Data Scientists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,280 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Los Angeles earn between $91,350 and $168,420.
- $71K10th
- $91K25th
- $130KMedian
- $168K75th
- $208K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $136,700 | $11,392 | $65.72 |
| Median | $129,740 | $10,812 | $62.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,350 | $7,612 | $43.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,420 | $14,035 | $80.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Data scientists in Los Angeles earn 12% less than the California average ($156,000) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $136,700 | $129,740 | $71,080 | $208,280 | 9,850 |
| California | $156,000 | $141,590 | $77,480 | $224,920 | 39,310 |
| United States | $126,800 | $120,230 | $67,240 | $199,130 | 262,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $136,700, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $96,079 a year, or $8,007 a month and $3,695 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $136,700 buys what about $120,371 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 4th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($212,760).
- San Jose$212,760
- San Francisco$174,830
- Oxnard$138,630
- Los Angeles$136,700
- San Diego$134,470
- Santa Cruz$132,800
- San Luis Obispo$128,340
- Santa Maria$125,770
- Riverside$125,060
- Napa$124,390
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$65.72 an hour on average, and $62.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $96,079 a year ($8,007 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $136,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do data scientists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2051; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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