Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Francisco (2026)
Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Francisco earn a median base salary of $324K per year, based on 5,000 verified data points. This guide covers salary ranges, total comp, and negotiation tactics specific to the senior level in 2026.
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Machine Learning Engineer salary by level in San Francisco
See how senior-level pay compares to other seniority bands for the same role and location.
* Figures are approximate estimates relative to the senior-level verified data above.
What does a Senior Machine Learning Engineer earn in San Francisco in 2026?
The median base salary for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in San Francisco is $324K per year, with the 25th–75th percentile range spanning $255K–$412K. Total annual compensation — including bonuses and equity — typically reaches $415K at the median for senior-level engineers.
At the senior level, engineers own complete features or technical domains and regularly mentor junior colleagues. Senior is the deepest band in most engineering organisations — many engineers spend the majority of their careers here by choice.
To negotiate effectively, open at $377K — the 65th percentile for this level and location — which gives you room to settle above median while appearing reasonable. Know your walk-away floor: $255K.
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Top-paying companies for Senior Machine Learning Engineers in San Francisco
| Company | Median Base |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | $398K |
| Anthropic | $385K |
| Google DeepMind | $297K |
| Meta AI | $284K |
| Microsoft Research | $277K |
| Tesla | $236K |
| Palantir | $263K |
Skills that pay more at the senior level
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