Technology Charleston, WV Pop. 48,006

Data Scientist Salary in Charleston, West Virginia

The median data scientist salary in Charleston, WV is $86,416 per year, which is 20% below the national median and 5.3% above the West Virginia state average.

City Median
$86,416
vs State Avg
+$4,321
vs National
$-21,604
Cost of Living
88%

Data Scientist Pay in Charleston: What to Expect (2026)

Charleston offers a median data scientist salary of $86,416, which is $4,321 above the West Virginia state average of $82,095. Compared to the national median of $108,020, Charleston pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Charleston's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $86,416 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $98,200 in an average-cost city. This makes Charleston an attractive option for data scientists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data scientists in Charleston spans from $49,120 at the 10th percentile to $142,560 at the 90th percentile — a $93,440 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $57,600, while senior data scientists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $132,000. Charleston is a smaller market (pop. 48,006), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Scientist Salary in Charleston by Experience

In Charleston, an entry-level data scientist earns around $57,600, while experienced professionals earn up to $132,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$57,600
$-14,400 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$89,600
$-22,400 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$132,000
$-33,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Charleston, WV

Percentile Charleston
10th Percentile $49,120
25th Percentile $67,360
Median (50th) $86,416
75th Percentile $112,800
90th Percentile $142,560

Data Scientist Salary in Other West Virginia Cities

Morgantown, WV
$88,576
Pop. 30,955
Huntington, WV
$79,935
Pop. 46,842
Parkersburg, WV
$77,774
Pop. 29,675
Wheeling, WV
$75,614
Pop. 26,711

How to Become a Data Scientist in Charleston

Education

Most data scientist positions require a bachelor's degree. Charleston and the surrounding West Virginia area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization

Job Outlook

Nationally, data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Charleston may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Scientist Jobs in Charleston

Browse open data scientist positions in Charleston, WV:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Scientist Salary in Charleston

How much does a Data Scientist make in Charleston, WV? ▼
The median data scientist salary in Charleston, West Virginia is $86,416 per year, which is 20% below the national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $49,120 (10th percentile) to $142,560 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Scientist make per hour in Charleston? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $86,416, a data scientist in Charleston earns approximately $42 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Charleston compare to the West Virginia state average for data scientist pay? ▼
Charleston's median data scientist salary of $86,416 is 5.3% above the West Virginia state average of $82,095. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Charleston, WV? ▼
Charleston has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data scientist salary of $86,416 in Charleston has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data scientist in Charleston? ▼
Most data scientist positions in Charleston require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning. The job market is projected to grow 35% nationally over the next decade.