Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated August 12, 2026.
| California | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $141,590 | $120,395 | +18% |
| Median hourly wage | $68.07 | $57.88 | +18% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $127,904.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $167,431 | $131,750 | $255,750 | 244 |
| Oakland | $151,228 | $119,000 | $231,000 | 196 |
| Los Angeles | $138,266 | $108,800 | $211,200 | 173 |
| Long Beach | $129,624 | $102,000 | $198,000 | 153 |
| San Diego | $127,464 | $100,300 | $194,700 | 161 |
| Sacramento | $116,662 | $91,800 | $178,200 | 130 |
| Fresno | $102,619 | $80,750 | $156,750 | 105 |
The median annual salary for a Data Scientist in California is $141,590, or about $68.07 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Data Scientists is $120,395. California is +18% above the national median.
Entry-level data scientists in California typically earn from $131,750 depending on the city and employer.
With 39,310 data scientist jobs on record and a median salary of $141,590, California offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.