Data Jobs in San Francisco, California

San Francisco remains one of the most influential tech cities in the world, with unmatched opportunities for data professionals across startups, enterprise tech, fintech, health tech, and AI research. Despite shifts toward remote work, the Bay Area continues to lead in innovation and compensation for data roles.

Why San Francisco Is a Global Data Capital

With deep-rooted venture capital, a dense tech ecosystem, and a culture of experimentation, San Francisco attracts data analysts, engineers, and scientists from around the world. The city is home to companies pioneering AI, big data platforms, and data-first product strategies, offering unparalleled opportunities for innovation and scale.

Top Data Job Titles in San Francisco

• Data Analyst – delivering product and business insights for tech, ecommerce, and SaaS firms
• Data Scientist – building advanced models for personalization, fraud detection, or user growth
• Machine Learning Engineer – designing production-ready ML systems at scale
• Data Engineer – architecting distributed systems and cloud pipelines for fast-growing data stacks

Major Employers Hiring in San Francisco

San Francisco’s top data employers span consumer tech, fintech, and AI:

• Salesforce – hiring across analytics engineering, product data, and machine learning
• Stripe – data science roles in risk modeling, payments optimization, and user research
• OpenAI – advancing research in artificial general intelligence and large language models
• Uber – building scalable data infrastructure and real-time analytics systems
• Instacart, Airbnb, and Notion – product-focused data roles in fast-moving consumer tech

San Francisco Data Job Salaries

San Francisco offers the highest median compensation for data professionals in the U.S.:

• Data Analysts: $95,000–$125,000
• Data Scientists: $135,000–$180,000
• Data Engineers: $140,000–$190,000+
• ML Engineers: $160,000–$220,000+

Use our Salary Calculator to estimate your compensation potential in the Bay Area’s competitive job market.

Remote Work Trends in San Francisco

While many companies remain hybrid, a significant number now offer fully remote roles, especially for data scientists and engineers. Startups and large tech firms alike have shifted to distributed teams, expanding access to San Francisco-caliber jobs regardless of geography.

Trends in the Bay Area Data Landscape

• Dominance of Python, SQL, Spark, dbt, and Snowflake in the modern data stack
• Explosive growth in LLM and GenAI applications driving new demand for ML expertise
• Continued investment in product analytics, growth modeling, and experimentation platforms
• Shift toward data observability and real-time infrastructure

Candidates with experience in AI, distributed systems, and product experimentation are highly competitive in San Francisco’s market.

Optimize Your Resume for Bay Area Employers

Use the Resume Analyzer to tailor your resume to high-paying data roles in San Francisco and identify technical gaps or keyword opportunities based on live job listings.

Explore Data Jobs in San Francisco

Check current listings or subscribe for job alerts in San Francisco’s vibrant data job scene. Whether you're entering the workforce or pursuing a staff-level AI role, the city remains a premier destination for data professionals.