Data Scientists pay in California
In California, the median pay for data scientists is $68.07 an hour ($141,590 a year). About 39,310 people work in this job there.
That is 18% higher than the U.S. median ($120,230). California ranks 2nd of 49 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for data scientists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $37.25 | $77,480 |
| 25% of workers | $49.69 | $103,360 |
| Half of workers (median) | $68.07 | $141,590 |
| 75% of workers | $89.82 | $186,820 |
| 90% of workers | $108.13 | $224,920 |
Data Scientists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $185,080 | 6,060 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $170,110 | 10,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $130,990 | 2,830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $130,980 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $129,740 | 9,850 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $126,360 | 460 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $119,930 | 130 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $114,830 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $113,990 | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $112,910 | 1,000 |
| Modesto | $104,990 | 80 |
| Vallejo | $104,530 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $103,700 | 2,710 |
| Napa | $101,830 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $101,370 | 100 |
| Fresno | $101,250 | 220 |
| Salinas | $99,850 | 90 |
| Visalia | $97,870 | 40 |
| Redding | $96,960 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $92,200 | 200 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for data scientists
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +34.6% over ten years, much faster than average · about 24,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Operations Research Analysts | $102,100 |
| Statisticians | $135,960 |
| Actuaries | $130,510 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.