Data Scientist salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Data Scientists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $120,710 a year ($58.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,850 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $119,090. There are 2.7 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $124,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,190 | $34.71 |
| 25th percentile | $85,220 | $40.97 |
| Median | $120,710 | $58.03 |
| 75th percentile | $145,500 | $69.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,850 | $86.95 |
| Average (mean) | $124,380 | $59.80 |
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 | $10,059.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,029.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,642.69 |
| Weekly | $2,321.35 |
| Hourly | $58.03 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $95,290 | 110 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $83,630 | $40.21 |
| Statistician | $152,880 | $73.50 |
| Actuary | $142,180 | $68.36 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $108,540 | $52.18 |
| Software Developer | $132,770 | $63.83 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $110,030 | $52.90 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Information Security Analyst | $143,640 | $69.06 |
| Computer Network Architect | $120,640 | $58.00 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $110,800 | $53.27 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $63,910 | $30.73 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $102,860 | $49.45 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for data scientists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $120,710 a year, or $58.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $180,850 a year. The top 25% earn $145,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,190 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $85,220 or less.
How many data scientists work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 1,990 data scientists are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.