Data Scientist Salary in Nashville, TN
Data Scientists in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $103,020 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,305 take-home, or $6,775 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,834
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,387
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,494
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$81,305
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,570 | $30.56 | $53,258 | $4,438 |
| 25th percentile | $81,070 | $38.98 | $65,863 | $5,489 |
| Median (50th) | $103,020 | $49.53 | $81,305 | $6,775 |
| 75th percentile | $133,610 | $64.24 | $102,588 | $8,549 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,660 | $79.64 | $124,495 | $10,375 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,020 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $81,305 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,395 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 less concentrated in Nashville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Nashville, TN | $103,020 | $81,305 | $84,395 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Nashville, TN?
The median data scientist salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $103,020 a year, or about $49.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,070 and $133,610.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $103,020 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $81,305 a year ($6,775 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,395 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #30 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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