Research Scientist Salary in San Diego, CA

IQ Team
Written by IQ Team
IQ Team
Published March 24, 2022
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents

$99,442

Average Base Salary

$88,033

Average Total Compensation

Min: $54K
Max: $152K
Base Salary
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $99K
Data points: 199
Min: $14K
Max: $162K
Total Compensation
Median: $88K
Mean (Average): $88K
Data points: 2
The average base salary for a Research Scientist in San Diego, CA is $99,442
based on 199 data points.
Adjusting the average for more recent salary data points, the average recency weighted base salary is $104,873.

The estimated average total compensation is $88,033
based on 2 data points.
The average recency weighted total compensation is $91,018.

Normalized Research Scientist Salaries in San Diego, CA


Average total compensation
0% - Low
15%85%
Cost of living
0% - Low
15%85%
Years of experience
0% - Low
15%85%

The average base salary for Research Scientist in San Diego, CA is in the top 88% compared to all other cities salaries.

The average base salary for Research Scientist in San Diego, CA is $99,442 while the average Research Scientist base salary is $93,923.

If we normalize the salaries in San Diego, CA by the cost of living, then the average base salary for Research Scientist in San Diego, CA is in the top 82% compared to all other cities.

If we normalize the salaries in San Diego, CA by the years of experience, then the average base salary for Research Scientist in San Diego, CA is in the top 66% compared to all other cities.

Research Scientist Salary in San Diego, CA by Seniority Levels

Senior
$93K
$179K
Senior
Median: $105K
Mean (Average): $118K
Data points: 16
Mid-Level
$82K
$148K
Mid-Level
Median: $110K
Mean (Average): $111K
Data points: 28
Entry Level
$66K
$152K
Entry Level
Median: $105K
Mean (Average): $106K
Data points: 8
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Seniority can increase the pay of a Research Scientist in San Diego, CA. Here are the base salaries of a Research Scientist in San Diego, CA grouped into 3 seniority categories.

Research Scientist Salary in San Diego, CA Compared to other Positions

Product Manager
$79K
$226K
Product Manager
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $149K
Data points: 49
Machine Learning Engineer
$99K
$170K
Machine Learning Engineer
Median: $121K
Mean (Average): $127K
Data points: 86
Data Scientist
$73K
$160K
Data Scientist
Median: $110K
Mean (Average): $115K
Data points: 249
Software Engineer
$61K
$180K
Software Engineer
Median: $103K
Mean (Average): $112K
Data points: 3,443
Data Engineer
$70K
$160K
Data Engineer
Median: $110K
Mean (Average): $110K
Data points: 199
Research Scientist
$54K
$152K
Research Scientist
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $99K
Data points: 199
Business Intelligence
$60K
$122K
Business Intelligence
Median: $80K
Mean (Average): $86K
Data points: 82
Business Analyst
$57K
$127K
Business Analyst
Median: $78K
Mean (Average): $83K
Data points: 314
Data Analyst
$50K
$117K
Data Analyst
Median: $73K
Mean (Average): $78K
Data points: 244
Growth Marketing Analyst
$52K
$135K
Growth Marketing Analyst
Median: $69K
Mean (Average): $77K
Data points: 12
Product Analyst*
$50K
$71K
Product Analyst
Median: $50K
Mean (Average): $56K
Data points: 4
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Most data science positions fall under different position titles depending on the actual role.

From the graph we can see that on average the Product Manager role pays the most with a $148,806 base salary while the Product Analyst role on average pays the least with a $56,236 base salary.

Research Scientist Salary in San Diego, CA Compared to other Cities

Seattle, WA
$68K
$199K
Seattle, WA
Median: $140K
Mean (Average): $140K
Data points: 876
San Francisco, CA
$66K
$202K
San Francisco, CA
Median: $138K
Mean (Average): $137K
Data points: 2,521
Albany-Schenectady-Troy Area
$107K
$135K
Albany-Schenectady-Troy Area
Median: $117K
Mean (Average): $116K
Data points: 22
Monterey-Salinas, CA
$99K
$131K
Monterey-Salinas, CA
Median: $115K
Mean (Average): $116K
Data points: 11
Portland, OR
$59K
$160K
Portland, OR
Median: $109K
Mean (Average): $109K
Data points: 129
Indianapolis, IN
$58K
$136K
Indianapolis, IN
Median: $115K
Mean (Average): $107K
Data points: 111
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
$80K
$120K
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Median: $101K
Mean (Average): $102K
Data points: 63
Los Angeles, CA
$55K
$165K
Los Angeles, CA
Median: $95K
Mean (Average): $102K
Data points: 296
Pittsburgh, PA
$48K
$179K
Pittsburgh, PA
Median: $90K
Mean (Average): $102K
Data points: 201
Austin, TX
$54K
$159K
Austin, TX
Median: $100K
Mean (Average): $101K
Data points: 83
San Diego, CA
$54K
$152K
San Diego, CA
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $99K
Data points: 199
Gainesville, FL
$65K
$138K
Gainesville, FL
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $98K
Data points: 6
Toronto, Canada
$72K
$126K
Toronto, Canada
Median: $95K
Mean (Average): $97K
Data points: 8
Montgomery, AL
$83K
$108K
Montgomery, AL
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $95K
Data points: 6
Dayton, OH
$75K
$123K
Dayton, OH
Median: $84K
Mean (Average): $91K
Data points: 16
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)
1
...

The Research Scientist salary in Seattle, WA is the highest paying salary with a $140,035 average base salary. The Research Scientist salary in Bucharest, Romania is the lowest paying salary with $41,000 average base salary.

Top Companies for Research Scientist Salaries in San Diego, CA

Bytedance Inc.*
$157K
$184K
Bytedance Inc.
Median: $165K
Mean (Average): $168K
Data points: 4
Intel Corporation
$109K
$159K
Intel Corporation
Median: $122K
Mean (Average): $127K
Data points: 6
Eli Lilly And Company
$112K
$128K
Eli Lilly And Company
Median: $123K
Mean (Average): $121K
Data points: 5
Amazon
$84K
$150K
Amazon
Median: $129K
Mean (Average): $120K
Data points: 12
Kneron*
$100K
$128K
Kneron
Median: $114K
Mean (Average): $114K
Data points: 4
Tusimple
$82K
$151K
Tusimple
Median: $103K
Mean (Average): $111K
Data points: 50
Columbia University In The City Of New York*
$93K
$105K
Columbia University In The City Of New York
Median: $105K
Mean (Average): $101K
Data points: 3
Nwea*
$98K
Nwea
Median: $98K
Mean (Average): $98K
Data points: 1
University Of Tennessee*
$88K
$92K
University Of Tennessee
Median: $89K
Mean (Average): $90K
Data points: 3
University Of California, San Diego
$68K
$117K
University Of California, San Diego
Median: $87K
Mean (Average): $88K
Data points: 17
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit)*
$78K
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit)
Median: $78K
Mean (Average): $78K
Data points: 1
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

The Research Scientist at Bytedance Inc. salary is the highest paying salary with a $168,000 average base salary. The Research Scientist at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit) salary is the lowest paying salary with $77,650 average base salary.
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