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Data scientist salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$141,590median pay per year in California, or $68.07 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $77,480lowest 10% earn less
  2. $103,36025th percentile
  3. $141,590median
  4. $186,82075th percentile
  5. $224,920top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $120,230[3]

The median pay for data scientists in California was $141,590 a year[1]. That was $21,360 above the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
39,310[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+17.8%[6]

How much do data scientists make in California?

The median pay for data scientists in California was $141,590 a year, or $68.07 an hour[1]. That means half of these workers earned more and half earned less.

Across the US, the median was $120,230[3], so California sat $21,360 (17.8%) higher[6]. Among all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240[7], and data scientists earned $83,350 more than that[8]. California ranked 2nd out of the 48 states and DC with a published median[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $77,480[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $224,920[2]. Of the 20 metro areas with a published median, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the top figure at $185,080[9]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had $170,110, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had $129,740[10].

OEWS counts part-time and full-time workers who are paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not add bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

California vs US pay

Pay for data scientists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$141,590[1]$120,230[3]
Median per hour$68.07[1]$57.80[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$77,480[2]$67,240[12]
Top 10% earn more than$224,920[2]$199,130[12]
Jobs39,310[4]262,440[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for data scientists, and the median pay in each[10].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA[10]$170,11010,460
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$129,7409,850
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$185,0806,060
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$130,9902,830
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,7002,710
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$112,9101,000
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$126,360460
Fresno, CA$101,250220

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for data scientists in the states that border California, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$125,9902,140
Arizona$107,2404,560
Nevada$98,5401,680

Median pay for data scientists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for data scientists are projected to grow 34.6% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a data scientist make in California?
The median was $141,590 a year[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $77,480 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $224,920[2].
How much does a data scientist make an hour in California?
The median was $68.07 an hour[1].
Which city in California pays data scientists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the top median among the 20 metro areas with a published figure, at $185,080 a year[9]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had $170,110[10].
Is California a good state for data scientists?
California ranked 2nd out of 48 states and DC for median pay[5]. Its median was 17.8% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a data scientist in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Data Scientists in California was $141,590 per year and $68.07 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Data Scientists in California: 10th percentile $77,480, 25th percentile $103,360, 75th percentile $186,820, 90th percentile $224,920. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Data Scientists in the US as a whole was $120,230 per year and $57.80 per hour, with about 262,440 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 39,310 people worked as Data Scientists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Data Scientists out of the 48 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Data Scientists in California ($141,590) was $21,360 (17.8%) higher than the US median ($120,230). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Data Scientists in California was $83,350 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 20 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Data Scientists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $185,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Data Scientists in the US: 10th percentile $67,240, 25th percentile $85,660, 75th percentile $158,880, 90th percentile $199,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Data Scientists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $125,990; Arizona $107,240; Nevada $98,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Data Scientists is projected to grow 34.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Data Scientists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.