Research Scientist Salary
in Sacramento
2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities
Last updated: September 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS · modeled estimate, not a published figure for this area
Typical range: $78,067 – $118,564
How much does a Research Scientist make in Sacramento, CA?
A Research Scientist in Sacramento earns a median of $96,208/year (about $46/hour). Most earn between $78,067 (25th percentile) and $118,564 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $143,156 or more — 18% above the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.
Understanding these Research Scientist salary numbers
We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.
Median (P50) — $96,208
Half of Research Scientists in Sacramento earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.
25th percentile (P25) — $78,067
The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Research Scientists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.
75th percentile (P75) — $118,564
Your negotiation target: only 25% of Research Scientists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.
90th percentile (P90) — $143,156
Top earners: only 10% of Research Scientists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.
Gross vs after-tax pay
These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.
National vs Sacramento pay
City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so Sacramento differs from the US average by +18%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.
Hourly rate — $46/hr
The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.
Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale
Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.
How current and reliable is this number?
This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.
What counts as a "good" Research Scientist salary in Sacramento?
Around the median ($96,208) is solid and $118,564+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for Sacramento.
Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.
Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA: median $96,208 (P75 $118,564), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.
Free JSON: /api/salary?job=research-scientist&city=sacramento — no key. API & widgets →
Key insights for Research Scientists in Sacramento
- ›Research Scientists in Sacramento earn about 18% more than the national median for the role ($96K vs $81K).
- ›Cost of living in Sacramento runs about 18% above the US average, so $96K is worth roughly $82K at national prices.
- ›After a simplified take-home estimate, $96K nets about $71K/yr — roughly $32K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
- ›Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Research Scientist reaches about $130K — a +35% step from mid-level.
Research Scientists in Sacramento typically earn $78K–$119K a year.
The market median is $96K — half earn above, half earn below.
Top earners (top 10%) make $143K or more.
Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.
Research Scientist Salary Analysis — Sacramento
Research Scientists in Sacramento earn a median salary of $96K, which is 18% above the national median of $81K. Strong regional demand for research scientists contributes to above-average wages here.
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Sacramento.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Sacramento's cost of living is 18% above the US average. Your $96K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $82K in a city with average US living costs.
Salary Distribution — Sacramento
5-band distribution from employer payroll records
New graduates, 0–1 yr exp
1–3 years experience
3–7 years, typical professional
Senior / high-performer — target
Staff / principal / lead
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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™
Is $96K a good salary for Research Scientist in Sacramento?
Benchmarked against the official BLS wage distribution for Research Scientists in Sacramento
Half of Research Scientists in Sacramento earn more, half earn less. Enter your own salary in the checker above to see your exact percentile against this distribution.
Why This Salary?
How we arrived at $96K for Research Scientists in Sacramento
Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.
Research Scientist Salary by Experience Level in Sacramento
How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead
| Experience Level | Years | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 | 0 yrs | $62,535 | $5,211 | $30 |
| Junior | 2 | 2 yrs | $78,891 | $6,574 | $38 |
| Mid-LevelTypical | 4 | 4 yrs | $90,436 | $7,536 | $43 |
| Senior | 6 | 6 yrs | $102,943 | $8,579 | $49 |
| Staff | 10 | 10 yrs | $129,881 | $10,823 | $62 |
| Principal | 14 | 14 yrs | $150,662 | $12,555 | $72 |
| Distinguished | 18 | 18 yrs | $155,857 | $12,988 | $75 |
Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.
Skills That Earn More — Research Scientist
Estimated premium above the Sacramento median based on market demand
Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.
Research Scientist Intelligence Report
Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data
Career Opportunity Score
Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4
Total Compensation — Research Scientist
Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits
Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.
Typical Benefits for Research Scientists
— show
Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay
Compare Research Scientist Salaries by City
How Sacramento, CA stacks up against other major markets
| City | Median | P75 | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA (current) | $96,208 | $118,564+ | +18% |
| New York, NY | $79,460 | $133,140+ | -2% |
| San Francisco, CA | $116,069 | $143,040+ | +42% |
| Seattle, WA | $116,232 | $143,241+ | +43% |
| Austin, TX | $97,190 | $132,040+ | +19% |
| Boston, MA | $108,434 | $133,631+ | +33% |
| Chicago, IL | $82,230 | $105,100+ | +1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $91,732 | $113,048+ | +13% |
| Denver, CO | $98,842 | $121,810+ | +21% |
Official Salary Career GPS™
What should I do next as a Research Scientist?
Career path data not available for this occupation.
Other Science Jobs in Sacramento
Same industry, same city
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA?
The estimated median Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA is $96K per year (2026). This is a modeled estimate derived from national wage data adjusted for local cost levels, not a published government figure for this area.
What is a good Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA?
The 75th percentile ($119K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($96K) is above-average for this role in Sacramento, CA.
How much does a Research Scientist earn per hour in Sacramento, CA?
Based on the median annual salary of $96K, a Research Scientist in Sacramento, CA earns approximately $46/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$57/hr.
Is Sacramento, CA a good market for Research Scientists?
Sacramento, CA pays 18% above the US national average for this role. BLS projects 8% employment growth for Research Scientists over 2022–2032, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.
How do I negotiate a higher Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA?
Cite the BLS P75 figure ($119K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.
What is the entry-level Research Scientist salary in Sacramento, CA?
Entry-level Research Scientists in Sacramento, CA (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $65K–$78K per year, rising toward the $96K median with experience and in-demand skills.
What does a senior Research Scientist earn in Sacramento, CA?
Senior Research Scientists in Sacramento, CA — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $119K–$143K per year, with the top 10% making $143K+.
How Is This Salary Calculated?
Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.
Where does the salary data come from?
US metro figures are published estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, which covers roughly 1.1 million employer establishments. Where BLS does not publish a figure for an occupation and area, this site shows a modeled estimate and labels it as one.
How is the Sacramento figure calculated?
The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Sacramento, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.
What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?
These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.
How is take-home pay estimated?
Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.
How often is data updated?
US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.
Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.
What a Research Scientist salary really means in Sacramento
Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $96,208 median.
Estimated take-home
≈ $6,320/month net
- Gross median
- $96,208
- Income tax
- −$13,007
- Social / FICA
- −$7,360
- Effective rate
- 21%
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.
Rent affordability
of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,386/mo)
The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$3,300/mo), roughly $3,020/mo is left to save or invest.
Cost-of-living estimate for Sacramento; rent ≈ 42% of budget.
Remote vs onsite
typical fully-remote benchmark range
Onsite Research Scientists in Sacramento earn the local median of $96,208. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($81,490) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.
Compare all Research Scientist markets →How to reach the top 25% as a Research Scientist in Sacramento
The gap between a typical Research Scientist and the top quartile in Sacramento is $22,356/year — about $1,863/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($118,564) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.
Research Scientist Salary Trend (2019–2024)
BLS OES historical national medians
Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.
Education Premium — Research Scientist
How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data
Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.
Negotiation Deep-Dive
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California Salary Transparency Law
Effective Jan 1, 2023Employers with 15+ employees must include pay range in all job postings
As a job seeker in California, you have the legal right to request salary ranges in job postings.
Research Scientist in Other Cities
Top Science Jobs in Sacramento
Data Source & Attribution
This page’s figures are a modeled estimate: a national occupation wage adjusted for local cost levels. BLS does not publish a figure for this occupation and area, so these numbers are not a government measurement and should not be cited as one. International figures draw on OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, and ILO ILOSTAT.