Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary in San Jose, CA
Employers have filed 162 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Jose, CA, with a median salary of $197,273. That's 10% higher than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $180,000 across all U.S. locations, and 32% higher than the San Jose, CA all-roles H-1B median of $150,000. Senior Machine Learning Engineer ranks #47 among H-1B job titles filed from San Jose, CA.
Headline numbers for Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in San Jose, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #2,110 by filing volume out of the 7,543 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 Jose, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $163,301 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $179,520 and $228,002, the interquartile range where most experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineers land. The median of $197,273 sits 10% higher than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $148,699
- 25th percentile
- $179,520
- Median
- $197,273
- 75th percentile
- $228,002
- 90th percentile
- $312,000
Top Employers Hiring Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Jose, CA
PAYPAL is the largest H-1B sponsor for Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA, with 48 certified filings (30% of local Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $188,490. Among the top sponsors, TIKTOK pays the highest median at $323,200. The pay spread across top employers is 90%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 90% ($170,000 at ADOBE to $323,200 at TIKTOK)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| PAYPAL | 48 | $188,490 |
| BYTEDANCE | 19 | $312,000 |
| TIKTOK | 11 | $323,200 |
| ADOBE | 9 | $170,000 |
| TT COMMERCE & GLOBAL SERVICES | 4 | $268,920 |
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 Jose, 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 (344) outside San Jose, CA. The highest median among these is Mountain View, CA at $211,536. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 344 | $193,000 |
| New York, NY | 227 | $190,000 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 161 | $199,534 |
| San Diego, CA | 157 | $133,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 131 | $185,000 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 97 | $185,766 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 85 | $208,900 |
| Austin, TX | 72 | $145,000 |
| Mountain View, CA | 71 | $211,536 |
| Bellevue, WA | 63 | $210,000 |
Other H-1B Jobs in San Jose, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Jose, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Senior Machine Learning Engineer role here (9,425 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Machine Learning Engineer at a median of $186,874.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 9,425 | $162,485 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 2,894 | $176,033 |
| Software Developer | 1,620 | $120,640 |
| Software Engineer III | 1,360 | $155,375 |
| Product Manager | 1,140 | $173,157 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 981 | $186,874 |
| Data Scientist | 963 | $165,000 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 909 | $185,000 |
| Software Engineer II | 899 | $133,875 |
| Accountant | 859 | $109,453 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA is $197,273, based on 162 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 10% higher than the national Senior Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $180,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 32% higher than the overall H-1B median of $150,000 in San Jose, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $163,301 range from the 10th percentile ($148,699) to the 90th percentile ($312,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $179,520 and $228,002, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
PAYPAL is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Jose, CA, with 48 certified filings at a median salary of $188,490. Among the top employers, TIKTOK pays the highest median at $323,200. The pay spread across top employers is 90%, 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 Jose, CA, answered directly from 162 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 Jose, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Jose, CA is $197,273, based on 162 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $148,699
- 25th percentile
- $179,520
- Median
- $197,273
- 75th percentile
- $228,002
- 90th percentile
- $312,000
The salary distribution for Senior Machine Learning Engineer roles in San Jose, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $148,699, while the 90th percentile earns $312,000. This $163,301 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Senior Machine Learning Engineer salaries in San Jose, CA are 56% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Jose, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Senior Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Jose, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Senior Machine Learning Engineer roles specifically in San Jose, CA. PAYPAL leads with 48 filings at a median salary of $188,490. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $170,000 to $323,200.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Jose, 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, 162 H-1B positions for Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Jose, 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.