Entry-level Data Scientist salary in Durham, NC
Based on 29 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Research Triangle Park, Hillsborough, Carrboro.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,924 |
| 25th | $78,374 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $97,800 |
| 90th | $106,788 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2024 | $76,690 | $74,672 | $86,907 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $78,500 | $78,374 | $80,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $91,233 | $77,950 | $106,860 | 12 |
Cost of living
Durham's median entry-level Data Scientist salary of $80,000 is worth about $82,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Durham = 97.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Durham, NC area earned a median of $106,500 in May 2025 (1,320 employed). The H-1B median here is $80,000, 25% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| iCloudLogic | too few | 3 |
| Relx | too few | 3 |
| Duke University | too few | 2 |
| Flatiron Health | too few | 2 |
| Vst Consulting | 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 | $80,000 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,501 | 80 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,606 | 40 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,000 | 75 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,374 | $80,000 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,851 | $103,501 | 80 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,667 | $128,606 | 40 |
| Expert · Level IV | $127,462 | $140,000 | 75 |
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.