How much does a data scientist make in San Francisco?
$170,100a year
Median yearly pay for data scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $81.78 an hour or $14,180 a month.
- Hourly
- $81.78
- Vs. national median
- +41%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 282
- Jobs in the area
- 10,460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $99,170Median: $170,100Highest 10%: $272,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,170 | $47.68 | |
| 25th | $130,400 | $62.71 | |
| Median | $170,100 | $81.78 | |
| 75th | $213,000 | $102.39 | |
| 90th | $272,400 | $130.98 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for data scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $185,100 |
| 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 |
| Stockton, CA | $101,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $99,850 |
| Redding, CA | $96,960 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $92,200 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Software Developer | $186,600 |
| Mathematical Science Occupation | $180,500 |
| Database Architect | $175,900 |
| Actuary | $175,300 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $171,400 |
| Computer Network Architect | $166,800 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $163,800 |
| Information Security Analyst | $162,300 |
| Computer Occupation | $161,700 |
| Web Developer | $152,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $81.78 ($170,100 a year).
Do data scientists make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $170,100 against $120,200 nationally, 41% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $141,600, so San Francisco pays 20% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for data scientist pay?
2 of 282 metro areas with data.
How much does a data scientist make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $99,170 or less a year; the top 10% make $272,400 or more.
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.