Waymo salaries by job title (2026)
Waymo filed 277 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $205,000, and the middle half of offers fall between $200,000 and $240,000.
Waymo base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $205,000 | $200,000 – $240,000 | 158 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $240,000 | $205,000 – $247,500 | 10 |
| Research Scientist | $240,000 | $205,000 – $250,000 | 8 |
| Data Scientist | $205,000 | $205,000 – $231,250 | 6 |
| Researcher | $212,000 | $206,000 – $241,250 | 6 |
| Product Manager | $240,000 | $240,000 – $245,000 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | $205,000 | 228 |
| San Francisco, CA | $205,000 | 21 |
| New York, NY | $205,000 | 16 |
| Kirkland, WA | $230,000 | 5 |
Take-home pay
Most of Waymo's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $205,000 leaves about $135,125 a year, or $11,260 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. 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 | 3% |
| II: Qualified | 53% |
| III: Experienced | 25% |
| IV: Fully competent | 18% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $205,000 | 192 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $240,000 | 17 |
| Data Scientists | $205,000 | 14 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $230,000 | 8 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $230,000 | 7 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $208,500 | 6 |
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 Waymo?
The median base salary in Waymo's 277 certified H-1B filings is $205,000 a year, and the middle half fall between $200,000 and $240,000. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Software Engineer at Waymo make?
The median base salary for Software Engineer is $205,000 across 158 filings (middle 50%: $200,000 – $240,000).
Where does Waymo pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, Kirkland, WA has the highest median base salary at $230,000.
What is $205,000 after tax in California?
About $135,125 a year ($11,260 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.