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Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Carson, CA

How much does a Principal Machine Learning Engineer make in Carson, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Machine Learning Engineer in Carson, CA is $178,450 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): $203,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $169,440 to $191,320
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $161,237
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View as table View as graph 25% $169,440 10% $161,237 90% $203,037 75% $191,320 $178,450 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 $191,320 $15,943 $3,679 $92
Average $178,450 $14,871 $3,432 $86
25th Percentile $169,440 $14,120 $3,258 $81
Check out Principal Machine Learning Engineer Job Openings in Carson, 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, skills, 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): $126,239
  • Senior Algorithm Engineer (4-7 years): $152,176
  • Principal Machine Learning Engineer (7+ years): $178,440
  • Lead Algorithm Engineer (7-10 years): $211,634
  • Algorithm Engineering Manager (10+ years): $193,644
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Algorithm Engineer II2-4 years$126,239
Senior Algorithm Engineer4-7 years$152,176
Principal Machine Learning Engineer7+ years$178,440
Lead Algorithm Engineer7-10 years$211,634
Algorithm Engineering Manager10+ years$193,644
$126,239 Algorithm...
$152,176 Senior Al...
$178,440 Principal...
$211,634 Lead Algo...
$193,644 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:

  • San Jose: $205,650
  • San Francisco: $203,400
  • Oakland: $199,110

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Machine Learning Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 3.42% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 3.85% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 2.14% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 3.42%
Computer Science 3.85%
Economics 2.14%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Principal Machine Learning Engineer's salary.
  • Research Design: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Inference: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Research Design
 $190,942
7%
Commitment
 $189,157
6%
Inference
 $189,157
6%
Continuous Learning
 $187,373
5%
Empowerment
 $187,373
5%
Initiative
 $185,588
4%
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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 $199,425. While startup companies pay approximate $168,693.

Principal Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$168,693
Growth Stage51~500$178,410
Established501~5000$192,571
Enterprise5000+$199,425

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$223,062$107.025%
Internet$214,140$103.020%
Energy & Utilities$205,217$99.015%
Aerospace & Defense$196,295$94.010%
Financial Services$196,295$94.010%

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
$169,440
Average $178,450/year
$191,320
$14,120
Average $14,871/month
$15,943
$3,258
Average $3,432/week
$3,679
$81
Average $86/hour
$92
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $191,320 $15,943 $3,679 $92
Average $178,450 $14,871 $3,432 $86
25th Percentile $169,440 $14,120 $3,258 $81

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 $211,700 - 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

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Cost of Living In Carson, CA

Cost of Living in Carson, CA is
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