Data Scientist salary in California
The median annual wage for data scientists in California is $141,590, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates — above the national median of $120,230. California ranks 2 of 48 states and DC with published data for this occupation.
Median
$141,590
25th percentile
$103,360
75th percentile
$186,820
90th percentile
$224,920
Employment and national comparison
| Employment in California | 39,310 |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage in California | $156,000 |
| National median | $120,230 |
| National employment | 262,440 |
Metro areas in California
- San Francisco, CA: median $170,110
- Los Angeles, CA: median $129,740
- San Diego, CA: median $130,990
States with similar pay for data scientists
- Maryland: median $136,370
- New Jersey: median $135,280
- Massachusetts: median $131,750
- New York: median $130,460
- Minnesota: median $128,800
- Vermont: median $127,070
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates; state, metropolitan area and national files from https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm. State estimates are for BLS occupation "Data Scientists" (15-2051), cross-industry, all ownerships. Retrieved 2026-10-02. Where BLS does not publish a numeric estimate (suppressed, or reported only as at or above $239,200) the value is shown as —.