2026 Salary — North Carolina
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in North Carolina: $105K Median
Data Scientists in North Carolina earn between $66K and $179K per year.
That's -3% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in North Carolina is $104,779 per year — -3% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $65,747 (entry, 25th percentile) to $178,567 (90th percentile). North Carolina's cost-of-living index is 95. State income tax applies.
Median
$104,779
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$82,450
Experienced
$160,050
Top 10%
$178,567
About Data Scientists in North Carolina
Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.
Hot 2026 Skills
LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI
ATS Keywords
PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in North Carolina
Walk-away anchor: $91,112.
Leverage Points
- Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
- Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
- Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
- Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems
Negotiate Beyond Base
Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years
Data Scientist Salary FAQ — North Carolina
What is the average Data Scientist salary in North Carolina?
The average Data Scientist salary in North Carolina is $104,779 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $65,747 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $178,567 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in North Carolina compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in North Carolina earn approximately 3% less than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $104,779 in North Carolina). North Carolina's cost-of-living index of 95 is close to the national average.
Did Data Scientist salaries in North Carolina increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in North Carolina grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $16,900 in 2025 to $104,779 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which North Carolina cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Top-paying North Carolina metros for Data Scientists: Charlotte ($110K), Raleigh ($113K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in North Carolina?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. North Carolina's top industries include Finance/Banking, Tech (Research Triangle), Pharmaceuticals, and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does North Carolina have state income tax?
Yes, North Carolina has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $104,779, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with North Carolina employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in North Carolina?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance. Walk-away anchor for North Carolina: $91,112.
Methodology
North Carolina Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by North Carolina's state multiplier (0.97×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
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