Machine Learning Engineer H-1B Wage Levels in San Diego, CA (2026)
Most certified H-1B Machine Learning Engineer petitions in San Diego, CA are filed at Level II (Qualified) (62.3% of 464 filings). Because the 2026 wage-weighted lottery gives higher DOL prevailing wage levels more entries in the selection pool (Level IV = 4, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1), the level your employer files at directly shapes your selection odds.
Wage Level Distribution & 2026 Lottery Entry Weight
| DOL Wage Level | Share of Filings | Median Wage | 25th–75th | 2026 Lottery Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | , | , | , | 1× |
| Level II (Qualified) | 62.3% | $133K | $127K–$146K | 2× |
| Level III (Experienced) | 21.8% | $152K | $149K–$166K | 3× |
| Level IV (Expert) | 13.8% | $178K | $174K–$185K | 4× |
Distribution across 464 certified Machine Learning Engineer LCA filings with a San Diego, CA worksite (DOL FY2022–2026). Entry-weight column reflects the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026 (Level IV = 4 entries, III = 3, II = 2, I = 1 in the registration pool). USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level, so none are stated here.
San Diego Employers Filing Machine Learning Engineers at Level III–IV
These employers most often file Machine Learning Engineer petitions in San Diego, CA at the higher prevailing wage levels, the tiers with the strongest selection odds under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery.
| Employer | Level | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. | Level IV | 34 | $178K |
| Apple Inc. | Level IV | 8 | $181K |
| Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | Level III | 3 | $164K |
| TigerEye Labs, Inc. | Level IV | 2 | $220K |
| Goal Structured Solutions, LLC | Level IV | 2 | $148K |
| Costar Realty Information, Inc. | Level IV | 2 | $207K |
| Etsy, Inc. | Level III | 2 | $176K |
| Tapad, Inc. | Level IV | 1 | $162K |
Ranked by Level III–IV Machine Learning Engineer filing volume in San Diego, CA. Linked employers have a full per-company wage breakdown.
What DOL Wage Levels Mean
Every H-1B Labor Condition Application is filed at one of four DOL prevailing wage levels, set by the role's required experience and the OES survey for the occupation and location:
- Level I (Entry): roughly the 17th percentile wage, new graduates and early-career hires.
- Level II (Qualified): ~34th percentile, some experience, the most common H-1B level.
- Level III (Experienced): ~50th percentile, independent, senior-leaning roles.
- Level IV (Expert): ~67th percentile and up, lead, principal, and managerial roles.
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Wage-level distribution aggregated from DOL LCA disclosure files (FY2022–2026), filtered to certified petitions with wages between $30K and $1M. Based on 464 certified Machine Learning Engineer filings with a San Diego, CA worksite and a reported DOL prevailing wage level. Lottery entry-weight figures reflect the DHS wage-weighted selection rule effective February 27, 2026; USCIS has not published official aggregate selection-rate percentages by wage level.