Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Austin, TX
$133,100
/ year
0%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$133,484
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Austin
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$133,100
$133,484✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$86,075
$86,323✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$205,816
$206,409✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$91,045
$91,277✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$118,839✓ higher
$96,728
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×✓ lower
1.38×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$86,075
$86,323✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$205,816
$206,409✓ higher

What if you move from Austin to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
+$384
0% increase
Take-home change
+$232
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$22,111
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$133,100
P10: $86,075Median: $133,100P90: $205,816
Los Angeles, CA$133,484
P10: $86,323Median: $133,484P90: $206,409

More Data Scientist salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Scientist earn more in Austin or Los Angeles?

The median Data Scientist salary in Austin, TX is $133,100/yr compared to $133,484/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles pays 0% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist salary worth more in Austin or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $118,839/yr in a median-cost city, vs $96,728/yr for Los Angeles. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Austin vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Austin, TX takes home approximately $91,045/yr, vs $91,277/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.