How much does a data scientist make in California?
$141,600a year
Median yearly pay for data scientists in California. That is $68.07 an hour or $11,800 a month.
- Hourly
- $68.07
- Vs. national median
- +18%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 49
- Jobs in the state
- 39,310
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,480Median: $141,600Highest 10%: $224,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,480 | $37.25 | |
| 25th | $103,400 | $49.69 | |
| Median | $141,600 | $68.07 | |
| 75th | $186,800 | $89.82 | |
| 90th | $224,900 | $108.13 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $185,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $131,000 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $131,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $129,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $126,400 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $119,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $114,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $114,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $112,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $104,500 |
| Sacramento, CA | $103,700 |
| Napa, CA | $101,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $101,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $99,850 |
| Visalia, CA | $97,870 |
| Redding, CA | $96,960 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $92,200 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for data scientists.
| 1. Washington | $163,400 |
| 2. California | $141,600 |
| 3. Maryland | $136,400 |
| 4. New Jersey | $135,300 |
| 5. Massachusetts | $131,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $68.07 ($141,600 a year).
Do data scientists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $141,600 against $120,200 nationally, 18% more.
Where does California rank for data scientist pay?
California ranks 2 of 49 states.
Which city in California pays data scientists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $185,100 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.