Machine Learning Engineering Director Salary in California
How much does a Machine Learning Engineering Director make in California?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Machine Learning Engineering Director in California is $251,790 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $121.
However, a Machine Learning Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $260,196
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $242,990 to $256,190
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $234,978
10%$234,978
50% (Median)$251,790
90%$260,196
Machine Learning Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Machine Learning Engineering Director Salaries
A Machine Learning Engineering Director'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.
How Experience Level Affects Machine Learning Engineering Director Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Machine Learning Engineering Director'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:
How Do Machine Learning Engineering Director Salaries Vary from State to State?
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 Machine Learning Engineering Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Machine Learning Engineering Directors
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:
Machine Learning Engineering Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Machine Learning Engineering Director salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $281,386.
While startup companies pay approximate $238,024.
Machine Learning Engineering Director Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$238,024
Growth Stage
51~500
$251,734
Established
501~5000
$271,714
Enterprise
5000+
$281,386
Machine Learning Engineering Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Machine Learning Engineering Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 73% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average.
In contrast, Machine Learning Engineering Director positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Machine Learning Engineering Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Machine Learning Engineering Director
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking
$352,506
$169.0
40%
Financial Services
$327,327
$157.0
30%
Pharmaceuticals
$314,738
$151.0
25%
Internet
$302,148
$145.0
20%
Biotechnology
$289,558
$139.0
15%
Machine Learning Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Machine Learning Engineering Director'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.
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Hourly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$242,990
Average$251,790/year
$256,190
$20,249
Average$20,983/month
$21,349
$4,673
Average$4,842/week
$4,927
$117
Average$121/hour
$123
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$256,190
$21,349
$4,927
$123
Average
$251,790
$20,983
$4,842
$121
25th Percentile
$242,990
$20,249
$4,673
$117
Salaries of Jobs related to Machine Learning Engineering Director
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
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.
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