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Annotation Analyst Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The ideal candidate will have a foundational understanding of machine learning, data annotation ... Quality Assurance and Analysis: * Conduct manual quality analysis of model results. * Recognize ...

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Annotation Analyst information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$72.3K

$128.3K

How much do annotation analyst jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for annotation analyst in California is $72,302.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,800.00 and $85,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of an Annotation Analyst?

As an Annotation Analyst, your daily responsibilities generally include reviewing and labeling large volumes of data—such as images, text, or audio—according to predefined guidelines or project requirements. You may also participate in quality control processes, address edge cases or ambiguities in the data, and collaborate with project managers, data scientists, or other analysts to ensure consistency and accuracy. Additionally, you might provide feedback on annotation tools or contribute to refining categorization criteria. The role often involves both independent work and teamwork within a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment, where precision is essential for supporting training and evaluation of AI or machine learning models.

Is an annotation analyst a good job?

An annotation analyst is a role that involves labeling data for machine learning models, requiring attention to detail and familiarity with annotation tools. The job can offer flexible schedules and remote work options but may involve repetitive tasks and lower pay compared to other tech roles. Overall, it can be a good entry-level position for those interested in data and AI development.

What qualifications do I need for data annotation?

Annotation analysts typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, strong attention to detail, and good reading comprehension skills. Familiarity with data labeling tools and basic computer skills are also important, and some roles may require knowledge of specific domains like healthcare or technology. Certifications are not usually required but can enhance job prospects.

What does an annotation analyst do?

An annotation analyst is responsible for labeling and categorizing data, such as images, text, or videos, to help train machine learning models. They use specialized tools and follow guidelines to ensure data accuracy and consistency, often working in a team environment with quality control measures.

Does data annotation actually pay well?

Data annotation analysts typically earn hourly wages that are close to minimum wage or slightly above, depending on the company and location. While some positions offer flexible schedules and remote work, the pay generally does not compare to higher-skilled tech roles, and advancement may require developing additional skills or certifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Annotation Analyst position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Annotation Analyst, you need exceptional attention to detail, analytical thinking, and proficiency in data labeling or linguistic annotation, often supported by a relevant degree such as linguistics or computer science. Familiarity with annotation tools and platforms (like Labelbox, Prodigy, or proprietary systems) and knowledge of data privacy standards are highly beneficial. Strong communication, collaboration, and time management skills help in working efficiently with multidisciplinary teams and meeting project deadlines. These qualities are crucial for producing high-quality, accurate datasets that directly impact the success of machine learning and AI initiatives.

What is an Annotation Analyst job?

An Annotation Analyst is responsible for labeling and categorizing data, such as text, images, audio, or video, to help improve machine learning models and AI systems. They follow specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency in annotations. This role often involves reviewing, analyzing, and correcting data to enhance AI algorithms' performance. Annotation Analysts typically work with teams developing natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, or speech recognition technologies. Strong attention to detail and familiarity with industry tools are key skills for success in this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Annotation Analyst jobs in California? The most popular types of Annotation Analyst jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Annotation Analyst jobs in California? For Annotation Analyst jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Annotation Analyst jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Annotation Analyst jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Annotation Analyst jobs? Cities in California with the most Annotation Analyst job openings:
Sr. Software Analyst, Annotation Analytics, Autonomy

Sr. Software Analyst, Annotation Analytics, Autonomy

Rivian

Palo Alto, CA

$132K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 23 days ago


Rivian rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 156 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 44 rated automakers


Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. 

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. 


Role Summary

In this role, you will analyze large-scale 2D/3D annotation datasets to identify data gaps,
quality issues, and operational inefficiencies, and build dashboards and metrics that
monitor annotation throughput, quality, cost, and vendor performance. You will partner
closely with Annotation Operations, Perception, and Engineering teams to ensure data
readiness for model training and evaluation.
The ideal candidate is data-driven, detail-oriented, and execution-focused, with a strong
understanding of annotation workflows and a passion for improving data quality and
efficiency at scale. This role plays a critical part in enabling informed decision-making,
continuous process improvement, and scalable annotation operations across internal
teams and external vendors


Responsibilities

Data Analysis, Insights & Dashboards
Analyze large-scale 2D/3D annotation datasets to identify data gaps, quality
issues, coverage gaps, and inefficiencies impacting Perception and ML training.
Design, build, and maintain dashboards and reports to monitor:

Annotation throughput, efficiency, and cost
Quality metrics (QA pass rates, error types, rework)
Vendor and annotator performance trends
Translate complex annotation and perception data into clear, actionable insights
for engineering, annotation operations, and leadership.
Partner with Perception teams to align data readiness metrics with model training
and evaluation needs.

Annotation Operations & Quality
Assess level of effort for annotation projects and support end-to-end execution,
including in-house vs. vendor decisions.
Collaborate with stakeholders to gather labeling requirements and define,
maintain, and evolve labeling policies.
Define and track annotation quality, productivity, and certification metrics;
continuously refine benchmarks.
Conduct QA/QC analysis on annotated data, identify systemic issues, and
provide structured feedback to annotators and vendors.
Implement and measure labeling efficiency improvements, using data to validate
impact.

Process Improvement & Automation
Identify opportunities to make data delivery and annotation workflows faster,
more accurate, and scalable.
Build lightweight automation (scripts, queries, data pipelines) to reduce manual
reporting and operational overhead.

Maintain structured datasets (databases, tables, metrics pipelines) to enable
consistent reporting and historical analysis.

Cross-Functional & Vendor Collaboration
Work closely with Annotation Ops, Perception, and Engineering teams to ensure
consistent process implementation.
Support vendor management by analyzing performance, cost, and quality metrics
across multiple annotation partners.
Prepare technical and operational reports to support planning, execution, and
decision-making.
Coordinate across teams and time zones to ensure alignment and timely delivery.


Qualifications

Required
BS degree in a technical or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience (or
5+ years equivalent industry experience).
2+ years supporting data annotation, ML data, or labeling-related projects.
Strong understanding of 2D/3D data annotation workflows for ML and Perception
use cases.
Hands-on experience with data analysis, metrics tracking, and dashboarding.
Working knowledge of Python, SQL, databases, and/or data visualization tools.
Experience analyzing LiDAR point clouds, video, and image annotation data.
Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and deliver under tight
timelines.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain data
insights to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have
Experience mentoring or guiding junior team members or offshore teams.
Familiarity with annotation QA frameworks and error taxonomy design.
Experience building or improving operational analytics for efficiency, cost, or
quality.
Comfort working in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and collaborative environment.


Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for California Based Applicants: $132,100-$165,100 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.



Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. 

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. 

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.  

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

Qualifications:

Required
BS degree in a technical or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience (or
5+ years equivalent industry experience).
2+ years supporting data annotation, ML data, or labeling-related projects.
Strong understanding of 2D/3D data annotation workflows for ML and Perception
use cases.
Hands-on experience with data analysis, metrics tracking, and dashboarding.
Working knowledge of Python, SQL, databases, and/or data visualization tools.
Experience analyzing LiDAR point clouds, video, and image annotation data.
Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and deliver under tight
timelines.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain data
insights to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have
Experience mentoring or guiding junior team members or offshore teams.
Familiarity with annotation QA frameworks and error taxonomy design.
Experience building or improving operational analytics for efficiency, cost, or
quality.
Comfort working in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and collaborative environment.

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

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About Rivian

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Rivian is a pioneering automotive industry player headquartered in Irvine, California. Established in 2009, the company has made notable advancements in developing sustainable transportation solutions. It is widely recognized for its electric adventure vehicles: the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV. Rivian is dedicated to creating a positive shift in societal mobility and emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and adventure as part of its core values. Their mission is to keep the world adventurous forever - a testament to their commitment in transitioning the world to sustainable transportation. Rivian's achievements are numerous, with one of the most notable being securing a significant multi-billion dollar investment from Amazon for the production of electric delivery vans.

Industry

Automobile dealers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

2009