Data Analyst Salary in State College, PA: $54,725 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time data analyst in State College, PA earns a median $54,725/year (≈ $26.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2051). Once you factor in State College's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.8), that paycheck buys what $56,556 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.2% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected pay for data analysts in State College, Pennsylvania, stands at $54,725, significantly below the national median of $80,394. This salary falls within a range of $39,766 at the lower percentile (P10) and reaches $85,985 for those at the upper echelon (P90). Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys indicate that while the remuneration for local data analyst roles reflects a modest growth of 4.48% annually, the overall compensation in State College still trails the national landscape. This contrast might reflect both regional economic factors and the concentration of tech employment opportunities, which can influence the local pay scale.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,766 | $19.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,434 | $24.73 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,725 | $26.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $64,039 | $30.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,985 | $41.33 |
Median Salary Position
31.93% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in State College
In State College, PA, the data analyst salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $46,219 (2026 est.). At $54,725, the local median is 31.93% below the national median of $80,394.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in State College: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How State College Data Analyst Pay Compares
State College median: $54,725/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | State College Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $60,940 | -10.20% less |
| National Average | $80,394 | -31.93% less |
Data Analysts in State College, PA earn a median of $54,725 per year (2026 est.), which is 31.93% lower than the national median of $80,394 and 10.20% below the Pennsylvania state average of $60,940.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
State College has a cost of living 3.24% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
State College, PA has a cost-of-living index of 96.762 (below the national average of 100). A data analyst earning $54,725 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $56,556 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.35% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$43,961
2025 BLS Actual
$52,378
2026 Current Est.
$54,725
2021–2027 Growth
+30.1%
Salary Trajectory for Data Analysts in State College (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.48% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $43,961 | Actual |
| 2022 | $45,090 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,059 | Actual |
| 2024 | $85,370 | Actual |
| 2025 | $52,378 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,725 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57,176 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the State College metropolitan area, the median data analyst salary grew 19.1% from $43,961 (2021) to $52,378 (2025). At a 4.48% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $57,176 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,215 (30.06%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the State College metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.48% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,766 – $51,434 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,434 – $54,725 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,725 – $64,039 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $64,039 – $85,985 |
DA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual data analyst compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Data Analyst Job Market in State College
The job market for data analysts in State College includes approximately 90 professionals in the field. The cost of living index, resting at 96.762, suggests a reasonably affordable living environment, which may enhance the effective purchasing power of these salaries. However, opportunities for higher pay generally require a pivot toward larger tech firms or innovative AI startups, with the potential for equity-heavy compensation packages not common among smaller local employers. Companies like Google and Amazon lead the market, offering more competitive salaries, while local firms may struggle to match such levels. Candidates can maximize their pay by focusing on companies with a reputation for valuing data-driven roles, investing in upskilling for specialized functions like ML engineering, and considering potential pathways into management positions, which often come with elevated salaries and broader scopes.
More salary data for State College, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience in data analysis. She specializes in business intelligence and works at a tech consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $52,378 for data analystsin the State College metropolitan area. A 4.48% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for data analysts (SOC 15-2051).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst, a licensed data analyst with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov