Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Machine Learning Engineers in Los Angeles, CA earn a median of $146,000/year, ranging from $112,420 (25th percentile) to $233,600 (90th percentile). After California state taxes (9.3%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 173), this is equivalent to $84,393 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Los Angeles, CA
Notable employers in this market include Google, Meta, and Amazon, all of which run significant ML and data infrastructure teams across LA and nearby regions. A median salary around $146,000 goes further than it sounds until you factor in rent - a one-bedroom in Silver Lake or Los Feliz runs around $2,200 to $2,400 monthly, which compresses your take-home considerably. The sprawl means most engineers either brave the 405 or 10 corridor daily or negotiate remote-heavy arrangements; public transit exists but rarely shapes commute decisions the way it does in coastal cities. California's 9.3% state income tax is a real consideration when comparing offers to Texas or other no-tax states, so factor that into your negotiation. The entertainment tech and autonomous vehicle scenes here also pull ML talent in different directions than pure software.
1Salary Distribution in Los Angeles, CA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Los Angeles, CA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA (current) | $146,000 | 173 | $84,393 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,000 | 186 | $91,398 |
| San Diego, CA | $141,000 | 152 | $92,763 |
| New York, NY | $163,000 | 187 | $87,166 |
| Seattle, WA | $165,000 | 162 | $101,852 |
| Boston, MA | $150,000 | 162 | $92,593 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA is $146,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $112,420 and the 90th percentile is $233,600.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 173 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $146,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA is equivalent to $84,393 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 173, meaning it is 73% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in California is approximately 9.3%.
What is the Machine Learning Engineer salary range in Los Angeles, CA?
In Los Angeles, CA, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $112,420 (25th percentile) and $233,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $146,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in Los Angeles, CA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 38,400 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the Los Angeles, CA metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in Los Angeles, CA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in Los Angeles, CA earn a median annual wage of $146,000. The middle 50% earn between $112,420 and $186,880. The top 10% earn more than $233,600. There are approximately 38,400 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the Los Angeles, CA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.6%.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
Los Angeles, CA has a cost of living index of 173 (US average = 100), making it 73% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in Los Angeles, CA earning $146,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $84,393 relative to the US median. California has a state income tax rate of approximately 9.3%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles, CA's cost of living index is 173, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $146,000 in Los Angeles, CAhas the same purchasing power as $84,393 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Los Angeles, CA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Machine Learning Engineer in Los Angeles, CA?
The headline median of $146,000 is only part of the picture. Los Angeles, CA's cost of living index is 173 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 58¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $146,000 salary effectively purchases $84,393 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Los Angeles, CA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $146,000 salary, that translates to roughly $58,400/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. California levies a state income tax of approximately 9.3%, which reduces take-home by roughly $13,578 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $122,358. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($170,000 median, COL 186); San Diego, CA ($141,000 median, COL 152); New York, NY ($163,000 median, COL 187). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.6% year-over-year growth rate for Machine Learning Engineers in Los Angeles, CA is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Machine Learning Engineers or the California state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.