Los Angeles data scientist salary: rankings and context
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in Los Angeles.
Data Scientist pay in Los Angeles: national and in-state ranking
San Jose leads at US$185,080, 43% above Los Angeles, while San Antonio sits at US$103,290. The neighbours in the ranking are San Diego and Portland.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$154,000, and Los Angeles comes 4th, -16% against it; elsewhere in the state: San Diego (US$130,990), San Jose (US$185,080) and San Francisco (US$170,110).
Take-home, rent and buying power for Los Angeles data scientists
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$129,700).
Adjusting for prices does not move Los Angeles in the ranking: it is 8th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$9,200 monthly (15% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 18% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$5,660 in the black.
Other CA options for data scientists
A data scientist moving from Los Angeles to San Diego (also in CA) would see the median rise 1% to US$130,990, with US$70 more left over monthly in our model.
San Jose (also in CA) pays US$185,080, 43% more than Los Angeles; modeled monthly leftover is US$3,500 higher.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$135,980 (+5% vs Los Angeles), and the modeled budget leaves US$390 more each month.
Data Scientist vs other occupations in Los Angeles
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in Los Angeles at US$194,410; data scientist comes 4th of 9.
Closest neighbours in the Los Angeles list: Registered Nurse at US$135,560 (+4%) and Mechanical Engineer at US$123,900 (-5%).
Where Los Angeles stands for junior and senior data scientists
Top earners do comparatively well in Los Angeles — 6th of 21 at the 90th percentile — while entry-level pay ranks 13th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$282,840 at the 90th percentile, +36% against Los Angeles.
Spread between low and high data scientist pay in Los Angeles
The 90th percentile (US$208,280) is 2.9× the 10th (US$71,080), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.