Data Scientist Salary in Durham, NC
Data Scientists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $106,500 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,012 take-home, or $6,668 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,600
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,603
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,544
- North Carolina income tax$3,741
- Take-home pay$80,012
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,060 | $28.88 | $48,551 | $4,046 |
| 25th percentile | $75,470 | $36.28 | $59,421 | $4,952 |
| Median (50th) | $106,500 | $51.20 | $80,012 | $6,668 |
| 75th percentile | $157,290 | $75.62 | $113,007 | $9,417 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $182,020 | $87.51 | $128,923 | $10,744 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,500 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $80,012 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,003 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 2.3× 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
Durham, NC ranks #36 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 |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $106,500 | $80,012 | $82,003 |
*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
- Charlotte, NC — $132,460
- Raleigh, NC — $120,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Durham, NC?
The median data scientist salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $106,500 a year, or about $51.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,470 and $157,290.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $106,500 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $80,012 a year ($6,668 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,741 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,003 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #36 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Computer Network Architect — $144,990
- Database Architect — $141,770
- Software Developer — $135,620
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $133,340
- Information Security Analyst — $129,670
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $126,300
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $122,980
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $110,640
- Computer Systems Analyst — $106,410
- Computer Programmer — $105,160
- Statistician — $103,290
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $81,090