TikTok Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary
Based on 44 H-1B filings by TikTok, fiscal years 2025–2026. Base salary only.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $167,282 |
| 25th | $180,043 |
| 50th (median) | $218,000 |
| 75th | $251,000 |
| 90th | $335,050 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | $242,500 | $190,000 | $292,625 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $226,300 | $187,180 | $299,920 | 14 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2025 | $208,320 | $176,571 | $233,445 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $224,600 | $191,760 | $254,000 | 22 |
By state
Bar length: number of filings (California 33). Figure: average salary in that state.
By city
Cities with at least 10 filings. Figure: median salary.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $194,720 | 16 |
| Level II · Qualified | $208,320 | 18 |
| Level III · Experienced | too few | 4 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | too few | 6 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Questions
How much does a research scientist (computer science) make at TikTok?
In H-1B filings, TikTok's median base salary for Research Scientist (Computer Science) is $218,000; half of filings fall between $180,043 and $251,000. Bonus and stock are not included.
Does TikTok sponsor H-1B visas for research scientist (computer science)s?
Yes. TikTok filed 44 certified Labor Condition Applications for this role in FY2025–FY2026. A filing is a step before the visa petition, not an approval.
Which job titles are included?
Filings are grouped by occupation code 15-1221 (Computer and Information Research Scientists), so this page covers every job title TikTok filed under that code.
Where does this data come from?
The U.S. Department of Labor's public LCA disclosure files, updated every quarter. Methodology