Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Tennessee is $100,330/year ($48.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $111,751 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Tennessee?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for data scientists in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 18.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $103K | +3% | 1,360 |
| Memphis | $102K | +2% | 410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $98K | -2% | 90 |
| Knoxville | $93K | -8% | 320 |
| Chattanooga | $91K | -9% | 200 |
| Clarksville | $79K | -21% | 50 |
| Johnson City | $69K | -31% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 18.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for data scientists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,612/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $100K here vs. $120K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for data scientists?
Tennessee pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Tennessee?
The median is $100,330 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,200, and experienced data scientists can clear $156,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,581/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 18.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a data scientists salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median data scientists salary is worth about $111,751 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do data scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.