Senior Data Scientist (AI-Specialized).
Los Angeles.
$218,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$165,000 to $283,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
If you are evaluating a Senior Data Scientist (AI-Specialized) offer in Los Angeles, CA, here is the reality: $165,000 to $283,000, with $218,000 as the midpoint. 18% above the national average. Compensation depends on ability to translate business problems into ML solutions and deploy models to production. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Tap to place your salary
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$218,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$185,000
Los Angeles is $33,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the Senior Data Scientist (AI-Specialized) market actually looks like in Los Angeles. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Compensation depends on ability to translate business problems into ML solutions and deploy models to production. Scientists who combine statistical rigor with engineering skills earn significantly more. Domain expertise in high-value sectors like fintech, biotech, or adtech adds 10 to 20% to offers.
Junior data scientists start at $95,000 to $120,000. Mid-level roles pay $130,000 to $160,000. Senior AI-specialized scientists earn $185,000 to $240,000, and principal or staff data scientists at top firms reach $280,000 to $350,000 in total compensation. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses typically range from 10 to 15% of base salary. Equity grants vary widely, with startups offering larger percentages and public companies providing RSUs worth $40,000 to $100,000 annually. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $218,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Senior Data Scientist (AI-Specialized)s in Los Angeles runs from $165,000 to $283,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Los Angeles
Negotiating in Los Angeles
Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers.