Lead Healthcare ML Engineer.
Austin.
$224,000
median salary, 7% above the national average
$175,000 to $291,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Lead Healthcare ML Engineer in Austin earns a median of $224,000 in 2026. That is 7% above the national average. The range runs from $175,000 to $291,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Compensation reflects specialization depth, production deployment scale, and the maturity of the AI systems being built.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $201,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$146,000
to $179,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$190,000
to $235,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$246,000
to $291,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$280,000
to $347,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $62,000 to the total package.
Base
$224,000
Equity
$36,000
Bonus
$22,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $286,000
How Austin compares
Austin, TX
$224,000
Cost of living: 3% above average
National Average
$209,000
Austin is $15,000 above
Lead Healthcare ML Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Austin
What you should know
The Lead Healthcare ML Engineer landscape in Austin is not what most salary sites will tell you. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Compensation reflects specialization depth, production deployment scale, and the maturity of the AI systems being built. Lead Healthcare ML Engineers who have shipped models serving millions of users command the highest premiums. Employer type matters significantly: AI labs and foundation model companies pay 20% to 40% more than enterprises adopting AI for internal use.
Entry-level Lead Healthcare ML Engineers start near $163,000. Mid-career professionals with three to five years of experience reach $209,000 to $272,000. Senior-level roles command $268,000 to $324,000. Management transitions to director-level positions offer $345,000 and above. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
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: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $224,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Lead Healthcare ML Engineers in Austin runs from $175,000 to $291,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
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Common questions.
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