Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary in Santa Clara, CA
Employers have filed 70 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $193,978. That's 3% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $200,000 across all U.S. locations, and 25% higher than the Santa Clara, CA all-roles H-1B median of $155,000. Staff Machine Learning Engineer ranks #83 among H-1B job titles filed from Santa Clara, CA.
Headline numbers for Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B roles in Santa Clara, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #5,261 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Staff Machine Learning Engineer hiring.
Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Santa Clara, CA
The pay distribution for this role spans $130,410 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $184,080 and $226,158, the interquartile range where most experienced Staff Machine Learning Engineers land. The median of $193,978 sits 3% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median.
- 10th percentile
- $169,590
- 25th percentile
- $184,080
- Median
- $193,978
- 75th percentile
- $226,158
- 90th percentile
- $300,000
Top Employers Hiring Staff Machine Learning Engineers in Santa Clara, CA
PALO ALTO NETWORKS is the largest H-1B sponsor for Staff Machine Learning Engineer in Santa Clara, CA, with 23 certified filings (33% of local Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $180,019. Among the top sponsors, XMOTORS.AI pays the highest median at $300,000. The pay spread across top employers is 67%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.
Pay spread among top employers: 67% ($180,019 at PALO ALTO NETWORKS to $300,000 at XMOTORS.AI)
| Employer | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| PALO ALTO NETWORKS | 23 | $180,019 |
| SERVICENOW | 22 | $215,521 |
| QUALCOMM | 8 | $193,978 |
| XMOTORS.AI | 8 | $300,000 |
| MOVE | 1 | $184,000 |
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 Santa Clara, 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 Diego, CA has the most filings (96) outside Santa Clara, CA. The highest median among these is Palo Alto, CA at $236,800. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.
| City | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 96 | $154,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | 83 | $226,600 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 57 | $236,800 |
Other H-1B Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Santa Clara, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Staff Machine Learning Engineer role here (4,674 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Principal Software Engineer at a median of $201,053.
| Job Title | Filings | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 4,674 | $150,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | 1,527 | $157,477 |
| Component Design Engineer | 1,298 | $133,400 |
| Hardware Engineer | 932 | $163,778 |
| Staff Software Engineer | 898 | $179,396 |
| Software Engineer II | 841 | $179,200 |
| Architect | 757 | $163,800 |
| QA Engineer | 594 | $125,000 |
| Software Developer | 571 | $127,000 |
| Principal Software Engineer | 557 | $201,053 |
Key Insights
The median H-1B salary for Staff Machine Learning Engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $193,978, based on 70 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 3% lower than the national Staff Machine Learning Engineer H-1B median of $200,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 25% higher than the overall H-1B median of $155,000 in Santa Clara, CA across all job titles.
Salaries span a $130,410 range from the 10th percentile ($169,590) to the 90th percentile ($300,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $184,080 and $226,158, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.
PALO ALTO NETWORKS is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Santa Clara, CA, with 23 certified filings at a median salary of $180,019. Among the top employers, XMOTORS.AI pays the highest median at $300,000. The pay spread across top employers is 67%, 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 Santa Clara, CA, answered directly from 70 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 Santa Clara, CA?
The median H-1B salary for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA is $193,978, based on 70 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
- 10th percentile
- $169,590
- 25th percentile
- $184,080
- Median
- $193,978
- 75th percentile
- $226,158
- 90th percentile
- $300,000
The salary distribution for Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles in Santa Clara, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $169,590, while the 90th percentile earns $300,000. This $130,410 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.
Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Staff Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Santa Clara, CA are 54% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.
Which companies hire Staff Machine Learning Engineers in Santa Clara, CA?
The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Staff Machine Learning Engineer positions in Santa Clara, CA are:
These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Staff Machine Learning Engineer roles specifically in Santa Clara, CA. PALO ALTO NETWORKS leads with 23 filings at a median salary of $180,019. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $180,019 to $300,000.
How do I get an H-1B visa as a Staff Machine Learning Engineer in Santa Clara, CA?
To obtain an H-1B visa as a Staff Machine Learning Engineer in Santa Clara, 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, 70 H-1B positions for Staff Machine Learning Engineers in Santa Clara, 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.