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 Machine Learning Research Engineer in California is $139,174 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.
However, a Machine Learning Research Engineer'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
AI-Powered Talent
Machine Learning Research Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $151,102 | $12,592 | $2,906 | $73 |
| Average | $139,174 | $11,598 | $2,676 | $67 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,207 | $10,684 | $2,466 | $62 |
Apple - San Francisco, CA
Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology Careers - Glendale, CA
Freenome - South San Francisco, CA
Scale AI - San Francisco, CA
A Machine Learning Research 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Machine Learning Research 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software ... Level Machine Learning Research Engineer | $87,752 |
| Software ... Level Machine Learning Research Engineer | $112,929 |
| Machine L... Level Machine Learning Research Engineer | $138,297 |
| Software ... Level Machine Learning Research Engineer | $160,003 |
| Software ... Level Machine Learning Research Engineer | $183,937 |
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 Machine Learning Research Engineers. 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 Machine Learning Research Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 27% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 14% above the average. In contrast, Machine Learning Research Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Machine Learning Research Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $158,659 | $76.0 | 14% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $155,875 | $75.0 | 12% |
| Internet | $154,484 | $74.0 | 11% |
| Biotechnology | $153,092 | $74.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $151,700 | $73.0 | 9% |
Understanding how a Machine Learning Research 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $151,102 | $12,592 | $2,906 | $73 |
| Average | $139,174 | $11,598 | $2,676 | $67 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,207 | $10,684 | $2,466 | $62 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Machine Learning Research Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Autoscience
Menlo Park, CA
Autoscience | Menlo Park, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. At Autoscience Institute, we create AI systems that autonomously conduct AI research. Recently, we a... more
6 Days Ago
Confidential
Los Angeles, CA
Confidential | Los Angeles, CA
Vice President of Research, Machine Learning. About the Company. High-talent-density, hands-on team building a magical AI product for global users. Industr... more
6 Days Ago
Confidential
San Diego, CA
Confidential | San Diego, CA
Vice President of Research, Machine Learning. About the Company. High-talent-density, hands-on team building a magical AI product for global users. Industr... more
6 Days Ago
Confidential
San Jose, CA
Confidential | San Jose, CA
Vice President of Research, Machine Learning. About the Company. High-talent-density, hands-on team building a magical AI product for global users. Industr... more
6 Days Ago
Confidential
San Francisco, CA
Confidential | San Francisco, CA
Vice President of Research, Machine Learning. About the Company. High-talent-density, hands-on team building a magical AI product for global users. Industr... more
6 Days Ago
PLAID
San Francisco, CA
PLAID | San Francisco, CA
Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Research Scientist)We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few y... more
6 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:
