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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optimization Engineer in California is $97,237 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.
However, an Optimization Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Optimization Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $105,621 | $8,802 | $2,031 | $51 |
| Average | $97,237 | $8,103 | $1,870 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,715 | $7,476 | $1,725 | $43 |
WordPress - Perris, CA
Waymo - Mountain View, CA
Shield AI - San Diego, CA
Zoox - Foster City, CA
An Optimization 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 an Optimization 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 |
|---|---|
| Optimizat... Level Optimization Engineer | $96,620 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $110,733 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $122,913 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $150,242 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $131,073 |
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 Optimization 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 Optimization Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Optimization Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Optimization Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $116,684 | $56.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $111,822 | $54.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $106,961 | $51.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $106,961 | $51.0 | 10% |
| Telecom | $106,961 | $51.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Optimization 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 | $105,621 | $8,802 | $2,031 | $51 |
| Average | $97,237 | $8,103 | $1,870 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,715 | $7,476 | $1,725 | $43 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Optimization Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Zoox
Foster City, CA
Zoox | Foster City, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Zoox is on a mission to reimagine transportation and ground-up build autonomous robotaxis that are safe, reliable, clean,... more
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quadric, Inc
Burlingame, CA
quadric, Inc | Burlingame, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Quadric has created an innovative general purpose neural processing unit (GPNPU) architecture. Quadric's co-optimized sof... more
8 Days Ago
Nuro
Mountain View, CA
Nuro | Mountain View, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Who We Are. Nuro believes self-driving vehicles are the most immediate and profound opportunity for AI to drive positive ... more
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Physical Intelligence
San Francisco, CA
Physical Intelligence | San Francisco, CA
ML Infrastructure EngineerIn this role you will help scale and optimize our training systems and core model code. You'll own critical infrastructure for la... more
9 Days Ago
Zoox
San Mateo, CA
Zoox | San Mateo, CA
Zoox Ml Performance Optimization LeadZoox is on a mission to reimagine transportation and ground-up build autonomous robotaxis that are safe, reliable, cle... more
9 Days Ago
Roblox
San Mateo, CA
Roblox | San Mateo, CA
A leading gaming platform is seeking experts in machine learning to enhance real-time optimization and user experience. Candidates will define ML strategie... more
11 Days Ago
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