Data Scientist salary in Tennessee
Data Scientists in Tennessee earn a median of $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,160 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $120,230. Tennessee ranks 31st of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 0.85 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $105,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| 25th percentile | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Median | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| 75th percentile | $131,930 | $63.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,160 | $75.08 |
| Average (mean) | $105,200 | $50.58 |
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 | $8,360.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,180.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,858.85 |
| Weekly | $1,929.42 |
| Hourly | $48.24 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $103,020 | 1,360 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $102,220 | 410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,470 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $92,640 | 320 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $91,340 | 200 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,200 | 50 |
| Johnson City, TN | $69,330 | 30 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $76,680 | $36.87 |
| Statistician | $98,230 | $47.23 |
| Actuary | $108,930 | $52.37 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $65,110 | $31.31 |
| Software Developer | $122,430 | $58.86 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $76,470 | $36.77 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,630 | $45.98 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| Computer Network Architect | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Information Security Analyst | $115,430 | $55.50 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| Database Administrator | $115,500 | $55.53 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for data scientists in Tennessee is $100,330 a year, or $48.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of data scientists in Tennessee earn at least $156,160 a year. The top 25% earn $131,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,200 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $77,770 or less.
How many data scientists work in Tennessee?
About 2,790 data scientists are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.