Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA earn a median of $141,000/year, ranging from $108,570 (25th percentile) to $225,600 (90th percentile). After California state taxes (9.3%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 152), this is equivalent to $92,763 in purchasing power vs the US average.
1Salary Distribution in San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA (current) | $141,000 | 152 | $92,763 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,000 | 186 | $91,398 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $146,000 | 173 | $84,393 |
| 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 San Diego, CA?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego, CA is $141,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $108,570 and the 90th percentile is $225,600.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 152 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $141,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego, CA is equivalent to $92,763 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Diego, CA?
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 152, meaning it is 52% 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 San Diego, CA?
In San Diego, CA, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $108,570 (25th percentile) and $225,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $141,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in San Diego, CA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 19,200 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the San Diego, CA metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in San Diego, CA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA earn a median annual wage of $141,000. The middle 50% earn between $108,570 and $180,480. The top 10% earn more than $225,600. There are approximately 19,200 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the San Diego, CA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4%.
Is San Diego, CA a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
San Diego, CA has a cost of living index of 152 (US average = 100), making it 52% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA earning $141,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $92,763 relative to the US median. California has a state income tax rate of approximately 9.3%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Diego, CA?
San Diego, CA's cost of living index is 152, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $141,000 in San Diego, CAhas the same purchasing power as $92,763 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 San Diego, CA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
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.