SOC 15-2051.00

Data Scientist Salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + VA
COL Index: 101.86 (+1.9% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 71.1% Realized
$63,322 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $89,070 $42.82/hr
Effective Tax Drag 22.91% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$20,404 $784.76/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $42.82 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$5,344/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,176/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$9,590
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$5,522
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,292
Virginia Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$4,000
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$63,322 ($2,435.47 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Data Scientist Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $89,070
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $69.8k 25th $89.1k Median: $89,070 50th (Median) $89.1k 75th $108k 90th $150k You: $89,070
10th (Entry) $69,830 $33.57/hr
25th (Junior) $89,070 $42.82/hr
50th (Median) $89,070 $42.82/hr
75th (Senior) $108,200 $52.02/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $149,510 $71.88/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
1
Junior Data ScientistBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$49,784$23.93/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Data ScientistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
$63,489$30.52/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Data ScientistFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team
$89,048$42.81/hr · 5-9 Years
4
Staff / Lead Data ScientistOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$117,718$56.60/hr · 9-14 Years
5
Principal Data ScientistExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$147,499$70.91/hr · 14+ Years
Scaled to the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA medianView National Data Scientist Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Financial Specialists, All Other-$39,130/yr
National median: $81,100
Skill overlap: 95%
Statisticians-$14,580/yr
National median: $105,650
Skill overlap: 94%
Operations Research Analysts-$31,290/yr
National median: $88,940
Skill overlap: 91%View Salary
Statistical Assistants-$69,900/yr
National median: $50,330
Skill overlap: 88%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
20% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,050/month Requires minimum annual gross of $42,000
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,340/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,600
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.53/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.56/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$89,070-$20,404$63,322$2,435.47
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$105,771-$26,038$73,387$2,822.57
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$122,471-$31,672$83,451$3,209.67
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$139,172-$37,486$93,336$3,589.83
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$155,873-$43,434$103,086$3,964.86
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Virginia tax codes.

Market Baseline
$89,070/yr
$42.82/hr · SOC 15-2051.00
Statutory Tax Drag
22.91% Effective
-$20,404 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
20% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$4,227/mo
Post-$1,050/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 15-2051.00
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA: Market Snapshot

Data Scientist roles in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA report a median annual wage of $89,070, 25.9% below the national median of $120,230. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $69,830 to $149,510, and HUD’s $1,050 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 14.1% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.53 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Data Scientist

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$185,080+107.8%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$170,110+91.0%
Idaho Falls, ID$167,840+88.4%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$164,740+85.0%
Kennewick-Richland, WA$156,830+76.1%
Charlottesville, VA$149,800+68.2%
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$146,980+65.0%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$141,760+59.2%
Corvallis, OR$140,190+57.4%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$135,980+52.7%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$208,030$100.01/hr
Sales Managers$160,830$77.32/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$157,250$75.60/hr
Fundraising Managers$143,730$69.10/hr
Financial Manager$139,800$67.21/hr
Human Resources Managers$138,220$66.45/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$137,870$66.28/hr
Industrial Production Managers$125,400$60.29/hr
Physician Assistant$125,050$60.12/hr
Nurse Practitioner$124,800$60.00/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 282 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Data Scientist Salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Overview

Data Scientist median pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is $89,070 a year ($42.82/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD. Official 2026 economic data for Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

The median annual wage is $89,070 ($42.82 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $69,830 and $149,510. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA after taxes?

On the median wage of $89,070, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $67,183 a year ($5,599 a month) after $21,887 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 24.57%, using 2026 tax rules.