As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for ai ml engineer in California is $150,826, equivalent to $73 per hour, $2,901 weekly, or $12,569 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for ai ml engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.
Annually Salaries for ai ml engineer in California vary widely, spanning from $133,497 to $173,066. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($141,755) and 75th percentile ($162,467), while top earners (90th percentile) make $173,066 per year. This $20,712 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Data Science, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.
Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, California ai ml engineer often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 73 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for ai ml engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.
