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2026 Salary Data — Long Beach, CA
Updated April 28, 2026

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Long Beach: $194K Median

Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach, CA earn between $132K and $354K per year.

That's +20% above the US national median of $162,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach, CA is $194,400 per year — +20% above the US national median of $162,000. Salaries range from $132,000 (entry, 25th percentile) to $354,000 (90th percentile). Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach earned approximately $31,355 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$194,400
+520.0% YoY · $16,200/mo
Entry
$156,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$300,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$354,000
Senior/lead
Machine Learning Engineer Salary — Long Beach vs Nearby
Long Beach
$194K
Los Angeles
$207K
-6% vs Long Beach
San Diego
$191K
+2% vs Long Beach
San Francisco
$251K
-23% vs Long Beach

Free ATS scan · Long Beach employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach

ML engineers design, build, and deploy machine learning models at scale, bridging research and production engineering.

Core Responsibilities

  • Model development and training
  • Production ML pipelines
  • Feature engineering
  • Model evaluation
  • MLOps

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Master's or PhD preferred (Bachelor's with strong portfolio acceptable)

In-demand certifications

AWS ML SpecialtyGoogle ML EngineerTensorFlow Developer

Long Beach Job Market

Major Pacific port city with strong aerospace and healthcare presence.

Population
467K
Cost of Living
153
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
5%
Median Home
$770K

Top Industries in Long Beach

AerospaceHealthcareLogistics (Port)TourismEducation

Top Employers Hiring Machine Learning Engineers

Major employers active in Long Beach or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Meta
OpenAI
Anthropic
NVIDIA
Apple
Tesla
Microsoft

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Machine Learning Engineer listings.

LLMsPyTorchRAG/fine-tuningDistributed trainingMLOps

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PythonPyTorchTensorFlowscikit-learnMLOpsKubernetesfeature engineeringdistributed trainingLLMs
Career Outlook
+40% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

ML engineering demand exploded 40%+ in 2025-2026 with the GenAI boom. Frontier labs paying $500K+ for senior roles.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary Breakdown — Long Beach

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$132,000$194,400$354,000
Monthly$11,000$16,200$29,500
Weekly$2,538$3,738$6,808
Hourly$63$93$170

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($162,000) adjusted for Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (1.20×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Machine Learning Engineer Take-Home Pay in Long Beach

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$133,972
Per month$11,164
Biweekly paycheck$5,153
Effective tax rate31.1%

Tax Breakdown on $194,400

Gross salary$194,400
Federal income tax−$35,999
California state tax−$10,692
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$13,737
Take-home (net)$133,972

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Experience — Long Beach

Career-stage progression for Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$143,520
2–3 yr$156,000
4–6 yr$228,000
7–10 yr$300,000
11–15 yr$354,000
15+ yr$327,000

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Long Beach's 1.20× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$31,355
2026 median:$194,400
Change:+$163,045

Technology sector growth driven by demand for LLMs and PyTorch.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$127,059
Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.

How to Negotiate Your Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Long Beach

Walk-away anchor: $169,043 (offers below this are below market for Long Beach).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $300K–$354K for experienced roles, citing Long Beach market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary FAQ — Long Beach

What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach, CA?
The average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach is $194,400 per year as of April 2026 — $16,200/month, $3,738/week, or about $93/hour. Salaries range from $132,000 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $354,000 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (1.20×).
Is $194,400 a good Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Long Beach's cost-of-living index is 153 (vs 100 nationally), giving $194,400 a real purchasing power of approximately $127,059 in national terms. Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.
Can you live on $194,400 in Long Beach?
Median pay is below HUD's low-income threshold for a family of four in some of these metros (notably San Francisco, where $104K qualifies as 'low income'). Raising a family on the median typically requires two earners, a long commute, or family help with housing. Spending 30% on rent is impossible at the median in this market - most workers spend 40-50% or take roommates well into their 30s. HUD classifies anything over 30% as 'cost-burdened' here. For Long Beach specifically (median home price $770,000), a $194,400 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $194,400 enough for a single person in Long Beach?
A single adult in Long Beach typically needs ~$68,850 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $194,400 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $194,400 enough for a couple in Long Beach?
A couple (one earner) in Long Beach typically needs ~$110,160 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $194,400 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $194,400 each ($388,800 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $194,400 enough for a family of 4 in Long Beach?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Long Beach typically needs ~$168,300 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $194,400 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Machine Learning Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Long Beach typically run $23K-$43K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in Long Beach?
On a $194,400 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach, CA, you take home approximately $133,972 per year ($11,164/month, $5,153 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $35,999, state $10,692, FICA $13,737. Effective tax rate: 31.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach earn compared to the US average?
Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach earn approximately 20% more than the US national median for this role ($162,000 nationally vs $194,400 in Long Beach). However, Long Beach's cost-of-living index of 153 means real purchasing power is approximately $127,059 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Machine Learning Engineer earn in Long Beach?
Entry-level Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach typically start at around $156,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Machine Learning Engineers earn $300,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $354,000+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Long Beach increase in 2026?
Yes — Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Long Beach grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $31,355 in 2025 to $194,400 in 2026 (+$163,045). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach?
ML engineering demand exploded 40%+ in 2025-2026 with the GenAI boom. Frontier labs paying $500K+ for senior roles. Long Beach's top industries include Aerospace, Healthcare, Logistics (Port), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Machine Learning Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Machine Learning Engineers are: LLMs, PyTorch, RAG/fine-tuning, Distributed training, MLOps. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Long Beach.
Who are the top employers hiring Machine Learning Engineers in Long Beach?
Top employers hiring Machine Learning Engineers in or near Long Beach include: Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, NVIDIA, Apple. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Machine Learning Engineer salary in Long Beach?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (LLMs, PyTorch, RAG/fine-tuning) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., AWS ML Specialty or Google ML Engineer). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Machine Learning Engineer in Long Beach?
Master's or PhD preferred (Bachelor's with strong portfolio acceptable) is the typical path. However, Long Beach's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Machine Learning Engineer salary figures for Long Beach are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($162,000) by Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.20× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Long Beach

Data Scientist →Software Engineer →Product Manager →Web Developer →DevOps Engineer →Cybersecurity Analyst →

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Los Angeles, CA$207KSan Diego, CA$191KSan Francisco, CA$251KFresno, CA$154KSacramento, CA$175KOakland, CA$227K

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