AI Operations Research Engineer.
Los Angeles.
$177,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$136,000 to $224,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median AI Operations Research Engineer salary in Los Angeles is $177,000, 18% above the national average. Entry level starts near $136,000. Experienced professionals push past $224,000. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $159,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$115,000
to $142,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$150,000
to $186,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$195,000
to $230,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$221,000
to $274,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $84,000 to the total package.
Base
$177,000
Equity
$51,000
Bonus
$22,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $261,000
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$177,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$150,000
Los Angeles is $27,000 above
AI Operations Research Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Los Angeles
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Operations Research Engineer offer in Los Angeles, understand the terrain. 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 combination of optimization expertise and ML engineering. Engineers who can solve complex scheduling, routing, and resource allocation problems using hybrid AI/OR approaches earn premiums. Experience integrating ML-based prediction with mathematical optimization for real-time decision-making is the most valued skill combination.
Junior OR engineers start at $100,000 to $120,000. Mid-level engineers building production optimization systems reach $140,000 to $168,000. Senior engineers designing enterprise optimization platforms earn $178,000 to $220,000. Directors of optimization at logistics or tech companies can reach $240,000 to $300,000. 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. Performance bonuses of 12% to 20% tied to optimization outcome improvements are common. Equity at logistics and operations AI companies adds $20,000 to $60,000 annually. Benefits include computing resource access and INFORMS or similar professional society memberships. 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 $177,000, 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 Operations Research Engineers in Los Angeles runs from $136,000 to $224,000. 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 Investment Banker in Los Angeles earns $176,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Los Angeles is Distinguished Engineer at $397,000
Common questions.
AI Operations Research Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Los Angeles
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