Data Scientist salary in Wilmington, NC
Data Scientists in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $93,090 a year ($44.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,700 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 22% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $119,090. There are 0.84 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $99,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,230 | $29.44 |
| 25th percentile | $74,430 | $35.78 |
| Median | $93,090 | $44.76 |
| 75th percentile | $118,350 | $56.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,700 | $72.94 |
| Average (mean) | $99,210 | $47.70 |
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 | $7,757.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,878.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,580.38 |
| Weekly | $1,790.19 |
| Hourly | $44.76 |
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 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $95,290 | 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $123,730 | $59.49 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,060 | $47.62 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $96,350 | $46.32 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $93,830 | $45.11 |
| Information Security Analyst | $145,170 | $69.79 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $86,200 | $41.44 |
| Computer Network Architect | $114,230 | $54.92 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,530 | $38.23 |
| Database Architect | $131,470 | $63.21 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Web Developer | $91,480 | $43.98 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for data scientists in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $93,090 a year, or $44.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $151,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $151,700 a year. The top 25% earn $118,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,230 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $74,430 or less.
How many data scientists work in Wilmington, NC?
About 160 data scientists are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.