Chief Data Officer.
Raleigh.
$265,000
median salary, 2% above the national average
$199,000 to $347,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Chief Data Officer in Raleigh earns a median of $265,000 in 2026. That is 2% above the national average. The range runs from $199,000 to $347,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Data maturity of the organization, regulatory complexity, and whether the CDO drives revenue versus compliance create wide pay variance.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $239,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$172,000
to $212,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$225,000
to $278,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$292,000
to $345,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$331,000
to $411,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $168,000 to the total package.
Base
$265,000
Equity
$90,000
Bonus
$57,000
Signing
$21,000
Estimated total: $433,000
How Raleigh compares
Raleigh, NC
$265,000
Cost of living: 1% below average
National Average
$260,000
Raleigh is $5,000 above
Chief Data Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Raleigh
What you should know
The Chief Data Officer landscape in Raleigh is not what most salary sites will tell you. Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio. Data maturity of the organization, regulatory complexity, and whether the CDO drives revenue versus compliance create wide pay variance. CDOs at companies monetizing data assets or building AI-powered products earn significantly more than those focused primarily on governance and regulatory compliance activities.
Directors of data science or analytics earn $165,000 to $220,000. VPs of data advance to $210,000 to $280,000. CDOs at mid-market companies make $240,000 to $310,000. CDOs at large enterprises or data-intensive tech companies reach $320,000 to $400,000 with total comp of $500,000 to $1.2 million. In Raleigh, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to data quality metrics, AI initiative success, and compliance milestones are standard. Equity grants at tech companies add $150,000 to $600,000 in annualized value. Some CDOs negotiate dedicated data infrastructure budgets. And on the tax side: north Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power. When someone quotes you $265,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates. The range for Chief Data Officers in Raleigh runs from $199,000 to $347,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Head of AI in Raleigh earns $267,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Raleigh is Chief AI Officer at $316,000
Common questions.
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