Data Scientist Salary in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living (index: 173). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Data Scientist Salary in Los Angeles — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Los Angeles
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a metro population of 13,200,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 5.3% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Los Angeles
Other Professions in Los Angeles
Data Scientist Salary — Other California Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Data Scientist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The estimated median salary for a Data Scientist in Los Angeles is $194,781 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $112,590 adjusted by Los Angeles's cost of living index (173). The typical salary range runs from $142,829 (25th percentile) to $260,434 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $329,617.
Is Los Angeles affordable for a Data Scientist?
On a $194,781 annual salary, a Data Scientist in Los Angeles would spend approximately 12.6% of gross monthly income on median rent ($2,050/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Los Angeles relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $860,000 is 4.4× the annual salary.
How does a Data Scientist's salary compare to Los Angeles's overall income?
Los Angeles's median household income is $76,000. A Data Scientist earning the city-adjusted median of $194,781 earns 156.3% more than the typical Los Angeles household — placing them solidly in the middle-to-upper income tier for the city.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.