SOC 15-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Data Scientists — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Data Scientists is $130,980 a year, which is 8.9% higher than the national figure of $120,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Data Scientists is $130,980 a year, which is 8.9% higher than the national figure of $120,230. Half of workers earn between $92,010 and $161,850. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $75,070 and the ninetieth at $211,050.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.51 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $185,080. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 40th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,070 | −37.6% |
| 25th | $92,010 | −23.5% |
| Median (50th) | $130,980 | +8.9% |
| 75th | $161,850 | +34.6% |
| 90th | $211,050 | +75.5% |
| Mean | $132,800 | +10.5% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $185,080 | 6,060 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $170,110 | 10,460 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $130,990 | 2,830 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $129,740 | 9,850 | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $126,360 | 460 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $119,930 | 130 | |
| 7 | San Luis Obispo | $114,830 | 60 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $113,990 | 190 | |
| 9 | Riverside | $112,910 | 1,000 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $104,990 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $130,980 buys what $118,320 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$130,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$118,320US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $130,980 a year, 8.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $75,070 to $211,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $185,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Data Scientists in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $130,980, or $62.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $120,230, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 8.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $211,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $75,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $185,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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