In 2015, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development featured data scientists working in the financial services industry as one of the state’s occupations with an exceptionally “bright outlook.” This analysis examined occupations with a high level of growth and high salaries. In addition, the Department considers data scientists working in the area of operations research to have a “bright outlook statewide” for the ten-year projection period leading up to 2022.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development projected that the number of jobs in the state for data scientists working in the areas of operations research and statistical modeling will increase by at least twice the state’s average job growth rate during this period:
- Operations Research – 24.4%
- Statistical Modeling Specialists – 19%
Business analysts predict that data mining big data sets of health care information will revolutionize the provision of medical care. A 2014 article in The Tennessean highlighted how Nashville is on the forefront of key developments in data science applied to the healthcare field.
Data Science Starting Salary Ranges in the Biggest Cities in Tennessee
Nashville’s tech scene has become increasingly prominent in recent years and got a massive boost with the announcement that the city would be one of four to receive Google’s Fiber gigabit Internet. Other recent successes include Eventbrite’s choice of Nashville over Austin to be the home of its second office and the announcement by Silicon Valley’s Crestlight Venture Productions that it will open a partner office in the city.
Thus, the starting salary ranges for data scientists in the Nashville area are higher than those in other cities in Tennessee as of 2016 according to Robert Half Technology—a tech staffing firm. This company places thousands of jobseekers across the country each year, enabling it to provide detailed information on the starting salary ranges for tech workers. These figures do not include bonuses or relocation assistance.
Relocation assistance has become common in corporate America with 65% of the firms surveyed by Atlas Van Lines in its 45th Annual Corporate Relocation Survey indicating that they provided such assistance to relocated employees (including new hires).
Robert Half relies on research from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to account for geographical variation in Tennessee. This data enables the firm to provide up-to-date and accurate salaries for data scientists in Tennessee:
Nashville Area
- Nashville: $109,000 – $153,000
- Davidson: $105,000 – $149,000
- Franklin: $105,000 – $149,000
- Murfreesboro: $105,000 – $149,000
Knoxville Area
- Knoxville: $97,000- $137,000
- Kingsport: $87,000 – $123,000
- Morristown: $80,000 – $112,000
- Cleveland: $79,000 – $112,000
- Chattanooga: $97,000 – $137,000
Salaries for Data Science Professionals Working in Different Industries and Areas of Specialization in Tennessee
Experienced professionals in three key data science fields in Tennessee earned the following average salaries as of 2014 (US Department of Labor):
Computer and Information Research Science
- $91,021
Operations Research
- $80,177
Statistical Modeling
- $71,513
Salaries for Data Scientists Working in the Area of Operations Research in Tennessee’s Major Cities
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows salaries for data scientists working operations research in the major metropolitan areas of Tennessee (2014):
- Chattanooga – $130,680
- Knoxville – $113,160
- Memphis – $95,130
- Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin – $101,600
Salaries for Statistical Modeling Specialists in the Major Metropolitan Areas of Tennessee
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a detailed analysis of the salaries for statistical modeling specialists in Tennessee’s major cities as of 2014:
- Chattanooga – $105,820
- Knoxville – $66,720
- Memphis – $111,770
- Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin – $88,040
Salaries for Data Scientists in Nashville and Knoxville Working in the Field of Computer and Information Research Science
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists working in the field of computer and information research science in Knoxville and Nashville in 2014 were:
- Knoxville – $140,370
- Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin – $105,500
The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics information shown here reflects salary data for broad occupational classifications that include data scientists. These estimates are expressed as the 90th percentile average to reflect the fact that data scientists are recognized as the top earners within each classification.