Machine Learning Manager Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$180,000
national median salary
$140,000 to $234,000. Last updated June 2026.
Highest Paying
$250,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$188,000
Las Vegas, NV
Lowest Paying
$138,000
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 June 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-2051. Full methodology.
The average Machine Learning Manager salary in the United States is $180,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $140,000 at the 25th percentile to $234,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $250,000, while Las Vegas offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Machine Learning Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent.
Machine Learning Manager salary by city.
Skills that increase Machine Learning Manager pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Machine Learning Managers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $25,200 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$25,200 per year
≈ +$23,400 per year
≈ +$21,600 per year
≈ +$19,800 per year
≈ +$19,800 per year
≈ +$18,000 per year
≈ +$18,000 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
What you should know.
Machine Learning Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Equity is a major component at roughly 35% of base — candidates should weight stock grants as heavily as salary when comparing offers. Within tech-sector Machine Learning Managers specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 67%+ variance across the compensation band.
Machine Learning Managers at tech companies progress Manager → Senior Manager → Director → Senior Director → VP Engineering/Product over 10 to 15 years. The IC↔management crossover is common in both directions at the mid levels; above Senior Director, crossing back is rare.
Total compensation for Machine Learning Managers runs roughly $279K at median when factoring base + equity (35% of base annually) + bonus (15% of base). Equity is the single largest non-base component — candidates should model vesting schedules (typically 4-year with 1-year cliff) and compare grant values across offers carefully. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Machine Learning Managers typically earn $167,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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