AI Materials Scientist.
Los Angeles.
$170,000
median salary, 21% above the national average
$128,000 to $219,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A AI Materials Scientist in Los Angeles earns a median of $170,000 in 2026. That is 21% above the national average. The range runs from $128,000 to $219,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Compensation reflects the rare combination of materials science domain expertise and ML research capability.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $153,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$111,000
to $136,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$145,000
to $179,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$187,000
to $221,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$213,000
to $264,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $78,000 to the total package.
Base
$170,000
Equity
$48,000
Bonus
$20,000
Signing
$10,000
Estimated total: $248,000
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$170,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$140,000
Los Angeles is $30,000 above
AI Materials Scientist salary by city
Salary by role in Los Angeles
What you should know
The AI Materials Scientist landscape in Los Angeles is not what most salary sites will tell you. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Compensation reflects the rare combination of materials science domain expertise and ML research capability. Scientists who can apply graph neural networks and generative models to accelerate materials discovery for batteries, semiconductors, or catalysts earn premiums. Publication record in both materials science and ML venues adds value.
Postdoc AI materials researchers start at $95,000 to $115,000. Mid-level scientists with deployed materials discovery systems reach $132,000 to $160,000. Senior scientists leading AI materials programs earn $168,000 to $205,000. Directors of computational materials at tech or energy companies can reach $225,000 to $280,000. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at materials AI companies adds $15,000 to $60,000 annually. Government lab positions offer strong benefits and stability. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Research budgets including compute and lab access are significant non-monetary benefits. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $170,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for AI Materials Scientists in Los Angeles runs from $128,000 to $219,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Compliance Analyst in Los Angeles earns $169,000 (1% less)
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Common questions.
AI Materials Scientist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Los Angeles
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