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Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Diego, California

Updated 2026-04-05BLS 2024 data — be the first to add a local report

Salary Distribution

BLS 2024
$75/ year

Median Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA

$44
10th
$54
25th
$75
Median
$101
75th
$123
90th

Compensation Breakdown

BLS 2024
Base salary (median)
$75
Total compensation (est.)
$86
Bonus range
$3,900 – $17,400
Mean salary
$80

How This Compares

San Diego, CA median
$75
California median
$110,180-99.9%
National median
$108,020-99.9%

Cost of living in San Diego is 44% above the national average. Salary of $75 here is equivalent to $52 nationally.

Salary by Experience

0-2 years
$54-28.0%
3-5 years
$68-9.3%
6-10 years
$84+12.0%
10+ years
$103+37.3%

Salary by Company Size

Startup (< 100 employees)
$66-12.0%
Mid-size (100–5,000)
$75
Enterprise (5,000+)
$89+18.7%

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Machine Learning Engineer Salaries in Nearby Cities

Los Angeles, CA$163,110/yr
San Jose, CA$192,276/yr
San Francisco, CA$199,837/yr
Fresno, CA$108,020/yr
Sacramento, CA$108,020/yr

Related Jobs in San Diego

Software Engineer$187,430/yr
Senior Software Engineer$187,430/yr
Frontend Developer$179,842/yr
Backend Developer$187,430/yr
Full Stack Developer$187,430/yr

Quick Numbers

Hourly (40hr week)$0/hr
Monthly gross$6/mo
25th percentile$54/yr
75th percentile$101/yr

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Market Context

via FRED

Fed Funds Rate

Mar 2026

3.64%

Inflation (CPI)

year-over-year

2.4%+0.04

National Unemployment

Mar 2026

4.3%-0.10

California Unemployment

Dec 2025

5.5%-0.10

Avg Hourly Earnings

all private workers

$37.38+$0.09

10yr Treasury

Apr 2026

4.31%

Source: St. Louis Fed (FRED). Updated daily.

Machine Learning Engineer Salaries by City

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego?

The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego is $75 per year, with a range from $54 at the 25th percentile to $101 at the 75th percentile. Total compensation including bonuses typically runs higher — see the breakdown above for the full picture.

How does Machine Learning Engineer pay in San Diego compare to the national average?

Machine Learning Engineer salaries in San Diego are 100% below the national median of $108,020. After adjusting for San Diego's cost of living, the purchasing power of that salary is equivalent to roughly $52 nationally — which is the number that actually matters when comparing offers across cities.

What factors affect Machine Learning Engineer salaries in San Diego?

In San Diego, the biggest drivers are years of experience, company size, and industry vertical. Entry-level Machine Learning Engineer roles start around $44, while senior and staff-level positions at larger employers can reach $123 or above. Specialized skills and in-demand tools can also meaningfully shift where you land in the range.

Is San Diego a good place for Machine Learning Engineer jobs?

San Diego offers a Machine Learning Engineer median of $75, which is 100% below the US median of $108,020. Whether that makes it a good market depends on your personal cost-of-living equation — San Diego is 44% more expensive than the national average, so factor that into your math.

How do I negotiate a higher Machine Learning Engineer salary?

Start with the data on this page: the 75th percentile for Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego is $101, which is a defensible anchor for a negotiation. Come in with a specific number backed by real market data — not a range — and reference your experience tier. If you're above the median, ask for the 75th percentile. If you're already at the 75th, push for total comp improvements like equity or bonus instead.