Data Analyst Salary in California: $97,285 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median data analyst pay sits at $97,285/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-2051. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $86,017 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($121,232), Santa Clara ($120,436), San Jose ($118,451).

Data Analyst Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California data analyst salary overview (2026)

$97,285

Avg Median Salary

$46.78

Avg Hourly Rate

37,789

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, data analysts in California can expect an average median salary of $97,286, significantly higher than the national median of $80,394, representing a 21.0% premium. The salary range across California's cities varies considerably, with Sunnyvale leading at $126,663 and Bakersfield at the lower end with $61,652, highlighting a gap of $65,011. This difference is primarily driven by factors such as demand for skilled analysts in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, regional cost of living variations, and local industry concentrations. California-specific factors include stringent state licensing requirements and evolving scope of practice laws, which impact hiring practices and skill expectations. The demand for data analysts continues to grow, evidenced by a projected annual growth rate of 4.48% in the field. Other cities in California with strong salaries for data analysts include Santa Clara at $125,832, San Jose at $123,758, Oakland at $116,336, and Fremont at $113,770. With a total employment figure of 37,789 data analysts, California’s job market in this sector remains solid, driven by the state’s innovative industries and consistent need for data-driven decision-making.

California Data Analyst Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$56,793

avg across 157 cities

Median

$97,285

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$153,982

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $33,394 (lowest entry-level) to $196,328 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$97,285

National Median

$80,394

California data analysts earn 21.01% more than the national median (+$16,891/year difference).

California Data Analyst Salary Distribution (2026)

Data Analyst salaries in California range from $56,793 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $153,982 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $97,285. The California median is $16,891 above the US national median of $80,394. The average hourly rate is $46.78/hr. Approximately 37,789 data analysts are employed across 157 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$135,491

2025 BLS Actual

$93,114

2026 Current Est.

$97,285

2021–2027 Growth

+-25.0%

Salary Trajectory for Data Analysts in California (2021–2027)

2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.48% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2021	$135,491	Actual
2022	$127,118	Actual
2023	$140,117	Actual
2024	$145,410	Actual
2025	$93,114	Actual
2026(current)	$97,285	Estimated
2027	$101,643	Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median data analyst salary grew -31.3% from $135,491 (2021) to $93,114 (2025). At a 4.48% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $101,643 by 2027 — a total increase of $-33,848 (-24.98%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.48% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $60.89/hr

$126,663

+30.20% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $60.49/hr

$125,832

+29.34% vs avg

San Jose

6,060 employed · $59.50/hr

$123,758

+27.21% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $55.93/hr

$116,336

+19.58% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $54.70/hr

$113,770

+16.95% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Bakersfield	$61,652	-36.63%	$29.64
Redding	$64,834	-33.36%	$31.17
Visalia	$65,443	-32.73%	$31.46
Salinas	$66,767	-31.37%	$32.11
Lodi	$66,848	-31.29%	$32.14

Best Value Cities for Data Analysts in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for data analysts.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$123,758	110.423	$112,076
Sunnyvale	$126,663	113.1	$111,992
Santa Clara	$125,832	113.1	$111,257
Oakland	$116,336	113.1	$102,861
Fremont	$113,770	113.1	$100,592

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$56,793	$27.30	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$97,285	$46.78	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$153,982	$74.03	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$126,663	$60.89	$73,465	$196,328	26
2	Santa Clara	$125,832	$60.49	$72,982	$195,039	32
3	San Jose	$123,758	$59.50	$73,380	$189,128	6,060
4	Oakland	$116,336	$55.93	$67,475	$180,321	78
5	Fremont	$113,770	$54.70	$65,986	$176,344	43
6	San Francisco	$113,747	$54.70	$66,312	$182,166	10,460
7	Anaheim	$88,298	$42.45	$51,213	$136,863	51
8	Chula Vista	$87,691	$42.16	$50,861	$135,921	51
9	San Diego	$87,590	$42.12	$49,555	$134,531	2,830
10	Santa Cruz	$87,582	$42.11	$50,197	$141,123	80
11	Long Beach	$87,042	$41.84	$50,485	$134,916	89
12	Carlsbad	$86,857	$41.76	$50,377	$134,629	23
13	Los Angeles	$86,754	$41.71	$47,529	$139,271	9,850
14	Oxnard	$84,493	$40.62	$44,600	$120,007	460
15	Thousand Oaks	$84,151	$40.45	$49,208	$130,435	32
16	Santa Rosa	$80,194	$38.55	$43,069	$118,027	130
17	Petaluma	$79,427	$38.19	$46,672	$123,112	12
18	Santa Ana	$77,189	$37.11	$44,770	$119,642	69
19	San Luis Obispo	$76,783	$36.91	$48,833	$141,932	60
20	Ontario	$76,517	$36.79	$44,380	$118,602	42
21	Santa Maria	$76,222	$36.64	$45,931	$137,105	190
22	Fontana	$75,761	$36.42	$43,941	$117,429	32
23	Irvine	$75,677	$36.38	$43,893	$117,300	72
24	San Bernardino	$75,593	$36.34	$43,844	$117,170	33
25	Riverside	$75,499	$36.30	$44,594	$139,819	1,000
26	Pomona	$75,308	$36.20	$43,679	$116,727	36
27	Simi Valley	$75,266	$36.18	$43,655	$116,662	23
28	Escondido	$75,250	$36.18	$43,644	$116,637	31
29	Fairfield	$75,114	$36.11	$43,566	$116,426	25
30	Fullerton	$74,837	$35.98	$43,405	$115,997	25
31	Daly City	$74,772	$35.95	$43,368	$115,897	20
32	El Monte	$74,749	$35.94	$43,355	$115,861	20
33	Vista	$74,707	$35.92	$43,330	$115,796	24
34	Concord	$74,690	$35.91	$43,319	$115,769	29
35	Clovis	$74,578	$35.86	$43,255	$115,596	19
36	Garden Grove	$74,502	$35.82	$43,211	$115,478	37
37	Temecula	$74,484	$35.81	$43,200	$115,450	25
38	Santa Clarita	$74,434	$35.78	$43,171	$115,372	41
39	Lancaster	$74,336	$35.74	$43,115	$115,222	40
40	Inglewood	$74,336	$35.74	$43,115	$115,222	21
41	Corona	$74,242	$35.69	$43,060	$115,075	24
42	Richmond	$74,231	$35.69	$43,054	$115,058	25
43	Rialto	$74,195	$35.67	$43,033	$115,003	17
44	Torrance	$74,101	$35.63	$42,979	$114,857	26
45	Elk Grove	$73,960	$35.55	$42,897	$114,639	25
46	Oceanside	$73,943	$35.55	$42,887	$114,611	28
47	Whittier	$73,921	$35.53	$42,874	$114,577	22
48	San Rafael	$73,914	$35.53	$42,870	$114,568	11
49	Rancho Cucamonga	$73,849	$35.50	$42,833	$114,465	46
50	Hayward	$73,807	$35.48	$42,808	$114,400	23
51	Woodland	$73,788	$35.47	$42,797	$114,371	15
52	Buena Park	$73,776	$35.47	$42,791	$114,353	20
53	Encinitas	$73,770	$35.47	$42,787	$114,344	16
54	Downey	$73,766	$35.46	$42,785	$114,338	22
55	Dublin	$73,724	$35.44	$42,761	$114,273	14
56	Redlands	$73,701	$35.43	$42,747	$114,237	16
57	Chino	$73,660	$35.42	$42,723	$114,174	17
58	Westminster	$73,638	$35.40	$42,709	$114,138	21
59	Santa Monica	$73,632	$35.40	$42,707	$114,130	20
60	San Mateo	$73,625	$35.40	$42,702	$114,118	21
61	Tulare	$73,603	$35.39	$42,689	$114,085	17
62	San Buenaventura	$73,577	$35.38	$43,191	$114,044	19
63	Moreno Valley	$73,528	$35.35	$42,647	$113,968	53
64	Mission Viejo	$73,528	$35.35	$42,647	$113,968	23
65	Pleasanton	$73,516	$35.35	$42,639	$113,950	16
66	Pasadena	$73,413	$35.29	$42,580	$113,790	35
67	Santee	$73,361	$35.27	$42,549	$113,709	9
68	Glendale	$73,295	$35.24	$42,584	$113,607	36
69	Mountain View	$73,257	$35.22	$42,489	$113,549	13
70	Pittsburg	$73,251	$35.22	$42,486	$113,539	19
71	Novato	$73,228	$35.21	$42,472	$113,503	11
72	Costa Mesa	$73,201	$35.19	$42,456	$113,461	23
73	Berkeley	$73,125	$35.16	$42,413	$113,343	23
74	Huntington Beach	$73,107	$35.15	$42,402	$113,316	50
75	Jurupa Valley	$73,042	$35.12	$42,365	$113,216	24
76	Hemet	$73,020	$35.11	$42,352	$113,181	14
77	Union City	$73,015	$35.11	$42,349	$113,173	11
78	West Covina	$73,006	$35.09	$42,344	$113,160	25
79	Chino Hills	$72,986	$35.08	$42,331	$113,128	21
80	Chico	$72,888	$35.04	$42,276	$112,977	20
81	Gilroy	$72,882	$35.04	$42,272	$112,967	10
82	San Marcos	$72,841	$35.02	$42,248	$112,904	17
83	Tustin	$72,779	$34.99	$42,212	$112,807	18
84	San Ramon	$72,772	$34.99	$42,208	$112,798	19
85	Eastvale	$72,703	$34.95	$42,168	$112,690	10
86	Murrieta	$72,700	$34.95	$42,166	$112,686	25
87	Vacaville	$72,700	$34.95	$42,166	$112,686	15
88	Brentwood	$72,669	$34.94	$42,148	$112,637	13
89	Hesperia	$72,633	$34.92	$42,127	$112,581	14
90	Lake Elsinore	$72,628	$34.92	$42,124	$112,574	18
91	Citrus Heights	$72,536	$34.88	$42,071	$112,431	19
92	El Cajon	$72,470	$34.84	$42,033	$112,330	18
93	San Clemente	$72,450	$34.83	$42,021	$112,297	10
94	Bellflower	$72,420	$34.81	$42,004	$112,251	11
95	Palmdale	$72,388	$34.80	$41,985	$112,201	29
96	La Mirada	$72,388	$34.80	$41,985	$112,201	10
97	Apple Valley	$72,374	$34.79	$41,977	$112,180	19
98	Menifee	$72,353	$34.78	$41,965	$112,148	20
99	Yucaipa	$72,322	$34.77	$41,947	$112,100	14
100	Norwalk	$72,318	$34.77	$41,945	$112,092	22
101	Yuba City	$72,288	$34.75	$41,927	$112,045	10
102	Rancho Cordova	$72,253	$34.74	$41,907	$111,992	20
103	Montebello	$72,184	$34.71	$41,867	$111,886	16
104	Compton	$72,155	$34.69	$41,849	$111,841	25
105	Porterville	$72,103	$34.67	$41,819	$111,759	11
106	Lompoc	$72,093	$34.66	$41,814	$111,744	8
107	Hawthorne	$71,981	$34.60	$41,749	$111,571	13
108	Antioch	$71,959	$34.59	$41,736	$111,536	17
109	Burbank	$71,952	$34.59	$41,732	$111,526	22
110	Alhambra	$71,786	$34.51	$42,744	$111,268	13
111	Livermore	$71,786	$34.51	$41,636	$111,268	21
112	Orange	$71,764	$34.50	$41,623	$111,235	21
113	South Gate	$71,763	$34.50	$42,399	$111,233	25
114	Victorville	$71,746	$34.49	$41,613	$111,207	30
115	West Sacramento	$71,722	$34.48	$42,311	$111,170	9
116	Poway	$71,704	$34.47	$41,588	$111,141	8
117	San Leandro	$71,606	$34.43	$42,279	$110,990	23
118	Indio	$71,526	$34.38	$41,884	$110,865	23
119	Lake Forest	$71,526	$34.38	$41,884	$110,865	14
120	Carson	$71,400	$34.32	$41,901	$110,669	21
121	Rocklin	$71,388	$34.32	$41,876	$110,652	10
122	Newport Beach	$71,267	$34.26	$41,613	$110,464	12
123	Redwood City	$71,261	$34.26	$41,528	$110,454	13
124	Turlock	$71,244	$34.25	$41,490	$110,428	17
125	Manteca	$71,220	$34.24	$41,513	$110,390	13
126	Perris	$71,215	$34.24	$41,304	$110,383	12
127	Madera	$71,157	$34.21	$41,376	$110,293	8
128	Baldwin Park	$71,030	$34.14	$41,198	$110,096	19
129	Palo Alto	$71,030	$34.14	$41,198	$110,096	15
130	Lakewood	$71,001	$34.13	$41,181	$110,052	19
131	Hanford	$70,857	$34.07	$41,097	$109,828	10
132	Beaumont	$70,794	$34.04	$41,061	$109,730	9
133	Merced	$70,782	$34.03	$41,053	$109,712	20
134	Tracy	$70,776	$34.03	$41,050	$109,703	14
135	Alameda	$70,753	$34.02	$41,037	$109,666	12
136	Laguna Niguel	$70,736	$34.01	$41,027	$109,641	16
137	Milpitas	$70,701	$33.99	$41,006	$109,586	16
138	Camarillo	$70,551	$33.91	$40,920	$109,354	13
139	Oakley	$70,522	$33.90	$40,903	$109,309	8
140	Davis	$70,505	$33.89	$40,893	$109,283	14
141	Upland	$70,453	$33.87	$40,863	$109,202	18
142	La Habra	$70,350	$33.82	$40,803	$109,042	16
143	Lynwood	$70,320	$33.81	$40,786	$108,997	16
144	Modesto	$70,204	$33.75	$36,269	$126,941	80
145	Vallejo	$69,896	$33.61	$43,959	$113,287	70
146	Folsom	$69,810	$33.56	$40,490	$108,206	17
147	Sacramento	$69,341	$33.34	$51,775	$107,483	2,710
148	Brea	$69,120	$33.24	$40,395	$107,136	10
149	Roseville	$69,056	$33.20	$40,303	$107,037	35
150	Napa	$68,091	$32.73	$53,788	$125,343	30
151	Stockton	$67,783	$32.59	$42,053	$120,762	100
152	Fresno	$67,703	$32.56	$35,754	$111,554	220
153	Lodi	$66,848	$32.14	$38,773	$103,615	14
154	Salinas	$66,767	$32.11	$39,853	$117,533	90
155	Visalia	$65,443	$31.46	$33,394	$108,378	40
156	Redding	$64,834	$31.17	$36,630	$107,937	60
157	Bakersfield	$61,652	$29.64	$44,026	$105,884	200

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore data analyst hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new data analysts.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced data analysts.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

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Explore More Data Analyst Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do data analysts make in California in 2026?

The average median data analyst salary in California is $97,285/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $61,652 in Bakersfield to $126,663 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 21.01% above the national median of $80,394. The state employs approximately 37,789 data analysts.

What is the highest paying city for data analysts in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest data analyst salary in California at $126,663/year ($60.89/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($126,663), Santa Clara ($125,832), San Jose ($123,758). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for data analysis services, and competition among employers for licensed data analysts.

How does California data analyst pay compare to the national average?

California's average data analyst salary of $97,285 is 21.01% above the national median of $80,394 in 2026. The state employs approximately 37,789 data analysts across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level data analyst salary in California?

Entry-level data analysts (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $56,793/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $33,394 in lower-paying areas to $73,465 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many data analysts are employed in California?

California employs approximately 37,789 data analysts across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of data analysts nationally. Demand continues to grow as the data analysis field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for data analysts?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for data analysts in California, with an adjusted salary of $112,076 (nominal: $123,758, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst

Career Analyst

Aisha has 10 years of experience in data analysis. She specializes in business intelligence and works at a tech consulting firm.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Gomez, MS, Data ScientistData verified by Fatima Khan, BSc, Data Analyst

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.48% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 data analyst compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more data analystscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (2021–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for data analysts (SOC 15-2051).

Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst, a licensed data analyst with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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