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Data Scientists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 39,310 Data Scientists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
39,310
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
39.31
workers
Location Quotient
7.49
vs national avg
Average Salary
$156K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 7.49 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
39,310
National: 262,410
15.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
39.31
National: 5.25
+648.8%
Average Salary
$156K
National: $113K
+37.2%

Top States by Data Scientists Employment

#1
39,310
39,310
employed
#2
25,860
25,860
employed
#3
23,970
23,970
employed
#4
13,810
13,810
employed
#5
11,430
11,430
employed
#6
10,520
10,520
employed
#7
10,240
10,240
employed
#8
9,600
9,600
employed
#9
9,420
9,420
employed
#10
9,260
9,260
employed

What Does a Data Scientists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Data Scientists in California is $156,000. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Data Scientists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 39,310 Data Scientists professionals (2025 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: 7.49). 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 $156000/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 39,310 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in California

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for California's largest cities.

Top Colleges in California

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at California's leading institutions.

Data Scientists Employment in Other States

Compare Data Scientists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Data Scientists & California Resources

Drill deeper into Data Scientists pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. 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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