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🤖 Official Bureau of Labor Statistics & Tech Benchmark (2026)

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA

Detailed compensation breakdown, percentiles, and market demand for Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA.

Demand: +40% (Extreme Growth)
$251,600
/ year (Median Base Pay)
💵 Hourly Equivalent: $120.96/hr
📊 80% Range: $183,600 – $442,000
📍 Regional Multiplier: +36% vs National Baseline
10th % Entry $183,600
25th % Junior $217,600
50th % Median $251,600
75th % Senior $346,800
90th % Top 10% $442,000
Base Annual Salary $251,600
Target Annual Bonus $30,192
Annual Stock / Equity $55,352
Total Compensation (TC) $337,144
🛡️
Fact-Checked & Methodologically Verified by the SalaryPulse Research Team.
Data Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS Survey), DOL Certified H-1B Disclosures & Public SEC 10-K Filings. Learn about our formula →
Live Opportunities (Salary Transparency)

Verified Machine Learning Engineer Openings in San Jose, CA

Top employers actively hiring near or above the $251,600/yr median benchmark.

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Salary Progression by Experience Level in San Jose, CA

Estimated pay progression across career stages for Machine Learning Engineer

Entry-Level (0 - 2 yrs)

Junior Machine Learning Engineer

Recent graduates and early career entrants.

Median Pay
$183,600
Mid-Level (2 - 5 yrs)

Machine Learning Engineer

Autonomous execution and domain proficiency.

Median Pay
$251,600
Senior (5 - 8 yrs)

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

System architecture, mentorship, and project leadership.

Median Pay
$346,800
Lead / Principal (8+ yrs)

Staff / Principal

Strategic direction and cross-functional technical decisions.

Median Pay
$442,000

Top Paying Employers for Machine Learning Engineer

Verified total compensation packages by employer

Company Level Experience Base Salary Stock / Year Bonus Total Comp
Meta Platforms E5 (AI Specialist) 4-7 yrs $230,000 $200,000 $45,000 $475,000
Google (Alphabet) L5 (Senior AI) 4-8 yrs $225,000 $180,000 $50,000 $455,000
NVIDIA IC3 (Mid AI/GPU) 2-5 yrs $185,000 $140,000 $25,000 $350,000

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other US Locations

Compare regional earnings and cost-of-living adjustments

Role Profile & Career Requirements

Machine Learning Engineers build, fine-tune, deploy, and scale predictive algorithms, deep learning neural networks, and generative AI pipelines on high-performance GPU clusters.

Required Education
Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science / AI / Mathematics
Experience Benchmark
2-6 years
10-Year Projected Growth
+40% (Extreme Growth)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make in San Jose, CA?

The median annual salary for a Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA is $251,600, with entry-level professionals earning around $183,600 and top 10% senior specialists earning up to $442,000.

What is the average hourly rate for a Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA?

On average, a Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA makes approximately $120.96 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year.

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