Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary in San Diego, CA
Employers have filed 148 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA, with a median salary of $133,000. That's 26% lower than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $179,837 across all U.S. locations, and 11% higher than the San Diego, CA all-roles H-1B median of $120,000. Senior Machine Learning Engineer ranks #30 among H-1B job titles filed from San Diego, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #2,134 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Senior Machine Learning Engineer hiring.
Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Diego, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $24,530 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $133,000 and $133,370, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineers land. The median of $133,000 sits 26% lower than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $123,400
- 25th percentile
- $133,000
- Median
- $133,000
- 75th percentile
- $133,370
- 90th percentile
- $147,930
Top Employers Hiring Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA, with 119 certified filings (80% of local Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $133,000. Among the top sponsors, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT pays the highest median at $163,900. The pay spread across top employers is 26%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 26% ($130,146 at SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR to $163,900 at SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM | 119 | $133,000 |
| SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR | 7 | $130,146 |
| SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT | 3 | $163,900 |
| QUALCOMM INNOVATION CENTER | 2 | $133,200 |
| RESMED | 1 | $145,725 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer 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 Diego, CA, which tells you whether Senior Machine Learning Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Senior Machine Learning Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Francisco, CA has the most filings (309) outside San Diego, CA. The highest median among these is Mountain View, CA at $211,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 309 | $191,000 |
| New York, NY | 177 | $190,000 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 142 | $199,534 |
| Seattle, WA | 106 | $180,000 |
| San Jose, CA | 96 | $190,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 78 | $184,662 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 68 | $205,000 |
| Mountain View, CA | 59 | $211,000 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Diego, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Diego, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior Machine Learning Engineer role here (2,661 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Staff Software Engineer at a median of $146,328.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 2,661 | $122,720 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,640 | $121,597 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,404 | $146,328 |
| QA Engineer | 753 | $96,742 |
| Senior QA Engineer | 606 | $111,322 |
| Software Developer | 524 | $111,322 |
| Staff QA Engineer | 448 | $133,370 |
| Software Engineer II | 352 | $128,502 |
| Senior Asics Engineer | 348 | $108,930 |
| Systems Engineer | 315 | $108,766 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA is $133,000, based on 148 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 26% lower than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $179,837 across all U.S. locations. It is also 11% higher than the overall H-1B median of $120,000 in San Diego, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $24,530 range from the 10th percentile ($123,400) to the 90th percentile ($147,930). The middle 50% of workers earn between $133,000 and $133,370, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Diego, CA, with 119 certified filings at a median salary of $133,000. Among the top employers, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT pays the highest median at $163,900. The pay spread across top employers is 26%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, answered directly from 148 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 Senior Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA is $133,000, based on 148 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $123,400
- 25th percentile
- $133,000
- Median
- $133,000
- 75th percentile
- $133,370
- 90th percentile
- $147,930
The salary distribution for Senior Machine Learning Engineer roles in San Diego, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $123,400, while the 90th percentile earns $147,930. This $24,530 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Senior Machine Learning Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA are 2% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Machine Learning Engineer roles specifically in San Diego, CA. QUALCOMM leads with 119 filings at a median salary of $133,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $130,146 to $163,900.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:
- Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
- The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
- Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
- If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work
Based on our data, 148 H-1B positions for Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, 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.