Salary Guide 2026
Based on market data for mid-level professionals (3-5 years experience).
Entry Level
$88,068
/year
Mid Level
$178,847
/year
Senior
$273,846
/year
Based on 13 real Data Scientist job postings in San Francisco — ResumeKart's salary model, refreshed weekly.
Open roles at or above the median — apply with an ATS-optimised resume to land the top of the range.
Data Scientist
Mercor · San Francisco
Member of Technical Staff (Data Scientist)
Perplexity · San Francisco
Senior Data Scientist - Embedded Insights
Plaid · San Francisco HQ
Senior Data Scientist - Network Value (Guard)
Plaid · San Francisco HQ
Senior Data Scientist - Network Value
Plaid · San Francisco HQ
Senior Data Scientist - Credit
Plaid · San Francisco HQ
Sourced from Adzuna's job market intelligence — refreshed every few hours.
Average advertised salary, monthly
$162k
↑ 0.0% YoY
How 4,538 live job postings break down by advertised salary
Live employer leaderboard from Adzuna job postings
The Bay Area commands top tech salaries globally, offset by extremely high housing and living costs.
Entry-level Data Scientists in San Francisco start around $88,068, while senior professionals with 8+ years can earn $273,846 or more.
Startups may offer lower base pay but compensate with equity. Established enterprises and FAANG-tier companies in San Francisco typically pay at the top of the range.
Specialised skills command premium salaries. For Data Scientists, in-demand skills can increase compensation by 15-30% above the median.
Advanced degrees (MBA, MS) and industry certifications can add 10-20% to base salary, especially at senior levels.
Research market rates — use this page to benchmark your expected salary range in San Francisco.
Quantify your impact — prepare 3-5 metrics that demonstrate the value you delivered in previous roles.
Optimise your resume before applying — a strong, ATS-optimised resume positions you as a top candidate, which gives you more leverage.
Negotiate the total package — consider equity, bonuses, remote flexibility, and professional development budgets alongside base salary.
Candidates with ATS-optimised resumes that highlight metrics and impact receive 20-40% more interview callbacks. Build yours in minutes.
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