AI Data Quality Engineer.
San Diego.
$164,000
median salary, 17% above the national average
$123,000 to $216,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Here is what AI Data Quality Engineers actually make in San Diego: $123,000 at the 25th percentile, $164,000 at the median, and $216,000 at the 75th. That is 17% above the national average. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
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How San Diego compares
San Diego, CA
$164,000
Cost of living: 17% above average
National Average
$140,000
San Diego is $24,000 above
What you should know
If you are interviewing for AI Data Quality Engineer roles in San Diego, here is what you are walking into. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. The city's proximity to major military installations drives strong aerospace and cybersecurity demand. Biotech companies along the Torrey Pines corridor compete aggressively for scientific and engineering talent, pushing specialized salaries close to Bay Area levels. AI data quality engineers ensure training and serving data meets standards for ML model reliability. Salary is driven by experience with data validation frameworks, drift detection systems, and automated quality monitoring at scale. Engineers working in regulated industries like healthcare and finance earn 12 to 20% premiums due to compliance requirements.
Junior AI data quality engineers earn $105,000 to $125,000. Engineers with 3 to 5 years of ML data quality experience reach $140,000 to $185,000. Senior engineers and quality team leads earn $190,000 to $248,000, while directors of data quality at enterprise AI companies can command $255,000 to $330,000. In San Diego, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 17% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Tech companies provide equity grants of 12 to 22% of base salary. Bonuses range from 10 to 15% annually. Some firms offer additional compensation for maintaining critical data quality SLAs, adding $5,000 to $12,000 for on-call responsibilities. And on the tax side: california's top 13.3% state tax applies here. While San Diego has no city income tax, the state burden means you should negotiate gross pay higher than you might expect for the cost of living. When someone quotes you $164,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage defense and biotech sector demand. Candidates with security clearances or specialized science backgrounds can command 15 to 20% premiums in San Diego. The range for AI Data Quality Engineers in San Diego runs from $123,000 to $216,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in San Diego
Negotiating in San Diego
Leverage defense and biotech sector demand. Candidates with security clearances or specialized science backgrounds can command 15 to 20% premiums in San Diego.