AI Protein Structure Specialist.
Los Angeles.
$262,000
median salary, 19% above the national average
$205,000 to $341,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median AI Protein Structure Specialist salary in Los Angeles is $262,000, 19% above the national average. Entry level starts near $205,000. Experienced professionals push past $341,000. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for AI Protein Structure Specialist in Los Angeles, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $131,700 for Biochemists and Biophysicists (SOC 19-1021) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, based on 580 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$80,690
25th percentile
$105,710
Median
$131,700
75th percentile
$191,480
90th percentile
$191,480
Workers surveyed
580
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $262,000 is 99% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Biochemists and Biophysicists covers a different population than the AI Protein Structure Specialist title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Biochemists and Biophysicists (SOC 19-1021) rather than AI Protein Structure Specialist specifically. The Los Angelesrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-1021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $236,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$170,000
to $210,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$223,000
to $275,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$288,000
to $341,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$328,000
to $406,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $120,000 to the total package.
Base
$262,000
Equity
$73,000
Bonus
$31,000
Signing
$16,000
Estimated total: $382,000
How Los Angeles compares.
Los Angeles, CA
$262,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$220,000
Los Angeles is $42,000 above
AI Protein Structure Specialist salary by city.
Salary by role in Los Angeles.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate an AI Protein Structure Specialist offer in Los Angeles, understand the terrain. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Model complexity, data pipeline scale, and infrastructure cost optimization are the primary drivers. AI Protein Structure Specialists with experience across the full ML lifecycle, from research prototyping to production serving, earn more than those focused on a single phase. Domain expertise in high-stakes verticals like healthcare, finance, or autonomous systems adds measurable premiums.
Entry-level AI Protein Structure Specialists start near $172,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $220,000 to $286,000. Senior-level roles command $282,000 to $341,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $363,000 and above. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $262,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for AI Protein Structure Specialists in Los Angeles runs from $205,000 to $341,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A CTO, AI Startup in Los Angeles earns $266,000 (2% more)
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Common questions.
AI Protein Structure Specialist salary in other cities.
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