What is the median salary for Data Scientists in San Francisco?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $170,110.

How does San Francisco pay compare to the US median for Data Scientists?

Local median pay is 41.5% above the national OEWS median of $120,230.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for San Francisco is 115.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $170,110 has about the same purchasing power as $147,154 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Data Scientists, San Francisco

$170,110

BLS OEWS median annual wage in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Middle half of wages roughly $130,430 to $212,970.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: +41.5%
US median: $120,230
Metro RPP: 115.6
Middle half: $130,430 to $212,970
OEWS employment: 10,460
SOC: 15-2051

Data Scientists in San Francisco pay a median $170,110 (May 2025), 41.5% above the US median of $120,230. At local prices (RPP 115.6), that median buys about what $147,154 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$170,110 in San Francisco buys about what $147,154 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 115.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 194.7 vs all-items 115.6 (US = 100, 2024).

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Data Scientists in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
San Francisco	$170,110	$130,430 to $212,970	115.6
Miami	$127,450	$85,840 to $154,890	114.2
Tulsa	$86,310	$72,020 to $108,170	89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Data Scientists in San Francisco?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $170,110.
How does San Francisco pay compare to the US median for Data Scientists?: Local median pay is 41.5% above the national OEWS median of $120,230.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for San Francisco is 115.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $170,110 has about the same purchasing power as $147,154 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.