State comparison · 2025
Data Scientists salary: California vs North Carolina
Data Scientists in California earn a median of $141,590. In North Carolina, $119,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 1.3% — not 18.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+18.9%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+1.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Data Scientists
- Median
- $141,590
- p25
- $103,360
- p75
- $186,820
- p10
- $77,480
- p90
- $224,920
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -39%
North Carolina
Data Scientists
- Median
- $119,090
- p25
- $82,440
- p75
- $147,540
- p10
- $65,970
- p90
- $172,830
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -49%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.