Data Scientists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,020 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Durham earn between $75,470 and $157,290.
- $60K10th
- $75K25th
- $106KMedian
- $157K75th
- $182K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,660 | $9,972 | $57.53 |
| Median | $106,500 | $8,875 | $51.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,470 | $6,289 | $36.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,290 | $13,108 | $75.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Data scientists in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($121,270) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $119,660 | $106,500 | $60,060 | $182,020 | 1,320 |
| North Carolina | $121,270 | $119,090 | $65,970 | $172,830 | 11,430 |
| United States | $126,800 | $120,230 | $67,240 | $199,130 | 262,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $119,660, a single filer in Durham takes home about $88,745 a year, or $7,395 a month and $3,413 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $119,660 buys what about $122,638 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 13 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($128,880).
- Charlotte$128,880
- Raleigh$124,380
- Durham$119,660
- Rocky Mount$113,760
- Greensboro$111,490
- Winston-Salem$107,620
- Asheville$106,770
- Pinehurst$105,930
- Fayetteville$105,350
- Greenville$100,910
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in Durham: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Durham?
$57.53 an hour on average, and $51.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Durham?
About $88,745 a year ($7,395 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,660.
Do data scientists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($126,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2051; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.28, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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