Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Annotation Specialist in California is $52,826 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.
However, a Data Annotation Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
Data Annotation Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $60,074 | $5,006 | $1,155 | $29 |
| Average | $52,826 | $4,402 | $1,016 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,496 | $4,041 | $933 | $23 |
Park Lawless & Tremonti LLP - Los Angeles, CA
FocusGroupPanel - Arvin, CA
AI4ALL - San Francisco, CA
TradeJobsWorkForce - Irvine, CA
A Data Annotation Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Data Annotation Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Transacti... Level Data Annotation Specialist | $48,970 |
| Data Anno... Level Data Annotation Specialist | $53,127 |
| Transacti... Level Data Annotation Specialist | $59,501 |
| Transacti... Level Data Annotation Specialist | $68,595 |
| Transacti... Level Data Annotation Specialist | $92,769 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Data Annotation Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Data Annotation Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Data Annotation Specialist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Annotation Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $63,391 | $30.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $60,750 | $29.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $58,109 | $28.0 | 10% |
| Internet | $58,109 | $28.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $58,109 | $28.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Data Annotation Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $60,074 | $5,006 | $1,155 | $29 |
| Average | $52,826 | $4,402 | $1,016 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,496 | $4,041 | $933 | $23 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Data Annotation Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
TradeJobsWorkForce
Bakersfield, CA
TradeJobsWorkForce | Bakersfield, CA
Join our team as a Remote Data Entry Specialist, where you will adhere to safety guidelines and company policies, learn company products and services to be... more
8 Days Ago
TradeJobsWorkForce
San Diego, CA
TradeJobsWorkForce | San Diego, CA
Join our growing team as a Data Entry Specialist to maintain accurate records and documentation, follow safety procedures and company policies, and manage ... more
8 Days Ago
WORKFORCE
Sacramento, CA
WORKFORCE | Sacramento, CA
Job Title:Data Entry Specialist (Legal Support Division)Company: Work Force, LLC (ILSL Workforce)Location: Remote / Work-from-HomeEmployment Type: Full-Tim... more
8 Days Ago
FocusGroupPanel
El Cerrito, CA
FocusGroupPanel | El Cerrito, CA
We appreciate you checking us out. Work At Home Data Entry Research Panelist Jobs - Part Time, Full TimeThis work-from-home position is ideal for anyone wi... more
8 Days Ago
FocusGroupPanel
San Jose, CA
FocusGroupPanel | San Jose, CA
Work From Home, Entry Level Data Entry Clerk As A Research ParticipantWe are looking for people who want to work remotely from home. You'll need an Interne... more
8 Days Ago
LHH
San Diego, CA
LHH | San Diego, CA
HRIS Data SpecialistWe are seeking a detail-oriented HRIS Data Specialist for a 4-month contract opportunity located in University City, San Diego. This ro... more
8 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
