – $84,410
- Scranton–Wilkes-Barre – $69,960
- York-Hanover – $106,090
Computer and Information Research Scientists Earn More in Pittsburgh
Computer and information research scientist salaries differ considerably across Pennsylvania based on the demand and primary employers in a given area. For instance, in 2014 the United States Department of Labor determined that computer and information research scientists in Pittsburgh earned an average annual salary of $118,360, while those in the Philadelphia metro area earned $105,710 on average that year. A full analysis is available below:
- Philadelphia PA Metropolitan Division – $141,610
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington – $143,260
- Pittsburgh – $187,199*
*These salaries are equal to or greater than $90 an hour or $187,199 a year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data beyond this level.
Data Scientists Working in Operations Research in the Nonmetropolitan Areas of Pennsylvania Earn Top Salaries
The United States Department of Labor ranked the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area the third highest paying nonmetropolitan area nationwide for data scientists working in an operations research capacity as of 2014. These data scientists earned an average annual salary of $79,240 that year. A full analysis is available below:
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton – $93,000
- Harrisburg-Carlisle – $108,610
- Lancaster – $110,780
- Philadelphia PA Metropolitan Division – $118,130
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington – $121,180
- Pittsburgh – $114,520
- Reading – $115,120
- Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area, – $105,710
The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics information shown here reflects salary data for broad occupational classifications that include data scientists. These estimates are expressed as the 90th percentile average to reflect the fact that data scientists are recognized as the top earners within each classification.