2026 Salary — Montana
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in Montana: $100K Median
Data Scientists in Montana earn between $63K and $171K per year.
That's -7% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Montana is $100,459 per year — -7% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $63,035 (entry, 25th percentile) to $171,204 (90th percentile). Montana's cost-of-living index is 100. State income tax applies.
Median
$100,459
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$79,050
Experienced
$153,450
Top 10%
$171,204
About Data Scientists in Montana
Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.
Hot 2026 Skills
LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI
ATS Keywords
PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in Montana
Walk-away anchor: $87,356.
Leverage Points
- Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
- Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
- Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
- Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems
Negotiate Beyond Base
Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years
Data Scientist Salary FAQ — Montana
What is the average Data Scientist salary in Montana?
The average Data Scientist salary in Montana is $100,459 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $63,035 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $171,204 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in Montana compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in Montana earn approximately 7% less than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $100,459 in Montana). Montana's cost-of-living index of 100 is close to the national average.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Montana increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Montana grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $16,203 in 2025 to $100,459 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which Montana cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Montana has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Montana?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. Montana's top industries include Agriculture, Tourism, Mining, and the state's unemployment rate is 3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does Montana have state income tax?
Yes, Montana has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $100,459, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Montana employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Montana?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance. Walk-away anchor for Montana: $87,356.
Methodology
Montana Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by Montana's state multiplier (0.93×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
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