Salary Data

Computer Vision Engineer Salary in Los Angeles

$212,000

median salary, 18% above the national average

According to Orbit's 2026 salary analysis, the average Computer Vision Engineer salary in Los Angeles is $212,000. Salaries range from $159,000 (25th percentile) to $277,000 (75th percentile), adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living.

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Salary range

25th Percentile

$159,000

per year

Median

$212,000

per year

75th Percentile

$277,000

per year

How Los Angeles compares

Los Angeles, CA

$212,000

Cost of living: 18% above average

National Average

$180,000

Los Angeles is $32,000 above

Computer Vision Engineer job market in Los Angeles

Los Angeles market overview

Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area.

What drives Computer Vision Engineer salaries

Expertise in specific application domains (autonomous vehicles, medical imaging, manufacturing inspection) drives the largest salary variation. Engineers who can deploy real time inference systems with strict latency requirements earn more. Experience with 3D vision, video understanding, and edge device optimization commands significant premiums over basic image classification skills.

Beyond base salary

Total compensation

Equity at autonomous vehicle and robotics companies can add $40,000 to $150,000+ annually. Bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $30,000 to $80,000 are common. Benefits frequently include access to specialized hardware, conference sponsorship, and patent filing bonuses.

Tax considerations in Los Angeles

California's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states.

Career progression

Junior CV engineers start at $120,000 to $150,000, reaching mid level at $160,000 to $205,000 in two to three years. Senior CV engineers earn $205,000 to $275,000. Staff engineers and research leads at companies like Waymo or in medical imaging can exceed $400,000 in total compensation.

Top industries in Los Angeles

Entertainment & MediaAerospace & DefenseTechnologyHealthcareFashion

Negotiating in Los Angeles

Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers.

Computer Vision Engineer salary FAQ

Autonomous vehicle and robotics companies pay the highest CV engineer salaries, typically 15 to 25% above general tech companies. Medical imaging AI is a close second, particularly at companies seeking FDA approved diagnostic tools. Defense and satellite imagery analysis also offer premium compensation, especially with security clearances.

Real time inference and edge deployment skills can add 15 to 20% to your compensation. Many high value CV applications require sub 100ms processing on resource constrained hardware. Engineers who can optimize models for TensorRT, ONNX, or custom silicon are significantly more valuable than those working only in research environments.

According to Orbit's 2026 salary analysis, the average Computer Vision Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA is $212,000. Entry level positions start around $159,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $277,000 or more depending on skills, company size, and industry.

Entry level Computer Vision Engineer positions in Los Angeles typically start around $159,000 or slightly below, depending on the company and your educational background. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio projects can often negotiate toward the median of $212,000.

Top paying employers for Computer Vision Engineers in Los Angeles are typically large technology companies, financial institutions, and well funded startups. Company size, industry, and funding stage all influence compensation. Using Orbit to track and compare multiple offers helps you identify the best total package.

Computer Vision Engineer salary in other cities

Other salaries in Los Angeles

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