Senior Data Scientist Salary in San Francisco (2026)
Senior Data Scientists in San Francisco earn a median base salary of $268K per year, based on 5,000 verified data points. This guide covers salary ranges, total comp, and negotiation tactics specific to the senior level in 2026.
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Data Scientist salary by level in San Francisco
See how senior-level pay compares to other seniority bands for the same role and location.
* Figures are approximate estimates relative to the senior-level verified data above.
What does a Senior Data Scientist earn in San Francisco in 2026?
The median base salary for a Senior Data Scientist in San Francisco is $268K per year, with the 25th–75th percentile range spanning $209K–$339K. Total annual compensation — including bonuses and equity — typically reaches $350K at the median for senior-level engineers.
At the senior level, engineers own complete features or technical domains and regularly mentor junior colleagues. Senior is the deepest band in most engineering organisations — many engineers spend the majority of their careers here by choice.
To negotiate effectively, open at $311K — the 65th percentile for this level and location — which gives you room to settle above median while appearing reasonable. Know your walk-away floor: $209K.
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Top-paying companies for Senior Data Scientists in San Francisco
| Company | Median Base |
|---|---|
| Netflix | $297K |
| $250K | |
| Meta | $243K |
| OpenAI | $331K |
| Anthropic | $338K |
| Palantir | $254K |
| Microsoft Research | $263K |
Skills that pay more at the senior level
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