Average Data Scientist Salary in Memphis, TN

The average Data Scientist in Memphis, TN earns $96,730 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$96730
Median Salary
$101120
vs. National
18.7% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$104937

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Memphis’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 92.179, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Data Scientists actually earn in Memphis

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $35520
25th $65380
Median $101120
75th $129860
90th (top) $148440

250 Data Scientists employed in the Memphis metro.

Can a Data Scientist afford a home in Memphis?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Memphis home: $157100.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$35520$14271291%
Median$101120$406279Yes
Top (90th)$148440$596401Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Memphis

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TN state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Memphis at a glance

Population629063
Median household income$51211
Median home value$157100
Median rent$1123/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)92.179
Bachelor’s degree or higher16.9%
Poverty rate22%

In Memphis, TN, Data Scientists earn a median of $101,120 a year — about 15% below the U.S. median of $119,040. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #30.

What that pay is worth in Memphis

Local prices run 92 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $96,730 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $104,937 in national-average buying power.

Can Data Scientists afford a home in Memphis?

A typical Memphis home runs about $157,100 — 1.6 times the average Data Scientist salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,123/mo takes roughly 14% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Data Scientist pay ladder in Memphis

Entry-level (10th percentile) Data Scientists earn about $35,520; the top 10% reach $148,440 — a $112,920 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Data Scientist job market in Memphis

Memphis employs roughly 250 Data Scientists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Memphis with other cities

See the full Data Scientist salary by city ranking to weigh Memphis against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Data Scientists make in Memphis?

The average Data Scientist in Memphis, TN earns about $96,730 per year, 18.7% below the national average of $119,040.

What is the take-home pay for Data Scientists in Memphis after taxes?

After federal and TN taxes, this $96,730 salary is worth about $76,879 a year - roughly $6,406 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 21%.

What do the highest-paid Data Scientists earn in Memphis?

The top 10% of Data Scientists in Memphis earn about $148,440 a year, versus about $35,520 for the bottom 10%.

Can Data Scientists afford a home in Memphis?

A typical Memphis home runs about $157,100 - roughly 1.6x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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