Data Scientist salary in Columbia, SC
Data Scientists in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $88,260 a year ($42.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,960 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 4% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $91,990. There are 1.5 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $94,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| 25th percentile | $65,210 | $31.35 |
| Median | $88,260 | $42.43 |
| 75th percentile | $111,660 | $53.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,960 | $66.81 |
| Average (mean) | $94,360 | $45.36 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,355 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,677.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,394.62 |
| Weekly | $1,697.31 |
| Hourly | $42.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,460 | 4,420 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $94,330 | 170 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $93,930 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $92,800 | 220 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $91,740 | 100 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $91,490 | 660 |
| Florence, SC | $80,050 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $79,560 | $38.25 |
| Actuary | $133,060 | $63.97 |
| Statistician | $67,630 | $32.51 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $90,760 | $43.64 |
| Software Developer | $123,380 | $59.32 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $91,920 | $44.19 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Information Security Analyst | $101,330 | $48.71 |
| Computer Network Architect | $125,510 | $60.34 |
| Database Administrator | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $86,320 | $41.50 |
| Database Architect | $135,790 | $65.28 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for data scientists in the Columbia, SC metro area is $88,260 a year, or $42.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $138,960 a year. The top 25% earn $111,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,350 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $65,210 or less.
How many data scientists work in Columbia, SC?
About 590 data scientists are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.