Data Entry Specialist salary and cost of hiring in California
The median data entry specialist in California earned $47,010 a year in May 2025[1], 13.7% above the US median of $41,340. That puts California at #9 of 49 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-9021. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $37,490 | $47,010 | $61,520 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in California earns $41,850–$54,510; the top tenth earns $61,520 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the California median that makes about $67,157 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
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Pay by metro area in California
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,260 | 720 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,100 | 1,410 | |
| Napa, CA | $63,340 | 60 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $52,000 | 160 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,070 | 5,900 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $52,470 | 970 | |
| Vallejo, CA | $49,270 | 60 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,920 | 1,130 | |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $51,250 | 60 | |
| Salinas, CA | $48,580 | 100 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,410 | 240 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $55,240 | 50 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,560 | 170 | |
| Merced, CA | $50,490 | 40 | |
| Redding, CA | $47,530 | 60 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $48,580 | 60 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,250 | 180 | |
| Visalia, CA | $47,970 | 80 | |
| Modesto, CA | $49,000 | 130 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $46,620 | 50 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,220 | 1,020 | |
| Fresno, CA | $47,830 | 270 | |
| El Centro, CA | $46,250 | 40 | |
| Chico, CA | $48,380 | 50 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $47,780 | 130 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays the most ($54,510) and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA the least ($39,520): $14,990 a year apart for the same job.
What a data entry specialist does
A data entry specialist moves information into the right systems accurately and fast: forms, invoices, product data, CRM records and research lists.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | +1.0% | |
| Utah | +0.4% | |
| California | +0.0% | |
| Wyoming | -2.4% | |
| Rhode Island | -4.3% |
Questions
How much does a data entry specialist earn in California?
The median was $47,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $41,850 to $54,510.
What does it cost to employ a data entry specialist in California?
About $67,157 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in California do data entry specialists earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $54,510 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes439021.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.