Data Scientist salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Data Scientists in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $95,290 a year ($45.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,930 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 20% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $119,090. There are 0.72 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $99,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,290 | $28.51 |
| 25th percentile | $68,950 | $33.15 |
| Median | $95,290 | $45.81 |
| 75th percentile | $133,760 | $64.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,930 | $64.39 |
| Average (mean) | $99,170 | $47.68 |
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 | $7,940.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,970.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,665 |
| Weekly | $1,832.50 |
| Hourly | $45.81 |
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 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $120,710 | 1,990 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $111,870 | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $106,500 | 1,320 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $106,270 | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $106,060 | 370 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $102,740 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $101,570 | 300 |
| Greenville, NC | $101,520 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,300 | 770 |
| Asheville, NC | $97,690 | 130 |
| Burlington, NC | $96,300 | 80 |
| Wilmington, NC | $93,090 | 160 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $122,540 | $58.91 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $74,310 | $35.73 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $93,970 | $45.18 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $85,780 | $41.24 |
| Computer Network Architect | $109,950 | $52.86 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $93,540 | $44.97 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $60,910 | $29.29 |
| Information Security Analyst | $115,250 | $55.41 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for data scientists in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $95,290 a year, or $45.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $133,930 a year. The top 25% earn $133,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,290 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $68,950 or less.
How many data scientists work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 110 data scientists are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.