Data Analyst Salary in Durham, NC: $71,214 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time data analyst in Durham, NC earns a median $71,214/year (≈ $34.24/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2051). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $72,986 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For data analysts in Durham, North Carolina, the 2026 median annual salary is projected at $71,214, positioning it nearly 11.42% below the national median of $80,394. The salary range for this role varies significantly, spanning from $40,160 at the 10th percentile to $121,712 at the 90th percentile. This disparity reveals a notable gap in compensation that exists within the local market, influenced by the presence of both established tech firms and emerging AI startups. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicates that Durham's job market offers unique opportunities tempered by varying levels of compensation, ultimately driven by the type of employer—whether a FAANG company, an AI lab, or a more traditional business.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,465 | $24.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $71,214 | $34.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,176 | $50.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,712 | $58.52 |
Median Salary Position
11.42% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the data analyst salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,552 (2026 est.). At $71,214, the local median is 11.42% below the national median of $80,394.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durham Data Analyst Pay Compares
Durham median: $71,214/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $68,673 | +3.70% more |
| National Average | $80,394 | -11.42% less |
Data Analysts in Durham, NC earn a median of $71,214 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.42% lower than the national median of $80,394 and 3.70% above the North Carolina state average of $68,673.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A data analyst earning $71,214 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,986 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2021 BLS Actual
$120,300
2025 BLS Actual
$68,160
2026 Current Est.
$71,214
2021–2027 Growth
+-38.2%
Salary Trajectory for Data Analysts in Durham (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.48% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $120,300 | Actual |
| 2022 | $124,960 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,310 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,110 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $71,214 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,404 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median data analyst salary grew -43.3% from $120,300 (2021) to $68,160 (2025). At a 4.48% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,404 by 2027 — a total increase of $-45,896 (-38.15%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.48% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $40,160 – $50,465 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,465 – $71,214 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $71,214 – $105,176 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,176 – $121,712 |
DA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual data analyst compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Data Analyst Job Market in Durham
In terms of employment, Durham has about 1,320 data analysts contributing to the local economy, supported by a cost-of-living index of 97.572 that suggests a more affordable living situation compared to national averages. When considering compensation packages, larger tech companies like Google and Amazon often provide the highest salaries, supplemented by significant equity offerings, while AI startups have been known to issue competitive compensation that heavily emphasizes stock options and bonuses. Factors such as the tier of the employer, level of experience, and specialization—ranging from machine learning engineering to product data science—create pronounced salary variations. For local professionals aiming to maximize their earning potential, seeking roles at top-tier firms and negotiating for RSUs can prove lucrative strategies in the context of Durham's evolving tech scene.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do data analysts make in Durham, NC in 2026?
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a data analyst?
Can data analysts make $100K in Durham?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted data analyst salary in Durham?
How much does a data analyst make per hour in Durham?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
Written by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience in data analysis. She specializes in business intelligence and works at a tech consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $68,160 for data analystsin the Durham metropolitan area. A 4.48% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for data analysts (SOC 15-2051).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst, a licensed data analyst with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov