Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs in California

Artificial Intelligence Scientist jobs in California sit at the center of one of the most active AI hiring markets in the world, with strong demand across technology, healthcare, defense, and autonomous systems from entry-level research roles through principal and distinguished scientist positions. Most openings concentrate in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Qualcomm maintain large AI research and applied science teams. The most in-demand specialties include large language model development, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles459+
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring41
Work type80% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 459+ Artificial Intelligence Scientist jobs

Intuit
Principal AI Scientist
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Intuit
Added 3d ago
Principal AI Scientist
Intuit
Mountain View, California
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
$274k - $370k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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PromptBio
AI Scientist
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PromptBio
Added 1w ago
AI Scientist
PromptBio
Pleasanton, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
$140k - $180k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate

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Demandbase
Applied AI Scientist
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Demandbase
Added 1w ago
Applied AI Scientist
Demandbase
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$206k - $310k/yr
Hybrid
None

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Intuit
Staff AI Scientist
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Intuit
Added 1w ago
Staff AI Scientist
Intuit
Oakland, California
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
$210k - $284k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Mistral
AI Scientist
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Mistral
Added 1w ago
AI Scientist
Mistral
Emeryville, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
On-Site
None

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See All 459+ Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
85 jobs
San Jose
83 jobs
Sunnyvale
49 jobs
Mountain View
37 jobs
Santa Clara
28 jobs
Palo Alto
26 jobs
Cupertino
18 jobs
Menlo Park
18 jobs
San Diego
14 jobs

Artificial Intelligence Scientist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • TikTok
    TikTok51
  • Amazon
    Amazon40
  • Intuit
    Intuit23
  • Apple
    Apple21
  • Meta
    Meta15

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software222
  • Electronics & Hardware39
  • Artificial Intelligence38
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals28
  • Healthcare & Medical Services16

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in artificial intelligence scientist jobs across California.

  • PhD or master's degree in computer science, machine learning, or a related field
  • Deep expertise in machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
  • Demonstrated research experience with peer-reviewed publications or applied patents
  • Proficiency in Python and experience with large-scale distributed training systems
  • Ability to design, run, and interpret experiments on real-world datasets at scale
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills for working with product and engineering teams

Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become an artificial intelligence scientist in California?

There is no state-issued license required to work as an artificial intelligence scientist in California. The standard path is a graduate degree in computer science, statistics, or a closely related field, with a PhD preferred for research-track roles. California employers consistently prioritize a portfolio of published work, open-source contributions, or deployed model experience. Strong candidates from master's programs often enter through applied science roles at California technology companies before moving into scientist-level positions.

How much do artificial intelligence scientists make in California?

Artificial intelligence scientists in California earn a median of about $159,100 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $88,920 for the lowest 10% to over $275,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire artificial intelligence scientists in California?

Employers hiring artificial intelligence scientists in California right now include TikTok, Amazon, and Intuit, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of AI-focused technology companies, defense contractors, and health technology firms means the hiring base is unusually broad compared with most other states.

Which California cities have the most artificial intelligence scientist jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Sunnyvale lead California for artificial intelligence scientist openings. The Bay Area concentration reflects the headquarters density of major AI-native technology companies, while Los Angeles hiring is driven by entertainment technology, autonomous systems, and a growing cluster of AI startups, and San Diego openings are anchored by defense technology and biotech firms with applied AI research divisions.

Are there remote artificial intelligence scientist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 20% of artificial intelligence scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves model development, experimentation, and analysis that can be done independently. The parts of the role most likely to remain fully on-site are those requiring access to specialized compute clusters or close collaboration with hardware teams.

How can I get hired as an artificial intelligence scientist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a research internship or PhD residency program, which California technology companies including Google, Meta, and Apple run specifically for doctoral students and recent graduates. Candidates without a PhD can target associate or junior machine learning engineer roles at mid-size California AI companies as a lateral entry point. Building a public portfolio of model experiments on open datasets, contributing to open-source frameworks, and presenting at academic venues recognizable to California hiring teams all strengthen a candidacy without requiring prior industry experience.

Where can I find and apply to artificial intelligence scientist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to artificial intelligence scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.

See All 459+ Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs in California

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