Data Scientist Salary in Raleigh, NC
Data Scientists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $120,710 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,442 take-home, or $7,453 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,726
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,484
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,750
- North Carolina income tax$4,308
- Take-home pay$89,442
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,190 | $34.71 | $57,244 | $4,770 |
| 25th percentile | $85,220 | $40.97 | $65,891 | $5,491 |
| Median (50th) | $120,710 | $58.03 | $89,442 | $7,453 |
| 75th percentile | $145,500 | $69.95 | $105,419 | $8,785 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,850 | $86.95 | $128,170 | $10,681 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $120,710 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $89,442 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,121 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 1.6× 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
Raleigh, NC ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $120,710 | $89,442 | $91,121 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $106,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Raleigh, NC?
The median data scientist salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $120,710 a year, or about $58.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,220 and $145,500.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $120,710 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $89,442 a year ($7,453 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,308 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #13 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Information Security Analyst — $143,640
- Software Developer — $132,770
- Database Architect — $132,740
- Database Administrator — $122,950
- Computer Network Architect — $120,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $110,800
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,480
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,380
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $102,860
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $63,910
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,460