Senior Data Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 114 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $112,466 |
| 25th | $114,100 |
| 50th (median) | $128,000 |
| 75th | $132,770 |
| 90th | $148,292 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $115,669 | $129,120 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $129,000 | $115,917 | $132,046 | 28 |
| FY2024 | $128,253 | $117,790 | $135,450 | 44 |
| FY2025 | $130,000 | $128,253 | $141,344 | 44 |
| FY2026 | $118,050 | $112,500 | $128,000 | 70 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median senior Data Scientist salary of $128,000 is worth about $130,400 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 $128,000, 6% 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 | $120,000 | 15 |
| Cisco Systems | $128,253 | 13 |
| DB Global Technology | too few | 6 |
| Truist Bank | too few | 4 |
| Cognizant | too few | 3 |
| Randstad | too few | 2 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 2 |
| Deel | too few | 2 |
| NexPro Technologies | too few | 2 |
| PVR Technologies | 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.