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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 79 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Machine Learning Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $170,000. That's 10% higher than the national Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B median of $155,000 across all U.S. locations, and 10% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $155,000. Machine Learning Engineer II ranks #90 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #4,354 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Machine Learning Engineer II hiring.

$170,000
Median Salary
79
Certified Filings
$143,874
10th Percentile
$187,741
90th Percentile

Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $43,867 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $155,000 and $174,304, the interquartile range where most experienced Machine Learning Engineer IIs land. The median of $170,000 sits 10% higher than the national Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B median.

10th percentile
$143,874
25th percentile
$155,000
Median
$170,000
75th percentile
$174,304
90th percentile
$187,741
Middle 50% of Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $155,000 to $174,304

Top Employers Hiring Machine Learning Engineer IIs in San Francisco, CA

PINTEREST is the largest H-1B sponsor for Machine Learning Engineer II in San Francisco, CA, with 28 certified filings (35% of local Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B filings) at a median salary of $174,304. Among the top sponsors, ESHARES pays the highest median at $181,500. The pay spread across top employers is 17%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison
PINTEREST
$174,304
TWITTER
$166,000
TWITTER
$162,000
MAPLEBEAR
$155,000
ESHARES
$181,500

Pay spread among top employers: 17% ($155,000 at MAPLEBEAR to $181,500 at ESHARES)

Employer Filings Median Salary
PINTEREST 28 $174,304
TWITTER 25 $166,000
TWITTER 13 $162,000
MAPLEBEAR 3 $155,000
ESHARES 2 $181,500

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in San Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Machine Learning Engineer II pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Machine Learning Engineer II
+10%
10% higher than the national Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B median of $155,000.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
+10%
10% higher than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($155,000).

Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Machine Learning Engineer II is an active H-1B role. Palo Alto, CA has the most filings (77) outside San Francisco, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Palo Alto, CA 77 $172,931
New York, NY 60 $169,540

Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Machine Learning Engineer II role here (13,033 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $210,850.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 13,033 $165,605
Senior Software Engineer 4,884 $180,000
Data Scientist 1,537 $150,488
Product Manager 1,504 $164,500
Engineering Manager 1,087 $210,850
Software Engineer II 1,081 $165,000
Staff Software Engineer 1,032 $207,000
Accountant 1,030 $107,500
Consultant 969 $120,000
Associate 838 $138,200

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Machine Learning Engineer II in San Francisco, CA is $170,000, based on 79 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 10% higher than the national Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B median of $155,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 10% higher than the overall H-1B median of $155,000 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $43,867 range from the 10th percentile ($143,874) to the 90th percentile ($187,741). The middle 50% of workers earn between $155,000 and $174,304, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

PINTEREST is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 28 certified filings at a median salary of $174,304. Among the top employers, ESHARES pays the highest median at $181,500. The pay spread across top employers is 17%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Machine Learning Engineer II H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 79 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Machine Learning Engineer II salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Machine Learning Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA is $170,000, based on 79 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$143,874
25th percentile
$155,000
Median
$170,000
75th percentile
$174,304
90th percentile
$187,741

The salary distribution for Machine Learning Engineer II roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $143,874, while the 90th percentile earns $187,741. This $43,867 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Machine Learning Engineer II salaries in San Francisco, CA are 30% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Machine Learning Engineer IIs in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Machine Learning Engineer II positions in San Francisco, CA are:

PINTEREST
$174,304
TWITTER
$166,000
TWITTER
$162,000
MAPLEBEAR
$155,000
ESHARES
$181,500

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Machine Learning Engineer II roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. PINTEREST leads with 28 filings at a median salary of $174,304. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $155,000 to $181,500.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Machine Learning Engineer II in San Francisco, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Machine Learning Engineer II in San Francisco, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 79 H-1B positions for Machine Learning Engineer IIs in San Francisco, CA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.