Data Scientists Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $116,480 +3.5% vs national
Median hourly $56.00
10th percentile $68,210
90th percentile $208,300
Employed locally 110
National median $112,590

Compare Data Scientists salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Data Scientists
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $68,210
    25th
    $85,060
    50th (median)
    $116,480
    75th
    $156,960
    90th
    $208,300

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Data Scientists salary vs area income 107% Median Data Scientists salary is 7% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Data Scientists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,160
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $166,300
    Idaho Falls, ID $164,030
    Washington $158,760
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $157,290
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $156,830

    Nearby metros — Data Scientists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,160
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $166,300
    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

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Software Developers $138,740
    Computer Systems Analysts $108,700
    Computer User Support Specialists $73,410
    Computer Occupations, All Other $104,800
    Network and Computer Systems Administrators $108,000
    Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $106,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Data Scientists make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Data Scientists in Santa Cruz, CA is $56.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $101.47 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Data Scientists salaries?

    The median Data Scientists salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 3.5% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Data Scientists (10th percentile) earn around $68,210 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $85,060.