Senior ML Engineer Salary in San Francisco

💰 $207K–$258K salary range

Median: $238K  ·  Based on 51 public job postings  ·  Updated June 10, 2026

This Senior ML Engineer salary benchmark for San Francisco is built from public job postings at high-growth and AI-native companies — no private placement data. Figures reflect base salary and are refreshed as new postings are collected.

📊 Salary breakdown

Senior ML Engineer pay in San Francisco vs. national

• San Francisco: $238K median
• National: $200K median

San Francisco Senior ML Engineer pay runs 19% above the national median.

AI/ML salaries in San Francisco by seniority

• ML Tech Lead: $205K
• Senior ML Engineer: $238K
• Staff ML Engineer: $280K
• ML Engineering Manager: $285K
• ML / AI Engineer: $325K

What does a Senior ML Engineer in San Francisco do?

Senior ML Engineers are machine-learning and AI engineers who build, train, and ship models into production. This benchmark reflects Senior-level base compensation for San Francisco-based roles at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Common questions

What is the average Senior ML Engineer salary in San Francisco?
The median base salary is $238K, with a typical range of $207K–$258K, based on 51 public San Francisco job postings collected in 2025–2026.

How does San Francisco compare to the national Senior ML Engineer salary?
The national median is $200K; San Francisco is shown above.

Where does this data come from?
Public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. Minimum 15 San Francisco postings.

Methodology

USD base salary aggregated from 51 public job postings located in San Francisco (2025–2026). Range = 25th–75th percentile; median = 50th percentile. At least 15 San Francisco postings required to publish. Last refreshed June 10, 2026.

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