San Francisco is the world's densest concentration of data science talent and investment. Median H1B data scientist wage of $198K is 52% above the national median. San Francisco has the highest cost of living in the US — data scientists must earn $198K+ to match the purchasing power of $145K in Austin.
Key fact: San Francisco has the highest cost of living in the US — data scientists must earn $198K+ to match the purchasing power of $145K in Austin.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| DS L3 | $168,000 |
| Senior DS L4 | $210,000 |
| Staff DS L5 | $258,000 |
| ML Research Scientist | $285,000 |
| Principal DS | $312,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| $225,000 | |
| Meta | $238,000 |
| Stripe | $215,000 |
| Airbnb | $205,000 |
| Lyft | $192,000 |
| Salesforce | $188,000 |