Salary Data
ML Engineer Salary in Los Angeles
$218,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
According to Orbit's 2026 salary analysis, the average ML Engineer salary in Los Angeles is $218,000. Salaries range from $165,000 (25th percentile) to $283,000 (75th percentile), adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living.
Salary range
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$218,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$185,000
Los Angeles is $33,000 above
ML 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 ML Engineer salaries
Model training expertise at scale, infrastructure optimization skills, and publication record in top venues are the strongest differentiators. ML engineers who can reduce training costs by 50% or improve model latency by an order of magnitude are exceptionally valuable. Specialization in transformer architectures, reinforcement learning, or generative models commands the highest premiums.
Beyond base salary
Total compensation
Equity at AI labs and top tech companies often doubles total compensation, with RSU grants of $50,000 to $200,000+ annually at senior levels. Bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $40,000 to $100,000 are common. Compute budgets for personal research projects are a growing perk.
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
Entry level ML engineers (with MS/PhD) start at $130,000 to $165,000, reaching mid level at $170,000 to $220,000 in two to three years. Senior ML engineers earn $220,000 to $300,000. Staff and principal level engineers at leading AI labs can exceed $500,000 in total compensation.
Top industries in Los Angeles
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.