Data Scientist Salary in San Jose, CA
Data Scientists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $185,080 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $122,415 take-home, or $10,201 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$33,153
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,684
- California income tax$12,983
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,406
- Take-home pay$122,415
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,740 | $52.76 | $78,629 | $6,552 |
| 25th percentile | $149,570 | $71.91 | $101,872 | $8,489 |
| Median (50th) | $185,080 | $88.98 | $122,415 | $10,201 |
| 75th percentile | $219,460 | $105.51 | $144,099 | $12,008 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $282,840+ | $135.98 | $178,675 | $14,890 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $185,080 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $122,415 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,860 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 Jose, CA has 3.2× 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 Jose, CA ranks #2 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 Francisco, CA — $170,110
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median data scientist salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $185,080 a year, or about $88.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $149,570 and $219,460.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $185,080 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $122,415 a year ($10,201 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $15,389 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,860 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $218,420
- Software Developer — $213,110
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $201,260
- Database Architect — $197,960
- Computer Network Architect — $186,110
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $184,430
- Information Security Analyst — $176,120
- Web Developer — $166,670
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $166,530
- Computer Systems Analyst — $157,140
- Computer Programmer — $154,920
- Database Administrator — $138,620