Data Scientists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,480
- 25th Percentile — Junior$103,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$141,590
- 75th Percentile — Senior$186,820
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$224,920
Half of Data Scientists in California earn more than $141,590. The top 10% make $224,920 or more, while entry-level workers start around $77,480.
Data Scientists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 49 states for Data Scientists pay, at $156,000 per year (23.0% above the U.S. average of $126,800).
- 39,310 people work as Data Scientists in California — 15.0% of all U.S. Data Scientists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.28: Data Scientists jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,480; the top 10% earn over $224,920.
- Hourly equivalent: $75.0 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $158,040.
- Among technology jobs in California, Software Developers pays the most ($186,770).
Data Scientists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Data Scientists here earn $156,000 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $156,000 is roughly equivalent to $109,859 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($158,040), Maryland ($144,080), District of Columbia ($142,580) are the closest alternatives for Data Scientists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Technology Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Software Developers $186,770/yr California +19.7% vs this role
- Computer and Information Research Scientists $168,580/yr California +8.1% vs this role
- Computer Network Architects $161,350/yr California +3.4% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $149,090/yr California 4.4% vs this role
- Web and Digital Interface Designers $146,210/yr California 6.3% vs this role
- Statisticians $140,780/yr California 9.8% vs this role
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts $131,260/yr California 15.9% vs this role
- Computer Systems Analysts $130,480/yr California 16.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Data Scientists salary in California?
The average Data Scientists salary in California is $156,000 per year (median $141,590), which is 23.0% above the national average of $126,800.
How does California rank for Data Scientists pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($158,040/yr).
How much do entry-level Data Scientists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Data Scientists in California earn about $77,480 per year and the 25th percentile is $103,360.
How much do Data Scientists make per hour in California?
About $75.0 per hour, based on the $156,000 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Data Scientists work in California?
BLS counts 39,310 Data Scientists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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