TikTok salaries by job title (2026)
TikTok filed 573 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $220,000, and the middle half of offers fall between $170,000 and $295,820.
TikTok base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning Engineer | $184,002 | $140,427 – $261,250 | 40 |
| Software Engineer | $257,700 | $166,860 – $300,000 | 35 |
| Machine Learning Scientist | $220,500 | $151,680 – $350,200 | 16 |
| Research Scientist | $211,200 | $177,001 – $265,000 | 12 |
| Site Reliability Engineer - USDS | $208,500 | $172,000 – $245,000 | 12 |
| Machine Learning Engineer - USDS | $193,260 | $171,500 – $221,000 | 10 |
| Product Manager - Senior | $350,254 | $272,104 – $392,846 | 10 |
| Data Scientist | $260,000 | $236,043 – $300,000 | 9 |
| Product Manager | $202,920 | $195,700 – $294,007 | 9 |
| Data Engineer | $188,514 | $163,150 – $308,875 | 8 |
| Software Engineer - Senior | $264,514 | $243,284 – $285,000 | 8 |
| Engineering Manager | $345,005 | $319,086 – $384,191 | 6 |
| Site Reliability Engineer | $185,054 | $155,000 – $260,000 | 5 |
| Software Engineer - Recommendation Developer Infrastructure | $228,000 | $226,000 – $228,000 | 5 |
| Software Engineer - USDS | $185,000 | $165,000 – $348,032 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $235,000 | 369 |
| Bellevue, WA | $202,800 | 142 |
| Culver City, CA | $152,000 | 35 |
| New York, NY | $195,000 | 22 |
Take-home pay
Most of TikTok's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $220,000 leaves about $144,412 a year, or $12,034 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Machine Learning Engineer ($184,002), it is about $121,772 a year. Use the California paycheck calculator to add a 401(k), a spouse or children.
Experience levels
Each filing names the prevailing-wage level the job was matched to, from entry level (I) to fully competent (IV).
| Wage level | Share of filings |
|---|---|
| I: Entry level | 28% |
| II: Qualified | 30% |
| III: Experienced | 19% |
| IV: Fully competent | 23% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $228,000 | 201 |
| Data Scientists | $215,000 | 145 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $390,000 | 41 |
| Marketing Managers | $296,500 | 26 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $211,200 | 17 |
| Database Architects | $190,000 | 15 |
About this data
- Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, LCA disclosure data for FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). Only certified H-1B applications for full-time positions are counted (384,130 filings).
- Each figure is the base wage the employer stated on the application, converted to a yearly amount. Bonuses, stock (RSUs) and benefits are not included, so total pay at large tech firms is usually much higher.
- An application is filed before a worker starts and can cover a range of pay; we use the lower end of that range. Not every application leads to a hire.
- Median: half of filings are above, half below. Middle 50%: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary at TikTok?
The median base salary in TikTok's 573 certified H-1B filings is $220,000 a year, and the middle half fall between $170,000 and $295,820. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer at TikTok make?
The median base salary for Machine Learning Engineer is $184,002 across 40 filings (middle 50%: $140,427 – $261,250).
Where does TikTok pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, San Jose, CA has the highest median base salary at $235,000.
What is $220,000 after tax in California?
About $144,412 a year ($12,034 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.