Staff Machine Learning Engineer Salary in San Francisco (2026)
Staff Machine Learning Engineers in San Francisco earn a median base salary of $396K per year, based on 5,000 verified data points. This guide covers salary ranges, total comp, and negotiation tactics specific to the staff level in 2026.
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Machine Learning Engineer salary by level in San Francisco
See how staff-level pay compares to other seniority bands for the same role and location.
* Figures are approximate estimates relative to the staff-level verified data above.
What does a Staff Machine Learning Engineer earn in San Francisco in 2026?
The median base salary for a Staff Machine Learning Engineer in San Francisco is $396K per year, with the 25th–75th percentile range spanning $312K–$504K. Total annual compensation — including bonuses and equity — typically reaches $538K at the median for staff-level engineers.
At the staff level, engineers operate across team boundaries, influencing technical direction at the organisational level. Staff+ roles are genuinely scarce: most engineering organisations have fewer Staff engineers than Senior, which keeps compensation elevated.
To negotiate effectively, open at $461K — the 65th percentile for this level and location — which gives you room to settle above median while appearing reasonable. Know your walk-away floor: $312K.
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Top-paying companies for Staff Machine Learning Engineers in San Francisco
| Company | Median Base |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | $487K |
| Anthropic | $470K |
| Google DeepMind | $363K |
| Meta AI | $347K |
| Microsoft Research | $338K |
| Tesla | $289K |
| Palantir | $322K |
Skills that pay more at the staff level
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