California Median
$141,590
per year
Hourly Rate
$68.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+18% vs US median
US median $120,230
State Rank
#2 of 49
39,310 employed here
How much does a Data Scientist make in California?
A Data Scientist working in California earns a median salary of $141,590 per year, or about $68.07 per hour. That is 18% above the national median of $120,230 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $77,480 while the top 10% make $224,920 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $103,360 and $186,820 a year.
Data Scientist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,480 | $37.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $103,360 | $49.69 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $141,590 | $68.07 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $186,820 | $89.82 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $224,920 | $108.13 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories for Data Scientist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Data Scientist salary in other states
Washington $163,350Maryland $136,370New Jersey $135,280Massachusetts $131,750New York $130,460Minnesota $128,800Vermont $127,070District of Columbia $126,490Virginia $126,430Connecticut $126,340Oregon $125,990Texas $122,090North Carolina $119,090Colorado $117,400Florida $115,820Arkansas $109,390Utah $108,090Arizona $107,240Pennsylvania $106,850Wisconsin $106,680Illinois $106,560Georgia $104,340Alabama $103,120Ohio $102,630Rhode Island $102,440Hawaii $102,130New Hampshire $100,620Michigan $100,590Montana $100,490Tennessee $100,330Nevada $98,540Nebraska $98,230Kansas $98,130Missouri $97,090South Dakota $96,150New Mexico $95,850Iowa $95,830South Carolina $91,990Kentucky $91,760Indiana $91,470Maine $90,880Idaho $89,380Oklahoma $86,310West Virginia $85,090Alaska $84,110North Dakota $81,900Louisiana $78,760Mississippi $69,490
Working as a Data Scientist in California
Nationally, about 262,000 people work as Data Scientists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($141,590) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Data Scientist make in California?
The median Data Scientist salary in California is $141,590 per year, or about $68.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $77,480 at the entry level to $224,920 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Data Scientists about 18% more than the national median of $120,230. California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Data Scientists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $141,590 a year. About 39,310 Data Scientists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Data Scientist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.