Data Scientist salary in South Carolina
Data Scientists in South Carolina earn a median of $91,990 a year ($44.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,000 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $120,230. South Carolina ranks 39th of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 1.6 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $102,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,600 | $29.61 |
| 25th percentile | $78,550 | $37.77 |
| Median | $91,990 | $44.23 |
| 75th percentile | $123,880 | $59.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| Average (mean) | $102,830 | $49.44 |
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 | $7,665.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,832.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,538.08 |
| Weekly | $1,769.04 |
| Hourly | $44.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in South Carolina
| 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 |
| Columbia, SC | $88,260 | 590 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| Statistician | $65,450 | $31.46 |
| Software Developer | $129,450 | $62.24 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $52,080 | $25.04 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $98,280 | $47.25 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $112,260 | $53.97 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $92,520 | $44.48 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,790 | $36.92 |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,990 | $64.90 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $97,500 | $46.88 |
| Information Security Analyst | $105,800 | $50.87 |
| Database Architect | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Database Administrator | $93,640 | $45.02 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $80,930 | $38.91 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for data scientists in South Carolina is $91,990 a year, or $44.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of data scientists in South Carolina earn at least $156,000 a year. The top 25% earn $123,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,600 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $78,550 or less.
How many data scientists work in South Carolina?
About 3,750 data scientists are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.