{
    "url": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/san-diego-us-1840021990",
    "canonical": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/san-diego-us-1840021990",
    "headline": "Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Diego, United States",
    "description": "Median Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego, United States is $934.2K 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",
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        "soc_code": "15-2051",
        "aliases": [
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        "type": "city",
        "iso2": "US",
        "currency": "USD"
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    "period": 2026,
    "confidence": 66,
    "status": "published",
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            "level": "entry",
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            "p75": 694128.75,
            "p90": 814846.79,
            "base_share": 95,
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            "p10": 350237.76,
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            "p50": 934167.39,
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        {
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            "p25": 1300909.26,
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            "p75": 1760053.71,
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        {
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            "p10": 1820056.65,
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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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                "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",
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                "year": 2029,
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                    {
                        "name": "Real wage growth",
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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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            {
                "year": 2031,
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                        "name": "Inflation (CPI)",
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                        "name": "Wage growth",
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                        "name": "Wage growth",
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    "skills": [],
    "sources": [
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        {
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    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What is the average salary of a Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, United States?",
            "answer": "SpotSalary models a median annual salary of $934.2K for a Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, United States, or about $77,847 per month before tax. The middle 50% of the estimate ranges from $371.4K to $2.4M, with a full P10–P90 range of $350.2K to $2.7M. This is a modelled estimate, not a job offer."
        },
        {
            "question": "How much does an entry-level Machine Learning Engineer earn in San Diego, United States?",
            "answer": "The entry-level band for a Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, United States centres on $603.6K per year (P25–P75: $513.1K–$694.1K). 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 San Diego, United States?",
            "answer": "The executive band for a Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, United States has a median of $2.6M per year and a P75 of $3M. 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 San Diego, United States?",
            "answer": "The outlook is growing. In the base scenario, median pay reaches $1.9M 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 San Diego, United States?",
            "answer": "After an effective income tax rate of 31.8%, the mid-level Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, United States takes home about $637,055 per year, or $53,088 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 66% confidence and draws on 19 salary observations."
        }
    ],
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        "occupation_hub": "https://www.spotsalary.com/occupations/machine-learning-engineer",
        "location_hub": "https://www.spotsalary.com/locations/san-diego-us-1840021990",
        "all_salaries": "https://www.spotsalary.com/salaries"
    },
    "citation": {
        "plain": "Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Diego, United States. SpotSalary. https://www.spotsalary.com/salary/machine-learning-engineer/san-diego-us-1840021990",
        "updated_at": "2026-11-04T23:59:25+00:00"
    }
}