H-1B AI and Machine Learning Engineer Salaries (2025)
H-1B AI and machine learning engineers earn an average salary of $151,263 per year based on FY2024 LCA filings from the U.S. Department of Labor. At OpenAI, the average is $392,083/year. At Credit Karma and Roblox, AI roles average above $270,000. There were 11,730 AI/ML-related LCA filings in FY2024.
AI/ML filings grew 42% from 8,248 in FY2021 to 11,730 in FY2024. This analysis covers all certified filings with job titles containing "machine learning", "artificial intelligence", "data scientist", "ML", "AI", or "deep learning".
Top 30 Companies by H-1B AI/ML Salary (FY2024)
| # | Company | Avg Salary | AI Filings | Top Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenAI | $392,083 | 12 | Member of Technical Staff |
| 2 | Credit Karma | $303,626 | 18 | Senior Data Scientist II |
| 3 | Roblox | $278,937 | 13 | Data Scientist |
| 4 | Netflix | $249,767 | 21 | Data Scientist |
| 5 | Roku | $239,133 | 24 | Senior Data Scientist |
| 6 | ByteDance | $238,392 | 82 | Data Scientist |
| 7 | $238,374 | 28 | Senior SWE, Machine Learning | |
| 8 | TikTok Inc. | $226,298 | 103 | Machine Learning Engineer |
| 9 | Cruise | $210,060 | 22 | Senior ML Engineer |
| 10 | Salesforce | $209,944 | 53 | Research Scientist, AI Research |
| 11 | Tesla | $207,537 | 18 | Sr. Autopilot ML Engineer |
| 12 | Waymo | $205,571 | 14 | Data Scientist |
| 13 | Instacart | $203,727 | 33 | Senior ML Engineer |
| 14 | Spotify | $203,114 | 30 | Senior ML Engineer |
| 15 | Meta Platforms | $201,631 | 305 | Data Scientist |
| 16 | Atlassian | $201,089 | 24 | Machine Learning Engineer |
| 17 | Coinbase | $200,900 | 10 | Senior Data Scientist |
| 18 | Rivian | $197,832 | 11 | Sr. ML/AI Engineer |
| 19 | Coupang Global | $195,393 | 19 | Staff ML Engineer |
| 20 | Adobe | $195,034 | 175 | Machine Learning Engineer |
| 21 | Block | $193,834 | 37 | Data Scientist |
| 22 | ZS Associates | $190,278 | 14 | Advanced Data Science Manager |
| 23 | Robinhood | $188,148 | 10 | Senior Data Scientist |
ML Engineer vs Data Scientist vs AI Researcher
ML Engineers command the highest average salary at $176,347, followed by Data Scientists at $142,234. AI Research Scientist roles average $122,793 but have the widest range, reaching $825,432 at the top.
| Role | Avg Salary | Min | Max | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ML Engineer | $176,347 | $53,200 | $832,000 | 2,635 |
| Data Scientist | $142,234 | $45,386 | $948,984 | 8,175 |
| AI Research Scientist | $122,793 | $36,774 | $825,432 | 3,896 |
Year-over-Year Growth in AI H-1B Filings
| Fiscal Year | AI/ML Filings | YoY Growth | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 8,248 | baseline | $131,764 |
| FY2022 | 10,874 | +32% | $139,369 |
| FY2023 | 9,735 | -10% | $143,267 |
| FY2024 | 11,730 | +20% | $151,263 |
How to Query AI/ML Salary Data
Search for machine learning engineer salaries at any company:
GET /api/v1/salaries?job_title=machine+learning&employer=google&sort=salary_desc
Or search all data scientist filings in New York:
GET /api/v1/salaries?job_title=data+scientist&state=NY&sort=salary_desc
See the API documentation for all available filters including SOC code, wage level, and fiscal year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do AI engineers make on H-1B visas?
H-1B AI engineers earn a median salary of $165,000/year based on FY2024 LCA filings. At top AI labs like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, offers frequently exceed $250,000/year for research and engineering roles.
What is the average H-1B data scientist salary?
The average H-1B data scientist salary is approximately $135,000/year. This varies widely: data scientists at Big Tech earn $160,000 to $220,000, while those at consulting firms or smaller companies earn $95,000 to $130,000.
Which companies sponsor the most H-1B AI roles?
Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple sponsor the most AI and ML H-1B positions. Newer AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Databricks are growing their H-1B filings rapidly, with 30 to 50% year-over-year increases.
Do machine learning engineers earn more than software engineers on H-1B?
Yes. The median H-1B ML engineer salary ($165,000) is approximately 14% higher than the general software engineer median ($145,000). At senior levels (Wage Level III and IV), the gap widens to 20% or more due to the specialized skill set.
What SOC code is used for AI engineers?
AI and ML engineers are typically filed under SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers), 15-2051 (Data Scientists), or 15-1299 (Computer Occupations, All Other). Some research roles use 15-2031 (Operations Research Analysts) or 19-1099 (Life Scientists).
Is the demand for H-1B AI talent increasing?
Yes, significantly. LCA filings for AI and ML related job titles increased 85% between FY2021 and FY2024. The median salary for these roles grew 45% over the same period, reflecting intense competition for AI talent.
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