Technology70% remote-eligible+8.4% YoY growth

Machine Learning Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Build and deploy machine learning models and AI systems at production scale. National median: $168K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$168K

Top 10% earn

$275K

Entry level

$125K

Salary growth

+8.4%/yr

Machine Learning Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$206K	$277K	$355K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$198K	$265K	$340K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$186K	$250K	$320K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$185K	$249K	$318K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$185K	$248K	$318K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$185K	$248K	$318K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$178K	$239K	$305K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$178K	$239K	$306K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$176K	$236K	$303K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$175K	$235K	$301K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$173K	$232K	$297K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$173K	$232K	$297K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$171K	$230K	$294K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$171K	$230K	$294K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$169K	$227K	$290K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$169K	$227K	$291K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$169K	$227K	$290K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$166K	$224K	$286K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$165K	$222K	$284K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$164K	$221K	$283K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$163K	$218K	$280K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$161K	$216K	$277K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$160K	$215K	$275K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$160K	$215K	$275K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$160K	$215K	$275K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$158K	$212K	$271K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$158K	$212K	$271K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$154K	$207K	$265K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$153K	$205K	$262K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$153K	$205K	$263K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$153K	$205K	$262K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$153K	$205K	$263K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$153K	$205K	$263K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$148K	$198K	$254K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$148K	$198K	$254K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$148K	$198K	$254K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$144K	$193K	$247K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$144K	$193K	$247K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$144K	$193K	$247K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$144K	$193K	$247K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$144K	$193K	$247K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$144K	$193K	$247K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$144K	$193K	$247K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$142K	$191K	$244K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$141K	$189K	$242K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$140K	$188K	$241K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$140K	$188K	$241K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$140K	$188K	$241K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$140K	$188K	$241K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$140K	$188K	$241K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$140K	$188K	$241K	106	6.8%
Frisco, TX	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$139K	$187K	$240K	118	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$138K	$185K	$237K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$138K	$185K	$237K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$138K	$185K	$237K	102	4.75%
Provo, UT	$138K	$185K	$237K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$138K	$185K	$237K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$138K	$185K	$237K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$137K	$184K	$236K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$135K	$182K	$232K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$135K	$182K	$232K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$135K	$182K	$232K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$135K	$181K	$232K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$135K	$181K	$232K	118	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$135K	$181K	$232K	105	2.5%
St. Paul, MN	$135K	$181K	$232K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$134K	$180K	$230K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$133K	$178K	$228K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$131K	$176K	$226K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$131K	$176K	$226K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$131K	$176K	$226K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$131K	$176K	$226K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$131K	$176K	$226K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$131K	$176K	$226K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$131K	$176K	$226K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$131K	$176K	$226K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$130K	$175K	$224K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$130K	$175K	$224K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$130K	$175K	$224K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$130K	$175K	$224K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$130K	$175K	$224K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$128K	$173K	$221K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$128K	$173K	$221K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$128K	$171K	$219K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$128K	$171K	$219K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$128K	$171K	$219K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$128K	$171K	$219K	88	5%
Overland Park, KS	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$127K	$171K	$218K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$126K	$169K	$216K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$125K	$168K	$215K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$125K	$168K	$215K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$125K	$168K	$215K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$125K	$168K	$215K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$125K	$168K	$215K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$125K	$168K	$215K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$124K	$166K	$213K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$123K	$165K	$211K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$123K	$165K	$211K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$123K	$165K	$211K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$123K	$165K	$211K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$122K	$163K	$209K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$122K	$163K	$209K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$122K	$163K	$209K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$122K	$163K	$209K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$122K	$163K	$209K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$120K	$162K	$207K	90	2.5%
Cincinnati, OH	$120K	$161K	$206K	88	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$120K	$161K	$206K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$120K	$161K	$206K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$120K	$161K	$206K	90	5.3%
Pasadena, TX	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$119K	$160K	$204K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$119K	$160K	$204K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$119K	$160K	$204K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$119K	$160K	$204K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$119K	$160K	$204K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$117K	$157K	$201K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$115K	$155K	$198K	87	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$115K	$155K	$198K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$115K	$155K	$198K	95	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$115K	$155K	$198K	85	5%
Des Moines, IA	$115K	$155K	$198K	88	4.82%
Amarillo, TX	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$115K	$154K	$198K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$114K	$153K	$195K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$113K	$151K	$194K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$113K	$151K	$194K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$113K	$151K	$194K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	6%
Omaha, NE	$113K	$151K	$194K	88	5.84%
Jackson, MS	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$112K	$151K	$193K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$110K	$148K	$189K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$110K	$148K	$189K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$110K	$148K	$189K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$110K	$148K	$189K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$110K	$148K	$189K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$110K	$148K	$189K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$110K	$148K	$189K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$110K	$148K	$189K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$110K	$148K	$189K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$110K	$148K	$189K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$110K	$148K	$189K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$110K	$148K	$189K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$106K	$143K	$183K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$106K	$143K	$183K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$106K	$143K	$183K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$103K	$138K	$176K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$103K	$138K	$176K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$100K	$134K	$172K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$94K	$126K	$161K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $168K Machine Learning Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Machine Learning Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Machine Learning Engineer is $168,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $125,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $215,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Machine Learning Engineers nationally earn $275,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's or PhD in CS, Mathematics, or related. This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Machine Learning Engineer compensation is growing at 8.4% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Machine Learning Engineers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Machine Learning Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make?

The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in the US is $168,000 per year — about $81/hour. Most earn between $125,000 (25th percentile) and $215,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Machine Learning Engineer?

Entry-level Machine Learning Engineer positions typically start around $125,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Machine Learning Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Machine Learning Engineers earn $275,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Machine Learning Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Machine Learning Engineer salary at $277K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Machine Learning Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — Machine Learning Engineer pay is growing about 8.4% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Machine Learning Engineer Salaryby City (2026)