Data Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 562 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Research Triangle Park.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $86,627 |
| 25th | $88,075 |
| 50th (median) | $109,496 |
| 75th | $134,200 |
| 90th | $155,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $94,450 | $82,011 | $103,912 | 24 |
| FY2021 | $100,464 | $80,000 | $112,372 | 33 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $80,976 | $127,060 | 95 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $92,830 | $138,486 | 141 |
| FY2024 | $102,918 | $95,285 | $125,000 | 207 |
| FY2025 | $105,000 | $97,118 | $136,250 | 268 |
| FY2026 | $110,315 | $87,214 | $130,000 | 294 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Data Scientist salary of $109,496 is worth about $111,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $120,710 in May 2025 (1,990 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,496, 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Relx | $105,000 | 69 |
| Cisco Systems | $128,253 | 21 |
| DB Global Technology | $105,750 | 16 |
| Infosys | $87,214 | 13 |
| Lenovo (United States) | too few | 8 |
| Amazon | too few | 7 |
| Align Technology | too few | 7 |
| Highbrow Technology | too few | 7 |
| Infocons | too few | 6 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $83,325 | 88 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,918 | 249 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,000 | 114 |
| Expert · Level IV | $155,000 | 93 |
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 | $77,605 | $83,325 | 88 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,214 | $102,918 | 249 |
| Senior · Level III | $112,466 | $128,000 | 114 |
| Expert · Level IV | $137,696 | $155,000 | 93 |
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.