Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary in San Diego, CA
Employers have filed 91 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA, with a median salary of $154,500. That's 23% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $199,534 across all U.S. locations, and 29% higher than the San Diego, CA all-roles H-1B median of $120,224. Staff Machine Learning Engineer ranks #52 among H-1B job titles filed from San Diego, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #3,756 by filing volume out of the 7,138 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff Machine Learning Engineer hiring.
Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary Range in San Diego, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $40,954 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $148,400 and $171,080, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Machine Learning Engineers land. The median of $154,500 sits 23% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $136,200
- 25th percentile
- $148,400
- Median
- $154,500
- 75th percentile
- $171,080
- 90th percentile
- $177,154
Top Employers Hiring Staff Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA
QUALCOMM is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA, with 87 certified filings (96% of local Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $154,500. Among the top sponsors, COINBASE pays the highest median at $256,500. The pay spread across top employers is 75%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 75% ($146,328 at ILLUMINA to $256,500 at COINBASE)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM | 87 | $154,500 |
| ILLUMINA | 1 | $146,328 |
| CONFABULATION | 1 | $152,027 |
| QUALCOMM INNOVATION CENTER | 1 | $184,974 |
| COINBASE | 1 | $256,500 |
How This Salary Compares
Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Staff 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 Staff Machine Learning Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.
Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities
The other top metros where Staff Machine Learning Engineer is an active H-1B role. San Francisco, CA has the most filings (75) outside San Diego, CA. The highest median among these is Palo Alto, CA at $232,690. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 75 | $226,600 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 62 | $199,534 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 51 | $232,690 |
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-Staff Machine Learning Engineer role here (2,748 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 | 2,748 | $125,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,673 | $121,597 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 1,436 | $146,328 |
| QA Engineer | 767 | $96,742 |
| Senior QA Engineer | 613 | $111,322 |
| Software Developer | 553 | $111,322 |
| Staff QA Engineer | 456 | $133,370 |
| Software Engineer II | 363 | $130,000 |
| Senior Asics Engineer | 349 | $108,930 |
| Systems Engineer | 330 | $108,971 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA is $154,500, based on 91 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 23% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $199,534 across all U.S. locations. It is also 29% higher than the overall H-1B median of $120,224 in San Diego, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $40,954 range from the 10th percentile ($136,200) to the 90th percentile ($177,154). The middle 50% of workers earn between $148,400 and $171,080, 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 87 certified filings at a median salary of $154,500. Among the top employers, COINBASE pays the highest median at $256,500. The pay spread across top employers is 75%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions people ask about Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in San Diego, CA, answered directly from 91 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 Staff Machine Learning Engineer salary in San Diego, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA is $154,500, based on 91 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $136,200
- 25th percentile
- $148,400
- Median
- $154,500
- 75th percentile
- $171,080
- 90th percentile
- $177,154
The salary distribution for Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles in San Diego, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $136,200, while the 90th percentile earns $177,154. This $40,954 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,707, Staff Machine Learning Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA are 18% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Machine Learning Engineers in San Diego, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in San Diego, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles specifically in San Diego, CA. QUALCOMM leads with 87 filings at a median salary of $154,500. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $146,328 to $256,500.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Machine Learning Engineer in San Diego, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff 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, 91 H-1B positions for Staff 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.