Data Scientist Salary in Columbia, SC
Data Scientists in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $88,260 a year — 27% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,782 take-home, or $5,565 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,587
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,472
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,280
- South Carolina income tax$4,139
- Take-home pay$66,782
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,350 | $25.17 | $42,259 | $3,522 |
| 25th percentile | $65,210 | $31.35 | $51,821 | $4,318 |
| Median (50th) | $88,260 | $42.43 | $66,782 | $5,565 |
| 75th percentile | $111,660 | $53.68 | $81,840 | $6,820 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,960 | $66.81 | $99,065 | $8,255 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $88,260 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $66,782 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,301 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Data Scientist jobs are about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #68 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 |
| 68 | Columbia, SC | $88,260 | $66,782 | $71,301 |
*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 South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $91,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Columbia, SC?
The median data scientist salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $88,260 a year, or about $42.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,210 and $111,660.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $88,260 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $66,782 a year ($5,565 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,139 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 27% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,301 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #68 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Software Developer — $123,380
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $91,920
- Computer Systems Analyst — $90,760
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $86,650
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $76,560
- Computer User Support Specialist — $50,080