Data Scientists pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $175,770 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Salinas earn between $78,030 and $125,510.
- $60K10th
- $78K25th
- $100KMedian
- $126K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,540 | $9,128 | $52.66 |
| Median | $99,850 | $8,321 | $48.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,030 | $6,502 | $37.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,510 | $10,459 | $60.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Data scientists in Salinas earn 30% less than the California average ($156,000) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $109,540 | $99,850 | $59,600 | $175,770 | 90 |
| 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 Salinas
On the average salary of $109,540, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $79,796 a year, or $6,650 a month and $3,069 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 Salinas a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $109,540 buys what about $100,457 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 16th 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
- Salinas$109,540
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 Salinas: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Salinas?
$52.66 an hour on average, and $48.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Salinas?
About $79,796 a year ($6,650 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,540. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do data scientists earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- 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 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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