Data Scientist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Data Scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $170,110 a year — 41% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $113,734 take-home, or $9,478 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,560
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,547
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,467
- California income tax$11,591
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,211
- Take-home pay$113,734
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,170 | $47.68 | $72,314 | $6,026 |
| 25th percentile | $130,430 | $62.71 | $90,819 | $7,568 |
| Median (50th) | $170,110 | $81.78 | $113,734 | $9,478 |
| 75th percentile | $212,970 | $102.39 | $140,134 | $11,678 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $272,430+ | $130.98 | $173,256 | $14,438 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $170,110 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $113,734 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,375 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.6× the national concentration of data scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #5 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $185,080
- San Diego, CA — $130,990
- Oxnard, CA — $126,360
- Los Angeles, CA — $129,740
- Riverside, CA — $112,910
- Sacramento, CA — $103,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median data scientist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $170,110 a year, or about $81.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,430 and $212,970.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $170,110 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $113,734 a year ($9,478 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,802 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 41% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,375 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #5 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Software Developer — $186,640
- Database Architect — $175,860
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $171,440
- Computer Network Architect — $166,760
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $163,810
- Information Security Analyst — $162,310
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $161,700
- Web Developer — $152,450
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $134,630
- Computer Systems Analyst — $134,460
- Computer Programmer — $130,730
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $129,680