Expert Data Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 93 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $137,696 |
| 25th | $146,101 |
| 50th (median) | $155,000 |
| 75th | $176,400 |
| 90th | $196,627 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2022 | $131,926 | $126,100 | $137,865 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $148,500 | $140,000 | $157,532 | 28 |
| FY2024 | $152,067 | $143,069 | $165,719 | 20 |
| FY2025 | $161,848 | $153,566 | $182,000 | 36 |
| FY2026 | $153,566 | $137,696 | $168,605 | 57 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median expert Data Scientist salary of $155,000 is worth about $157,900 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 $155,000, 28% higher.
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 | too few | 8 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | too few | 4 |
| Envestnet Financial Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Rockwell Automation | too few | 3 |
| Apple | too few | 2 |
| Advance Auto Business Support | too few | 2 |
| Block | too few | 2 |
| Cisco Systems | too few | 2 |
| Freedom Financial Asset Management | too few | 2 |
| MetLife Group | 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.