2026 Salary — Tennessee
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in Tennessee: $103K Median
Data Scientists in Tennessee earn between $64K and $175K per year.
That's -5% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Tennessee is $102,619 per year — -5% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $64,391 (entry, 25th percentile) to $174,886 (90th percentile). Tennessee's cost-of-living index is 92. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Median
$102,619
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$80,750
Experienced
$156,750
Top 10%
$174,886
About Data Scientists in Tennessee
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 Tennessee
Walk-away anchor: $89,234.
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 — Tennessee
What is the average Data Scientist salary in Tennessee?
The average Data Scientist salary in Tennessee is $102,619 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $64,391 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $174,886 (90th percentile). Tennessee has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Data Scientist pay in Tennessee compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in Tennessee earn approximately 5% less than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $102,619 in Tennessee). Tennessee's cost-of-living index of 92 amplifies the real purchasing power.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Tennessee increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Tennessee grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $16,551 in 2025 to $102,619 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which Tennessee cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Top-paying Tennessee metros for Data Scientists: Nashville ($108K), Memphis ($95K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Tennessee?
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. Tennessee's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing (Auto, EV), Logistics (FedEx), and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does Tennessee have state income tax?
No, Tennessee has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $102,619, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
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 Tennessee employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee: $89,234.
Methodology
Tennessee Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by Tennessee's state multiplier (0.95×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
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