Data scientist pay in San Francisco, CA
Data scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a typical $170,110 a year. The middle half earn $130,430 to $212,970, and the top 10% earn more than $272,430. About 10,460 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Data Scientists, SOC 15-2051).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $99,170 |
| 25th percentile | $130,430 |
| Median (typical) | $170,110 |
| 75th percentile | $212,970 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $272,430 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 2 of 50 large metros for data scientists before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $170,110, a single filer keeps about $115,900 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Francisco are 16% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $100,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Francisco No. 3 of 50 large metros for data scientists after cost of living.
Where data scientists’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$185,080 typical · worth $113k
- Seattle, WA$164,740 typical · worth $112k
- Austin, TX$127,360 typical · worth $100k
- Charlotte, NC$132,460 typical · worth $99.7k
All 50 metros for data scientists →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among data scientists in San Francisco. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 30 employers here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a data scientist make in San Francisco, CA?
The typical (median) data scientist in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earns $170,110 a year. The middle half earn between $130,430 and $212,970, and the top 10% earn more than $272,430. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a data scientist in San Francisco?
Anything above $170,110 pays more than half of data scientists in San Francisco. $212,970 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $272,430 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a data scientist in San Francisco take home after taxes?
At the typical $170,110, a single filer keeps about $115,900 a year ($9,660 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 16% above the US average, that buys what $100,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do data scientists get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical data scientist pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Austin, TX. San Francisco, CA ranks No. 3.
More: Data scientist pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Francisco, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.