Data Scientist Salary in Charlotte, NC
Data Scientists in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $108,000/year, ranging from $82,000 (25th percentile) to $175,000 (90th percentile). After North Carolina state taxes (4.5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 102), this is equivalent to $105,882 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Charlotte, NC
Banking and financial services drive much of the data science demand here. Notable employers in this market include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and various regional credit unions and fintech outfits that have set up operations in the Charlotte metro. The work tends to lean toward risk modeling and customer analytics rather than the consumer-tech experimentation you'd find in coastal hubs. A median salary around $108,000 gets you comfortable but not lavish - a decent two-bedroom in South End or NoDa runs around $1,400 to $1,600 monthly, leaving you room to save if you're disciplined. Commuting is car-dependent; I-485 and I-77 are your main arteries, though light rail is slowly expanding. North Carolina's 4.5% state income tax is gentler than many states, which helps offset the lack of flashy equity packages common at bigger tech centers.
1Salary Distribution in Charlotte, NC
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Charlotte, NC Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC (current) | $108,000 | 102 | $105,882 |
| Raleigh, NC | $118,000 | 103 | $114,563 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,000 | 186 | $88,710 |
| New York, NY | $158,000 | 187 | $84,492 |
| Seattle, WA | $162,000 | 162 | $100,000 |
| Boston, MA | $148,000 | 162 | $91,358 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Data Scientist salary in Charlotte, NC?
The median Data Scientist salary in Charlotte, NC is $108,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $82,000 and the 90th percentile is $175,000.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a Data Scientist?
Charlotte, NC has a cost of living index of 102 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $108,000 Data Scientist salary in Charlotte, NC is equivalent to $105,882 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Charlotte, NC?
Charlotte, NC has a cost of living index of 102, meaning it is 2% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in North Carolina is approximately 4.5%.
What is the Data Scientist salary range in Charlotte, NC?
In Charlotte, NC, Data Scientists earn between $82,000 (25th percentile) and $175,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $108,000 per year.
How many Data Scientist jobs are there in Charlotte, NC?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 6,000 Data Scientist positions in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area.
What do Data Scientists earn in Charlotte, NC?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Data Scientists in Charlotte, NC earn a median annual wage of $108,000. The middle 50% earn between $82,000 and $140,000. The top 10% earn more than $175,000. There are approximately 6,000 Data Scientists employed in the Charlotte, NC metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 6%.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place for a Data Scientist?
Charlotte, NC has a cost of living index of 102 (US average = 100), making it 2% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Data Scientist in Charlotte, NC earning $108,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $105,882 relative to the US median. North Carolina has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Charlotte, NC?
Charlotte, NC's cost of living index is 102, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $108,000 in Charlotte, NChas the same purchasing power as $105,882 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Charlotte, NC with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Data Scientist in Charlotte, NC?
The headline median of $108,000 is only part of the picture. Charlotte, NC's cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 98¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $108,000 salary effectively purchases $105,882 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Charlotte, NC, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $108,000 salary, that translates to roughly $30,240/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. North Carolina levies a state income tax of approximately 4.5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $4,860 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $95,301. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Raleigh, NC ($118,000 median, COL 103); San Francisco, CA ($165,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($158,000 median, COL 187). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 6% year-over-year growth rate for Data Scientists in Charlotte, NC is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Data Scientists or the North Carolina state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.