Entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 39 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Pasadena, Irvine, Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,880 |
| 25th | $102,708 |
| 50th (median) | $146,000 |
| 75th | $158,830 |
| 90th | $170,580 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $123,538 | $79,541 | $151,000 | 23 |
| FY2021 | $95,494 | $88,733 | $128,420 | 20 |
| FY2022 | $100,745 | $91,874 | $132,500 | 26 |
| FY2023 | $134,034 | $75,629 | $161,250 | 20 |
| FY2024 | $147,000 | $107,500 | $160,000 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $143,000 | $91,655 | $155,000 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $149,477 | $110,011 | $160,000 | 13 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median entry-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $146,000 is worth about $128,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $155,960 in May 2025 (940 employed). The H-1B median here is $146,000, 6% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $155,000 | 18 |
| The University of Southern California | too few | 3 |
| Netflix | too few | 2 |
| WorldEngine AI | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $146,000 | 39 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $165,000 | 81 |
| Senior · Level III | $167,300 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $209,082 | 33 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $87,797 | $146,000 | 39 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $119,870 | $165,000 | 81 |
| Senior · Level III | $151,944 | $167,300 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $184,018 | $209,082 | 33 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.