{
    "url": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/california-us-1840006228",
    "canonical": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/california-us-1840006228",
    "headline": "Machine Learning Engineer Salary in California, United States",
    "description": "Median Machine Learning Engineer salary in California, United States is $591.1K per year. Compare P10–P90 salary bands by experience, take-home pay and a five-year outlook.",
    "occupation": {
        "name": "Machine Learning Engineer",
        "slug": "machine-learning-engineer",
        "family": "technology",
        "soc_code": "15-2051",
        "aliases": [
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        "name": "California, United States",
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        "type": "city",
        "iso2": "US",
        "currency": "USD"
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    "period": 2026,
    "confidence": 68,
    "status": "published",
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    "updated_at": "2026-11-02T17:39:10+00:00",
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            "level": "entry",
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                2
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            "p50": 380680.96,
            "p75": 437783.11,
            "p90": 513919.3,
            "base_share": 95,
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            "equity_share": 4
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        {
            "level": "senior",
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                9
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            "p10": 670259.43,
            "p25": 813886.45,
            "p50": 957513.48,
            "p75": 1101140.51,
            "p90": 1292643.19,
            "base_share": 80,
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            "equity_share": 10
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        {
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                15
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            "p10": 1147899.51,
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        "source": "IRS (2025 single filer federal)",
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        "notes": "2025 federal brackets; excludes FICA and state tax",
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                "verified": true,
                "notes": "2025 federal brackets; excludes FICA and state tax"
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                "level": "senior",
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                "notes": "2025 federal brackets; excludes FICA and state tax"
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        "direction": "growing",
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                        "note": "3.6% nominal wage trend",
                        "weight": "high",
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                        "note": "10.0% annual role demand",
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                        "name": "Hiring demand",
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                "year": 2027,
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                "year": 2027,
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                        "name": "Real wage growth",
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                        "name": "Scenario growth",
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                "year": 2029,
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                        "note": "20% exposure",
                        "weight": "high",
                        "direction": "steady"
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                    {
                        "name": "Real wage growth",
                        "note": "12.8% after 2.8% inflation",
                        "weight": "high",
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                        "name": "Inflation (CPI)",
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                    {
                        "name": "Wage growth",
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                        "weight": "high",
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                        "name": "Role demand trend",
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                        "weight": "high",
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                        "name": "Hiring demand",
                        "note": "Demand index 58/100",
                        "weight": "medium",
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                    {
                        "name": "Automation exposure",
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                    {
                        "name": "Real wage growth",
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                    {
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                ]
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            {
                "year": 2031,
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                        "name": "Inflation (CPI)",
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                        "name": "Wage growth",
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                        "weight": "high",
                        "direction": "up"
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                        "name": "Role demand trend",
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                        "name": "Wage growth",
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                    {
                        "name": "Real wage growth",
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                        "weight": "high",
                        "direction": "up"
                    },
                    {
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                        "direction": "up"
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    "skills": [],
    "sources": [
        {
            "name": "Cuba",
            "url": null,
            "type": "nearest_donor",
            "tier": "derived"
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        {
            "name": "Saint Pierre and Miquelon",
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            "type": "nearest_donor",
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        {
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    ],
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What is the average salary of a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States?",
            "answer": "SpotSalary models a median annual salary of $591.1K for a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States, or about $49,262 per month before tax. The middle 50% of the estimate ranges from $265.2K to $1.4M, with a full P10–P90 range of $237.7K to $1.6M. This is a modelled estimate, not a job offer."
        },
        {
            "question": "How much does an entry-level Machine Learning Engineer earn in California, United States?",
            "answer": "The entry-level band for a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States centres on $380.7K per year (P25–P75: $323.6K–$437.8K). Entry-level pay typically covers the first 2 years of experience and depends on company size, skills and responsibilities."
        },
        {
            "question": "How much does a senior or executive Machine Learning Engineer earn in California, United States?",
            "answer": "The executive band for a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States has a median of $1.6M per year and a P75 of $1.9M. Senior and executive packages often include a larger bonus and equity component; this benchmark shows the total-compensation split for each level."
        },
        {
            "question": "What is the salary outlook for a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States?",
            "answer": "The outlook is growing. In the base scenario, median pay reaches $1.2M by 2031, about 106.4% above today before inflation and 12.8% per year in real terms after 2.8% inflation. Scenario bands widen over time and are not guarantees."
        },
        {
            "question": "What is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States?",
            "answer": "After an effective income tax rate of 29.0%, the mid-level Machine Learning Engineer in California, United States takes home about $419,943 per year, or $34,995 per month. The estimate uses imported national tax brackets and does not include social contributions or local levies."
        },
        {
            "question": "How does SpotSalary calculate these salary estimates?",
            "answer": "Estimates are anchored to external market signals — GDP per capita PPP, inflation, wage growth, cost of living, demand and automation exposure — and synthesised with AI. Deterministic validation rejects implausible outputs. This report carries 68% confidence and draws on 26 salary observations."
        }
    ],
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        "occupation_hub": "https://www.spotsalary.com/occupations/machine-learning-engineer",
        "location_hub": "https://www.spotsalary.com/locations/california-us-1840006228",
        "all_salaries": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salaries"
    },
    "citation": {
        "plain": "Machine Learning Engineer Salary in California, United States. SpotSalary. https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/california-us-1840006228",
        "updated_at": "2026-11-02T17:39:10+00:00"
    }
}