Machine Learning Engineer H-1B salaries — 4,981 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 954
- Filings · FY2025
- $165k
- Median base · FY2025
- $136k–$207k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Apple
- Top sponsor · 1,026 all-time
Machine Learning Engineer: 4,981 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $165k across 954 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $136k and $207k. The biggest sponsors are Apple, Adobe, Tiktok; most filings are in San Jose, CA.
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make on an H-1B?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $165k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Machine Learning Engineer sponsorship changed?
8 certified filings in FY2016 → 798 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 798 | −16% | $170k |
| FY2025 | 954 | +34% | $165k |
| FY2024 | 714 | +35% | $170k |
| FY2023 | 527 | −20% | $160k |
| FY2022 | 658 | +41% | $159k |
| FY2021 | 468 | +26% | $148k |
| FY2020 | 371 | +23% | $137k |
| FY2019 | 301 | +117% | $125k |
| FY2018 | 139 | +223% | $120k |
| FY2017 | 43 | +438% | $115k |
| FY2016 | 8 | — | $100k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Machine Learning Engineers?
The employers with the most certified filings, all years, with their median base salary. Open any employer for its full profile.
| # | Employer | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | 1,026 | $184k |
| 2 | Adobe | 449 | $175k |
| 3 | Tiktok | 152 | $200k |
| 4 | Meta Platforms | 138 | $211k |
| 5 | Bytedance | 124 | $222k |
| 6 | Qualcomm Technologies | 103 | $123k |
| 7 | 51 | $142k | |
| 8 | Doordash | 48 | $174k |
| 9 | Bloomberg L P | 44 | $152k |
| 10 | Expedia | 39 | $149k |
Where are H-1B Machine Learning Engineer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | 655 | $178k |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | 551 | $190k |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 387 | $161k |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | 377 | $164k |
| 5 | New York, NY | 370 | $152k |
| 6 | Sunnyvale, CA | 268 | $188k |
| 7 | Bellevue, WA | 160 | $180k |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | 143 | $123k |
| 9 | Mountain View, CA | 120 | $182k |
| 10 | Santa Clara, CA | 116 | $160k |
Common questions about Machine Learning Engineer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Machine Learning Engineer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Machine Learning Engineer is $165k (FY2025), from 954 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $125k and $190k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Machine Learning Engineers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Machine Learning Engineer are Apple, Adobe, Tiktok.
- Where are most H-1B Machine Learning Engineer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Machine Learning Engineer roles are San Jose, CA, Cupertino, CA, San Francisco, CA.
- Does a certified LCA mean Machine Learning Engineer H-1B visas were approved?
- No. A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is the Department of Labor attestation an employer must have certified before filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. It records the job, worksite and offered wage, but not whether the petition was filed, selected in the lottery, or approved. Filing counts measure intent to sponsor, not headcount.
- What salary do these figures show?
- The base annual wage offered on the certified LCA, converted to a yearly amount. Bonus, equity, overtime and benefits are not included, so total compensation is typically higher. Figures are medians and percentiles over certified filings; wages above $5,000,000 a year are excluded as data-entry errors.
- What does the fiscal year mean here?
- Years are U.S. government fiscal years, October to September: FY2025 runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This matches how the Department of Labor publishes the disclosure files. The most recent year may be partial until its final quarter is released.
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — certified LCA disclosure data through June 2026 (FY2016–FY2026). An LCA is not an approved visa; pay figures are base salary and exclude bonus and equity. Methodology →