Data Scientist Salary in Durham, North Carolina (2026)
Median base salary of $119,000/year for Data Scientist professionals in Durham. Full breakdown by experience level, take-home estimates, and market context.
Median Salary
$119,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$57/hr
40 hrs/wk
Monthly Pay
$9,917
before taxes
Est. Take-Home
$75,089
after taxes/yr
Data Scientist Salary by Experience — Durham
| Level | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39/hr | $52,731 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45/hr | $59,314 |
| Median | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57/hr | $75,089 |
| 75th Percentile | $153,000 | $12,750 | $74/hr | $96,543 |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | $172,000 | $14,333 | $83/hr | $108,532 |
City salary estimated from North Carolina median with a +2% Durham market adjustment. Take-home after federal, FICA, and North Carolina state taxes (5.3%).
Durham vs. North Carolina Statewide
Durham Median
$119,000
City-level estimate
North Carolina Statewide
$117,000
State median baseline
Data Scientist professionals in Durham earn approximately 2% more than the North Carolina statewide median, reflecting Durham's higher cost of living and local demand for tech talent.
Cost of Living in Durham
Cost of Living Index
110
100 = US average
Median 1BR Rent
$1,300/mo
city median
Annual Rent Burden
$15,600
per year
Rent as % of Salary
13%
of median salary
Durham's cost of living index of 110 means it is 10% more expensive than the US average. At the median Data Scientist salary of $119,000, housing costs represent approximately 13% of gross income — within the recommended 30% guideline.
Top Data Scientist Employers in Durham
Companies actively hiring Data Scientist professionals in the Durham area.
Durham's proximity to Duke University creates a strong pipeline for research and data science roles, particularly in biotech and pharmaceutical technology.
Data Scientist Job Market in Durham
Durham is one of North Carolina's major market for Data Scientist professionals, with a population of approximately 285K and a growing technology sector. The median base salary of $119,000/year reflects both local demand for Python and Machine Learning expertise, and the city's cost of living index of 110 relative to the national average of 100.
At the entry level, a Data Scientist in Durham can expect to earn approximately $81,000/year. Senior professionals with 8+ years of experience typically command $172,000/year or more, particularly at larger technology companies or those with in-demand specializations in SQL.
Total compensation — including equity, annual bonuses, and benefits — often adds 20–50% above base salary for Data Scientist roles at growth-stage companies. When evaluating an offer in Durham, always ask about the full compensation package, not just base salary.
Data Scientist Salaries in Other North Carolina Cities
Related Roles in Durham
Ready to negotiate this salary?
Build an ATS-ready resume and write a tailored cover letter to land the role.
Editorial Standards & Data Methodology
Data Sources
Salary ranges on CareerOS are derived from multiple independent sources:
- •U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- •LinkedIn Salary Insights
- •Glassdoor Compensation Reports
- •Levels.fyi (tech roles)
- •Indeed Salary Data
Our Methodology
Salary figures represent base compensation only and exclude equity, bonuses, and benefits. Ranges show the 25th–75th percentile for full-time employees in each location. Data is weighted toward recent postings (last 12 months). Take-home estimates apply federal income tax, FICA (7.65%), and applicable state taxes.
Editorial Process
All pages are reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated quarterly. We cross-reference data across sources before publishing any salary range.
Last Updated: May 2026
Review Cycle: Quarterly
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Actual compensation varies.