Data Scientist Salary in Charlotte, NC
Data Scientists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $132,460 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,026 take-home, or $8,085 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,213
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,921
- North Carolina income tax$4,776
- Take-home pay$97,026
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Data Scientist pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,790 | $34.03 | $56,315 | $4,693 |
| 25th percentile | $97,310 | $46.78 | $73,914 | $6,159 |
| Median (50th) | $132,460 | $63.68 | $97,026 | $8,085 |
| 75th percentile | $165,470 | $79.55 | $118,271 | $9,856 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,200 | $82.31 | $121,959 | $10,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,460 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $97,026 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,669 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charlotte, NC has 1.9× the national concentration of data scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #4 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $120,710
- Durham, NC — $106,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Charlotte, NC?
The median data scientist salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $132,460 a year, or about $63.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,310 and $165,470.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $132,460 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $97,026 a year ($8,085 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,776 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,669 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #4 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- Database Architect — $138,870
- Software Developer — $135,920
- Computer Network Architect — $134,410
- Information Security Analyst — $131,440
- Database Administrator — $113,890
- Computer Systems Analyst — $110,790
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,790
- Operations Research Analyst — $105,180
- Web Developer — $101,980
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $94,290
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $89,990
- Computer Programmer — $84,720