What the numbers say
The median Data Scientist in South Carolina earned $90,660 in 2024, about 22% below the US median of $115,636. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
South Carolina's cost of living runs roughly 3.4% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to around 19%. Still a discount, but a smaller one than the headline suggests.
The spread within the state is wide. The bottom 10% of earners made $57,030, while the top 10% reached $150,520. That is a ratio of roughly 2.6 to 1 from the lowest to the highest paid. A spread that size usually reflects meaningful differences in how senior someone is, what industry they work in, and whether their role sits closer to analysis or engineering. Entry-level and mid-career Data Scientists in South Carolina are on very different trajectories.
The average wage of $96,970 sits well above the median of $90,660. That gap tells us a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the more representative figure for most workers here.
On projected growth, BLS puts this occupation in the much faster than average category nationally, with 33.5% growth expected between 2024 and 2034. South Carolina's 2,810 employed Data Scientists in 2024 gives the state a relatively small base, which means percentage growth can look dramatic while absolute job additions remain modest.
Salary distribution
Where South Carolina data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $73,050 and $108,610, with a median of $90,660.
Data Scientists in South Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 107 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $96,500. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 19 | $74,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 45 | $94,328 |
| Level III — experienced | 15 | $115,877 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 10 | $153,484 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in South Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose Financial, Inc. | Scientist - Marketing Analytics | 5 | $80,000 |
| RBUS, Inc. | Vice President of Data Science | 4 | $130,011 |
| Schaeffler Group USA Inc. | Business Analyst “ Application | 3 | $137,700 |
| American Credit Acceptance, LLC | Senior Strategy Analyst | 3 | $96,500 |
| Resurgent Capital Services, L.P. | Data Scientist II | 3 | $90,923 |
| MG Cloud Technologies LLC | Business Intelligence Analyst | 2 | $105,747 |
| Humana Inc. | Senior Business Intelligence Engineer | 2 | $108,000 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | Senior Manager JC45 - Business Intelligence Analysts | 2 | $146,981 |
| Hounen Solar America Inc. | Data Scientist | 2 | $82,000 |
| ABC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP LLC | Data Analyst | 2 | $84,100 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lead Gen AI Data Scientist at Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc.$85,000Fort MillDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-453022
- Business Intelligence Analyst at MG Cloud Technologies LLC$105,747LancasterDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25336-448256
- Staff Data Scientist at OMADA HEALTH INC.$212,000Tega CayDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-446344
- Lead Quantitative Researcher at South Carolina Department of Education$80,000West ColumbiaDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-447093
- Senior Data Analyst at Pantar Solutions Inc$147,680Indian LandDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25328-434253
- POWER BI AND SSRS REPORT DEVELOPER at CAPITAL VACATIONS EMPLOYEE GROUP, LLC.$85,000MYRTLE BEACHDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-428266
- Senior Business Intelligence Engineer at Humana Inc.$108,000ConwayDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-426842
- Product Analytics - Evergreen at RNBW Holdings LLC$180,000Lake WylieDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-425774
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Data Scientists pay by experience level in South Carolina
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Data Scientists specialties in South Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 57 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Scientist at a median of $97,750.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | Hounen Solar America Inc. | 15 | $97,750 |
| Data Analyst | ABC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP LLC | 12 | $83,190 |
| Business Analyst | Infoyuga Technologies, Inc. | 11 | $83,000 |
| Data Engineer | Eliassen Group, LLC | 11 | $84,032 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | MG Cloud Technologies LLC | 5 | $105,747 |
| Senior Business Intelligence Engineer | Humana Inc. | 3 | $108,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in South Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 106 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $85,841.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | MG Cloud Technologies LLC | 38 | $85,841 |
| Finance and insurance | Purpose Financial, Inc. | 26 | $100,052 |
| Professional services | RBUS, Inc. | 16 | $107,508 |
| Manufacturing | Schaeffler Group USA Inc. | 11 | $96,542 |
| Healthcare | River Region Psychiatry Associates LLC | 5 | $65,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | SimpleTire LLC | 5 | $98,560 |
| Education | Charter Institue at Erskine | 2 | $80,000 |
| Government and public sector | South Carolina Department of Education | 1 | $80,000 |
| Real estate | Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. | 1 | $118,973 |
| Transportation and logistics | Mediterranean Shipping Company (USA), Inc. | 1 | $66,592 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in South Carolina over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+33.5%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in South Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in South Carolina is $90,660.
- How does South Carolina compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The South Carolina median is -21.6% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in South Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $57,030 and the 90th-percentile at $150,520, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Data Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 33.5% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Data Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.