Machine Learning Engineer Salary.
Across 83 U.S. cities.
$155,000
national median salary
$120,000 to $200,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$216,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$162,000
Providence, RI
Lowest Paying
$116,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Machine Learning Engineer salary in the United States is $155,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $120,000 at the 25th percentile to $200,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $216,000, while Providence offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Production ML experience, deep learning framework fluency, and ability to optimize models for scale are the strongest differentiators.
Machine Learning Engineer salary by city
Skills that increase Machine Learning Engineer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Machine Learning Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $21,700 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$21,700 per year
≈ +$20,150 per year
≈ +$18,600 per year
≈ +$17,050 per year
≈ +$15,500 per year
≈ +$15,500 per year
≈ +$15,500 per year
≈ +$13,950 per year
What you should know
Production ML experience, deep learning framework fluency, and ability to optimize models for scale are the strongest differentiators. Engineers who bridge research and production by deploying models that serve millions of predictions per day command significant premiums. Specialization in recommendation systems, search ranking, or fraud detection adds further value.
Entry level ML engineers start at $110,000 to $140,000, reaching mid level at $145,000 to $190,000 in two to three years. Senior ML engineers earn $190,000 to $260,000. Staff ML engineers at top companies exceed $350,000 in total compensation, with research oriented roles paying even more.
Equity at AI focused companies adds $30,000 to $150,000+ annually. Bonuses of 10 to 20% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common at well funded firms. Benefits frequently include GPU compute budgets, conference sponsorship, and research publication support.