Technology70% remote-eligible+10.2% YoY growth

NLP Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Develop natural language processing systems for text analysis, chatbots, and translation. National median: $168K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$168K

Top 10% earn

$272K

Entry level

$125K

Salary growth

+10.2%/yr

NLP 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 NLP 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 →

NLP Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a NLP 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 NLP Engineers nationally earn $272,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's or PhD in CS or Linguistics. 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

NLP Engineer compensation is growing at 10.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified NLP Engineers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

NLP Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a NLP Engineer make?

The median NLP 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 NLP Engineer?

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

How much do the highest-paid NLP Engineers earn?

The top 10% of NLP Engineers earn $272,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays NLP Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median NLP 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 NLP Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — NLP Engineer pay is growing about 10.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

NLP Engineer Salaryby City (2026)