Data Scientist salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 43 certified H-1B filings in the Columbia, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lexington, Elgin, Blythewood, Chapin, Hopkins.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,944 |
| 25th | $76,606 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $99,840 |
| 90th | $127,883 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2023 | $81,515 | $80,000 | $94,515 | 13 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2025 | $78,500 | $73,959 | $90,641 | 18 |
| FY2026 | $89,371 | $77,000 | $101,280 | 25 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median Data Scientist salary of $85,000 is worth about $90,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbia = 93.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Columbia, SC area earned a median of $88,260 in May 2025 (590 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,000, 4% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctityinternational | too few | 5 |
| EXL | too few | 3 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina | too few | 3 |
| Abc Information Technology Group | too few | 2 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina | too few | 2 |
| RICEFW Technologies | too few | 2 |
| University of South Carolina | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 5 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $76,825 | 20 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $76,606 | $76,825 | 20 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.