Data Scientists Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $166,300 +47.7% vs national
Median hourly $79.95
10th percentile $91,410
90th percentile $227,300
Employed locally 9,350
National median $112,590

Compare Data Scientists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Data Scientists
in
San Francisco, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $91,410
    25th
    $128,100
    50th (median)
    $166,300
    75th
    $201,280
    90th
    $227,300

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Data Scientists salary vs area income 124% Median Data Scientists salary is 24% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Data Scientists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,160
    Idaho Falls, ID $164,030
    Washington $158,760
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $157,290
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $156,830
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $145,030

    Nearby metros — Data Scientists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,160
    California $136,800
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $131,830
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $129,360
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $127,200
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $125,250

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Software Developers $174,910
    Computer Occupations, All Other $157,380
    Computer Systems Analysts $145,440
    Computer User Support Specialists $85,010
    Web and Digital Interface Designers $160,980
    Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $139,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Data Scientists make per hour in San Francisco?

    The median hourly wage for Data Scientists in San Francisco, CA is $79.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $130.98 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco above or below average for Data Scientists salaries?

    The median Data Scientists salary in San Francisco, CA is 47.7% above the national median of $112,590. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Data Scientists in San Francisco?

    Entry-level Data Scientists (10th percentile) earn around $91,410 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $128,100.