How does company size affect AI/ML Data Analyst pay in Los Angeles?

Large enterprises in Los Angeles pay AI/ML Data Analysts 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $112,000 to $195,000 spans both.

What is the entry level AI/ML Data Analyst salary in Los Angeles?

Entry level AI/ML Data Analyst positions in Los Angeles start near $112,000. Candidates with strong backgrounds negotiate toward $148,000.

What is the career path for a AI/ML Data Analyst?

Junior ML data analysts start at $70,000 to $90,000. Los Angeles's COL multiplier amplifies compensation at senior levels.

What should I ask about benefits when interviewing for a AI/ML Data Analyst in Los Angeles?

Ask about equity, bonuses, 401(k), health insurance, PTO, and remote flexibility. Benefits in Los Angeles can add $37,000+ to base salary.

AI/ML Data Analyst.

Los Angeles.

$148,000

median salary, 18% above the national average

$112,000 to $195,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Los Angeles is 18% more expensive than the national average. For AI/ML Data Analysts, that shakes out to a median of $148,000, with the full range spanning $112,000 to $195,000. Compensation varies based on proficiency with ML-specific data pipelines, feature engineering, and model evaluation metrics. Know the range before you walk in.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$112,000

per year

Median

$148,000

per year

75th Percentile

$195,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$112,000$195,000

How Los Angeles compares

Los Angeles, CA

$148,000

Cost of living: 18% above average

National Average

$125,000

Los Angeles is $23,000 above

What you should know

The AI/ML Data Analyst 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 varies based on proficiency with ML-specific data pipelines, feature engineering, and model evaluation metrics. Analysts who can build automated data quality monitoring for training datasets earn more. Experience with large-scale data platforms like Databricks or Snowflake adds 10 to 15% to offers.

Junior ML data analysts start at $70,000 to $90,000. Mid-level analysts earn $95,000 to $125,000. Senior analysts reach $140,000 to $165,000, and those who transition into ML engineering or data science roles can exceed $180,000 to $220,000. 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. Bonuses typically range from 5 to 15% of base salary. Equity is less common than in pure engineering roles but increasingly offered at AI-first startups, usually valued at $10,000 to $30,000 annually. 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 $148,000, 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/ML Data Analysts in Los Angeles runs from $112,000 to $195,000. 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 Los Angeles

Entertainment & MediaAerospace & DefenseTechnologyHealthcareFashion

Negotiating in Los Angeles

Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers.

Common questions.

AI/ML data analysts earn 20 to 35% more than traditional analysts. The premium reflects specialized skills in training data curation, feature engineering, model performance analysis, and familiarity with ML frameworks that general analysts typically lack.

AWS Machine Learning Specialty and Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer certifications each add $5,000 to $15,000 in market value. Practical portfolio projects demonstrating end-to-end ML data pipeline work are equally valued by hiring managers.

In Los Angeles, large enterprises typically pay AI/ML Data Analysts 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Bonuses typically range from 5 to 15% of base salary. The $112,000 to $195,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

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 comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Entry level AI/ML Data Analyst positions in Los Angeles typically start near $112,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $148,000. Junior ML data analysts start at $70,000 to $90,000.

Junior ML data analysts start at $70,000 to $90,000. Mid-level analysts earn $95,000 to $125,000. Senior analysts reach $140,000 to $165,000, and those who transition into ML engineering or data science roles can exceed $180,000 to $220,000. In Los Angeles, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Bonuses typically range from 5 to 15% of base salary. In Los Angeles's market, these extras can add $37,000 or more on top of the base salary.