Data Science Salary in Nevada: Is It a Good Career?
Nevada · 2026 BLS salary data
Data Science pay in Nevada
The median wage is $98,540/yr — 18% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Nevadaranks #32 of 49 states by median pay.
The numbers in Nevada
Real BLS state-level figures for Data Science.
- Median salary
- $98,540/yr
- Pay range (25th–75th)
- $76,190 – $129,990
- National median
- $120,230/yr
- Employed in Nevada
- 1,680
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.
What that pay is really worth in Nevada
Salary alone can mislead — Nevada costs about the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).
- Cost of living (US=100)
- 100
- Nominal median
- $98,540
- Adjusted for cost of living
- ≈ $98,540
- State income tax
- None
Nevada's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #37 of 49, down from #32 on raw salary.
Nevada levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.
Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.
FAQ
How much do data science professionals make in Nevada?
The median annual wage is $98,540 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $76,190 and $129,990. That's 18% below the national median.
Is Nevada a good state for data science?
By raw pay, Nevada ranks #32 of 49 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Nevada costs about the U.S. average), that median is worth about $98,540. Nevada's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #37 of 49, down from #32 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.
Are data science professionals in demand in Nevada?
About 1,680 people work in this field in Nevada (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +33.5% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.
The verdict
Yes — data science has the highest projected growth in this set and pays very well. But the bar is high: strong stats, coding, and often a quantitative degree, and 'entry-level' roles are competitive.
- Worth it If you have strong quantitative and coding skills (or will build them)
- Worth it If you want high pay in the fastest-growing field here
- Not worth it If you dislike math/statistics or want an easy entry
Pros & cons
Pros
- Highest projected growth of any career in this set
- Very high, well-above-median pay
- Remote-friendly, demand across every industry
- Intellectually rich (stats, ML, business impact)
- Strong path into ML engineering and leadership
Cons
- High skill bar: statistics, coding, ML
- Often expects a quantitative degree
- 'Entry-level' roles are competitive
- Role definitions vary wildly between companies
- A lot of the job is data cleaning, not modeling
Who it's for
✓ A good fit if…
- Quantitatively strong, analytical people
- Those who enjoy coding and statistics
- Anyone targeting high pay in a booming field
✗ Probably not if…
- People who dislike math and programming
- Those wanting a low-barrier entry
What people are actually asking
Real Reddit discussions on whether Data Science is worth it — titles link to the original threads.
- “Is studying Data Science still worth it?”r/learnmachinelearningnegative/caution
- “Is Data Science a good career to pursue in 2026 and ...”r/datasciencecareersmixed
- “Is Data Science Really the Future? Is it Worth Pursuing?”r/cscareerquestionsquestioning
- “Is studying Data Science still worth it?”r/datasciencenegative/caution
- “Should I pursue Data Science in 2026, or is the field at risk ...”r/careerguidancequestioning
- “Is data science a bad career long-term?”r/datasciencenegative/caution
- “Is data science worth it in 2025”r/learnmachinelearningquestioning