Data Scientist Salary in San Francisco, California (2026)
Median base salary of $198,000/year for Data Scientist professionals in San Francisco. Full breakdown by experience level, take-home estimates, and market context.
Median Salary
$198,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$95/hr
40 hrs/wk
Monthly Pay
$16,500
before taxes
Est. Take-Home
$93,159
after taxes/yr
Data Scientist Salary by Experience — San Francisco
| Level | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64/hr | $73,767 |
| 25th Percentile | $156,000 | $13,000 | $75/hr | $85,878 |
| Median | $198,000 | $16,500 | $95/hr | $93,159 |
| 75th Percentile | $254,000 | $21,167 | $122/hr | $119,507 |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | $287,000 | $23,917 | $138/hr | $135,033 |
City salary estimated from California median with a +22% San Francisco market adjustment. Take-home after federal, FICA, and California state taxes (13.3%).
San Francisco vs. California Statewide
San Francisco Median
$198,000
City-level estimate
California Statewide
$162,000
State median baseline
Data Scientist professionals in San Francisco earn approximately 22% more than the California statewide median, reflecting San Francisco's higher cost of living and local demand for tech talent.
Cost of Living in San Francisco
Cost of Living Index
194
100 = US average
Median 1BR Rent
$3,200/mo
city median
Annual Rent Burden
$38,400
per year
Rent as % of Salary
19%
of median salary
San Francisco's cost of living index of 194 means it is 94% more expensive than the US average. At the median Data Scientist salary of $198,000, housing costs represent approximately 19% of gross income — within the recommended 30% guideline.
Top Data Scientist Employers in San Francisco
Companies actively hiring Data Scientist professionals in the San Francisco area.
San Francisco remains the highest-paying metro in the US for software roles, though a wave of remote-work policies has moderated salary premiums slightly since 2022.
Data Scientist Job Market in San Francisco
San Francisco is one of California's highest-paying market for Data Scientist professionals, with a population of approximately 870K and a thriving technology sector. The median base salary of $198,000/year reflects both local demand for Python and Machine Learning expertise, and the city's cost of living index of 194 relative to the national average of 100.
At the entry level, a Data Scientist in San Francisco can expect to earn approximately $134,000/year. Senior professionals with 8+ years of experience typically command $287,000/year or more, particularly at larger technology companies or those with in-demand specializations in SQL.
Total compensation — including equity, annual bonuses, and benefits — often adds 20–50% above base salary for Data Scientist roles at growth-stage companies. When evaluating an offer in San Francisco, always ask about the full compensation package, not just base salary.
Data Scientist Salaries in Other California Cities
Related Roles in San Francisco
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Editorial Standards & Data Methodology
Data Sources
Salary ranges on CareerOS are derived from multiple independent sources:
- •U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- •LinkedIn Salary Insights
- •Glassdoor Compensation Reports
- •Levels.fyi (tech roles)
- •Indeed Salary Data
Our Methodology
Salary figures represent base compensation only and exclude equity, bonuses, and benefits. Ranges show the 25th–75th percentile for full-time employees in each location. Data is weighted toward recent postings (last 12 months). Take-home estimates apply federal income tax, FICA (7.65%), and applicable state taxes.
Editorial Process
All pages are reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated quarterly. We cross-reference data across sources before publishing any salary range.
Last Updated: May 2026
Review Cycle: Quarterly
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Actual compensation varies.