Michigan's average data scientist salary of $105,890 falls below most neighboring states, including Minnesota at $126,290 and Illinois at $117,870. Ohio is the closest peer at $107,160, while Indiana is the only nearby state that comes in lower at $98,340. For employers, this means Michigan offers a genuine cost advantage when recruiting locally rather than competing in higher-cost Midwest markets.
Data scientist salary in Michigan (2026)
In this article
The average data scientist salary in Michigan is $105,890 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $100,590 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Michigan employs 7,360 data scientists, and the $5,300 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior data scientists in Michigan typically earn around $60,830, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $162,670 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a data scientist hire in Michigan, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $100,590 |
Average Annual Salary | $105,890 |
vs. National Average | 16.5% below the national mean of $126,800 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 7,360 employed data scientists across Michigan.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next data scientist hire.
Data scientist salary percentiles in Michigan
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $60,830 |
25th Percentile | $77,410 |
75th Percentile | $130,240 |
90th Percentile | $162,670 |
Employers hiring at the senior end of the market should budget toward $130,240 to $162,670 and above, since experienced specialists in Michigan regularly reach those levels. Entry-level offers anchored near $60,830 are appropriate for candidates with limited applied experience, but expect candidates with a few years of production work to push toward the $77,410 to $100,590 band quickly.
Data scientist salary by city in Michigan
City | Average Annual Salary |
Detroit | $111,040 |
Ann Arbor | $107,870 |
Grand Rapids | $101,330 |
Lansing | $94,390 |
Flint | $87,820 |
Where you locate the role meaningfully affects your compensation budget, with Detroit-area offers running roughly $23,220 higher on average than those in Flint. Detroit averages $111,040 and Flint averages $87,820, so employers with flexibility on location can find real cost savings without leaving the state. Ann Arbor sits close to Detroit at $107,870, making it a competitive market despite its smaller size.
How Michigan compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Michigan | $105,890 | $100,590 |
Minnesota | $126,290 | $128,800 |
Illinois | $117,870 | $106,560 |
Wisconsin | $116,600 | $106,680 |
Ohio | $107,160 | $102,630 |
Indiana | $98,340 | $91,470 |
Michigan is a cost-effective market for data scientist hiring relative to most of its Midwest neighbors, which gives employers here a real budgeting advantage when competing for talent. Michigan's average of $105,890 sits below Minnesota ($126,290), Illinois ($117,870), and Wisconsin ($116,600), but tracks closely with Ohio at $107,160. Indiana is the only neighboring state where compensation runs lower, averaging $98,340.
Frequently asked questions about data scientist salary in Michigan
How does Michigan compare to other states for data scientist salary?
What do the top-earning data scientists make in Michigan?
Data scientists at the 90th percentile in Michigan earn $162,670 per year. If you are competing for senior specialists with deep domain expertise or rare technical skills, plan for offers at or above that threshold. The gap between the 75th percentile ($130,240) and the 90th percentile ($162,670) is wide enough that seniority and specialization should drive where in that range you anchor your offer.
What is the salary range for a data scientist in Michigan?
The published range runs from $60,830 at the 10th percentile to $162,670 at the 90th percentile for data scientists in Michigan. The middle of the market sits between $77,410 at the 25th percentile and $130,240 at the 75th percentile, which is where most competitive offers will land. Use the seniority and scope of the role to determine where within that band your offer should sit.
What is the average data scientist salary in Michigan?
The average data scientist salary in Michigan is $105,890 per year, with a median of $100,590. The $5,300 gap between those two figures reflects a segment of higher-compensated roles pulling the average above the midpoint. For most hiring decisions, the median of $100,590 is the more practical anchor when setting an initial offer range.
Data Scientist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-2051 (Data Scientists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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