Data Scientists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 33,220 Data Scientists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
33,220
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
33.22
workers
Location Quotient
8.46
vs national avg
Average Salary
$140K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 8.46 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Data Scientists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
33,220
National: 192,360
17.3% of national
Jobs per 1,000
33.22
National: 3.93
+745.3%
Average Salary
$140K
National: $110K
+27.7%

Top States by Data Scientists Employment

#1
33,220
33,220
employed
#2
20,560
20,560
employed
#3
16,390
16,390
employed
#4
8,400
8,400
employed
#5
7,490
7,490
employed
#6
7,400
7,400
employed
#7
6,640
6,640
employed
#8
6,510
6,510
employed
#9
6,320
6,320
employed
#10
5,910
5,910
employed

What Does a Data Scientists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Data Scientists in California is $140,490. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Data Scientists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 33,220 Data Scientists professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Data Scientists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Data Scientists jobs (LQ: 8.46). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Data Scientists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Data Scientists in California is $140490/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Data Scientists professionals?

The top state for Data Scientists employment is California with 33,220 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Data Scientists (SOC 152051) in California.

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