Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs San Antonio, TX

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

San Francisco, CA
$207,524
/ year
+96%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$105,674
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$207,524✓ higher
$105,674
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$134,205✓ higher
$68,339
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$320,899✓ higher
$163,406
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$138,938✓ higher
$74,494
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$123,526✓ higher
$120,084
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$134,205✓ higher
$68,339
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$320,899✓ higher
$163,406

What if you move from San Francisco to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$101,850
96% decrease
Take-home change
$64,444
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,442
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

San Francisco, CA$207,524
P10: $134,205Median: $207,524P90: $320,899
San Antonio, TX$105,674
P10: $68,339Median: $105,674P90: $163,406

More Data Scientist salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Scientist earn more in San Francisco or San Antonio?

The median Data Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA is $207,524/yr compared to $105,674/yr in San Antonio, TX. San Francisco pays 96% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist salary worth more in San Francisco or San Antonio after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $123,526/yr in a median-cost city, vs $120,084/yr for San Antonio. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in San Francisco vs San Antonio?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $138,938/yr, vs $74,494/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.