Quick answer: The Santa Rosa metro employs about 130 data scientists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the employers you are targeting.
Compare master’s in artificial intelligence programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. There is no license or programmatic accreditor for artificial intelligence work. Employers assess the degree, the mathematics behind it and demonstrated project work rather than any credentialing exam.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 2 schools
within 106 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
2 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Data Scientists in the Santa Rosa area earn a median $119,930 per year, below the national median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Pay in Santa Rosa, CA
Metric
Santa Rosa metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$119,930
$141,590
$120,230
10th percentile
$64,410
$77,480
$67,240
25th percentile
$85,360
$103,360
$85,660
75th percentile
$152,190
$186,820
$158,880
90th percentile
$176,510
$224,920
$199,130
Employment
130
39,310
262,440
Location quotient
0.37
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Santa Rosa median of $119,930 is below the national median of $120,230, and below the California statewide median of $141,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.37 means data scientists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
AI employment concentrates around technology, finance and research employers, and it supports remote work more than most fields, so local employment understates the accessible market.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do data scientists make in Santa Rosa?
The median annual wage for data scientists in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $119,930, below the national median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many data scientists work in the Santa Rosa area?
The Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area employs about 130 data scientists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do data scientists in Santa Rosa need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. There is no license or programmatic accreditor for artificial intelligence work. Employers assess the degree, the mathematics behind it and demonstrated project work rather than any credentialing exam. Confirm current requirements with the employers you are targeting.
Can I study master's in artificial intelligence online from Santa Rosa?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the employers you are targeting.
Is Santa Rosa a better market than the rest of California?
The Santa Rosa metro median is $119,930 against a statewide median of $141,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
