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Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary in California

How much does a Principal Machine Learning Engineer make in California?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Machine Learning Engineer in California is $179,840 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $86.

However, a Principal Machine Learning Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $204,638
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $170,760 to $192,820
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $162,493
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View as table View as graph 25% $170,760 10% $162,493 90% $204,638 75% $192,820 $179,840 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $192,820 $16,068 $3,708 $93
Average $179,840 $14,987 $3,458 $86
25th Percentile $170,760 $14,230 $3,284 $82
Check out Principal Machine Learning Engineer Job Openings in California
Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Spark Therapeutics Inc - Daly City, CA

Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Workday - Pleasanton, CA

Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Streamlit - Menlo Park, CA

Senior Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Splunk Inc - San Francisco, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salaries

A Principal Machine Learning Engineer'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 Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Machine Learning Engineer'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:

  • Algorithm Engineer II (2-4 years): $127,228
  • Senior Algorithm Engineer (4-7 years): $153,368
  • Principal Machine Learning Engineer (7+ years): $179,838
  • Lead Algorithm Engineer (7-10 years): $213,292
  • Algorithm Engineering Manager (10+ years): $195,160
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Algorithm Engineer II2-4 years$127,228
Senior Algorithm Engineer4-7 years$153,368
Principal Machine Learning Engineer7+ years$179,838
Lead Algorithm Engineer7-10 years$213,292
Algorithm Engineering Manager10+ years$195,160
$127,228 Algorithm...
$153,368 Senior Al...
$179,838 Principal...
$213,292 Lead Algo...
$195,160 Algorithm...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Principal Machine Learning Engineers

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:

  • Los Angeles: $180,150
  • West Hollywood: $180,020
  • Dodgertown: $180,150

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Principal Machine Learning Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $200,979. While startup companies pay approximate $170,007.

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$170,007
Growth Stage51~500$179,800
Established501~5000$194,071
Enterprise5000+$200,979

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Machine Learning Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Principal Machine Learning Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Machine Learning Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$224,800$108.025%
Internet$215,808$104.020%
Energy & Utilities$206,816$99.015%
Aerospace & Defense$197,824$95.010%
Financial Services$197,824$95.010%

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Machine Learning Engineer'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
$170,760
Average $179,840/year
$192,820
$14,230
Average $14,987/month
$16,068
$3,284
Average $3,458/week
$3,708
$82
Average $86/hour
$93
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $192,820 $16,068 $3,708 $93
Average $179,840 $14,987 $3,458 $86
25th Percentile $170,760 $14,230 $3,284 $82

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Principal Machine Learning Engineer
Lead Algorithm Engineer
Algorithm Engineering Manager

For a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Lead Algorithm Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $213,300 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Find Your Next Principal Machine Learning Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Principal Machine Learning Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Roblox

    San Francisco, CA

    Principal Machine Learning Engineer Safety Experience

    Roblox | San Francisco, CA

    Job TitleFor roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA:The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is de... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Zoox

    Foster City, CA

    Senior Staff Principal Machine Learning Engineer

    Zoox | Foster City, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. The Autonomy Behaviors team is responsible for producing our vehicle’s driving trajectory. As a Principal ML Engineer, yo... more

    6 Days Ago

  • BigHat Biosciences

    San Mateo, CA

    Principal Machine Learning Scientist

    BigHat Biosciences | San Mateo, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. The role. We are seeking a creative, accomplished Principal Machine Learning Scientist to advance the state ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • pony.ai

    Fremont, CA

    Machine Learning Engineer

    pony.ai | Fremont, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley, Pony.ai has quickly become a global leader in autonomous mobility and is a pioneer in ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • DeepReach AI

    San Jose, CA

    Staff Machine Learning Engineer

    DeepReach AI | San Jose, CA

    We build the infrastructure that processes, validates, and delivers large-scale multimodal data for frontier AI systems. You’ll own the core data platform ... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Harbor Freight Tools

    Calabasas, CA

    Machine Learning Engineer

    Harbor Freight Tools | Calabasas, CA

    OverviewThe ML Engineer is responsible for the overall development, deployment, and support of our machine learning operations Harbor Freight.This includes... more

    4 Days Ago

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