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Data Scientists Salary in California

What Data Scientists earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 7 counties.

Average in CA
$148,018
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
2 of 12
published states
Workers in state
34,810
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
7 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Data Scientists pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$170,110$115,505$78,414Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$129,740$91,666$53,231Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Data Scientists in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$170,110$115,505$78,414
2Contra Costa County, CA$170,110$115,505$78,414
3San Francisco County, CA$170,110$115,505$69,858
4San Mateo County, CA$170,110$115,505$69,858
5Marin County, CA$170,110$115,505$69,858
6Los Angeles County, CA$129,740$91,666$53,231
7Orange County, CA$129,740$91,666$50,735

Data Scientists pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Data Scientists in California is $148,018, based on 34,810 workers. Among the 12 states with published data, that ranks number 2. The BLS national median for the occupation is $120,230, so California averages 23.1% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $170,110 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $129,740 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $40,370 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Data Scientists in California

We compare 7 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $78,414. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $50,735. The median wage covers all four basics in 7 of the 7 counties.

Data Scientists in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Data Scientists are Washington ($157,027), District of Columbia ($132,200), West Virginia ($130,731) and New York ($130,065).

Frequently asked questions: Data Scientists in California

How much do Data Scientists earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $148,018, from $129,740 to $170,110 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Data Scientists?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($78,414). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $78,414.