2026 Salary — California
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in California: $127K Median
Data Scientists in California earn between $80K and $217K per year.
That's +18% above the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in California is $127,464 per year — +18% above the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $79,980 (entry, 25th percentile) to $217,226 (90th percentile). California's cost-of-living index is 145. State income tax applies.
Median
$127,464
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$100,300
Experienced
$194,700
Top 10%
$217,226
About Data Scientists in California
Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.
Hot 2026 Skills
LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI
ATS Keywords
PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
Data Scientist Salary in California Metros
Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay calculator.
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | $167,431 |
| Los Angeles | $138,266 |
| San Diego | $127,464 |
| Sacramento | $116,662 |
| Oakland | $151,228 |
| Fresno | $102,619 |
| Long Beach | $129,624 |
How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in California
Walk-away anchor: $110,838.
Leverage Points
- Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
- Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
- Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
- Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems
Negotiate Beyond Base
Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years
Data Scientist Salary FAQ — California
What is the average Data Scientist salary in California?
The average Data Scientist salary in California is $127,464 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $79,980 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $217,226 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.
How does Data Scientist pay in California compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in California earn approximately 18% more than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $127,464 in California). California's cost-of-living index of 145 partially offsets the higher salary.
Did Data Scientist salaries in California increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in California grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $20,559 in 2025 to $127,464 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which California cities pay Data Scientists the most?
Top-paying California metros for Data Scientists: San Francisco ($167K), Los Angeles ($138K), San Diego ($127K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in California?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. California's top industries include Tech, Entertainment, Agriculture, and the state's unemployment rate is 5.4% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does California have state income tax?
Yes, California has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $127,464, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with California employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in California?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance. Walk-away anchor for California: $110,838.
Methodology
California Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by California's state multiplier (1.18×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
Land a $127K+ Data Scientist Role in California
CVCraft scans your resume against California ATS systems — free, 60 seconds.
Scan My Resume Free