Entry-level Data Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 88 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $61,984 |
| 25th | $77,605 |
| 50th (median) | $83,325 |
| 75th | $95,000 |
| 90th | $97,185 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2022 | $60,611 | $60,611 | $76,294 | 19 |
| FY2023 | $75,000 | $70,250 | $85,000 | 27 |
| FY2024 | $80,000 | $72,850 | $90,000 | 42 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $78,281 | $95,000 | 64 |
| FY2026 | $61,992 | $61,984 | $80,600 | 24 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median entry-level Data Scientist salary of $83,325 is worth about $84,900 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 $83,325, 31% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Relx | $97,185 | 17 |
| DB Global Technology | too few | 6 |
| Align Technology | too few | 4 |
| Highbrow Technology | too few | 3 |
| Carilion Services | too few | 2 |
| D2Sol | too few | 2 |
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 2 |
| IQLogg | too few | 2 |
| New Mind Education | too few | 2 |
| Oliver Wyman | 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 | $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.