Data Scientist salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 1,525 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Irvine, Culver City, Santa Monica, El Segundo, Pasadena.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,174 |
| 25th | $96,678 |
| 50th (median) | $120,000 |
| 75th | $151,966 |
| 90th | $178,790 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,000 | $80,000 | $120,000 | 136 |
| FY2021 | $105,000 | $72,946 | $127,109 | 192 |
| FY2022 | $119,038 | $88,918 | $142,000 | 307 |
| FY2023 | $113,764 | $94,078 | $143,978 | 624 |
| FY2024 | $114,500 | $93,309 | $146,744 | 690 |
| FY2025 | $114,000 | $88,148 | $150,446 | 866 |
| FY2026 | $129,287 | $101,712 | $158,808 | 659 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Data Scientist salary of $120,000 is worth about $105,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $129,740 in May 2025 (9,850 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,000, 8% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $124,176 | 67 |
| TikTok | $158,808 | 33 |
| Snap | $150,987 | 19 |
| Deloitte | $101,712 | 17 |
| Capital Group Companies Global | $165,902 | 16 |
| Apple | $154,347 | 14 |
| The University of Southern California | $69,214 | 14 |
| TWG Resources | $199,500 | 14 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | $154,800 | 12 |
| ZipRecruiter | $142,500 | 12 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $74,371 | 409 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,863 | 526 |
| Senior · Level III | $142,343 | 292 |
| Expert · Level IV | $169,003 | 262 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $69,160 | $74,371 | 409 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $101,712 | $106,863 | 526 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,270 | $142,343 | 292 |
| Expert · Level IV | $158,808 | $169,003 | 262 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.