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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The data below covers the full spectrum — from six-figure metros to markets where the math is tighter. The national median salary for Machine Learning Engineers in 2026 is $183,895, with entry-level positions averaging $132,404 and senior roles reaching $261,130. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $334,960, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Technology within the broader Technology industry, Machine Learning Engineers typically hold Master's in CS/ML. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is remote-eligible. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$203,820 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Machine Learning Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $334,960 — $203,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($131,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Machine Learning Engineers average $132,404, the median sits at $183,895, and senior earners pull in $261,130. That $128,726 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $103,528 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $312,840 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $132,193 (average of the bottom 3). That $180,647 delta is real money — $15,054/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Machine Learning Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $334,960 — $203,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($131,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Machine Learning Engineer is $132,404, while senior-level (P90) earners average $261,130. That $128,726 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Machine Learning Engineers at $221,951 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $195,130) is $26,821.
At the 90th percentile, Machine Learning Engineers pull in an average of $261,130. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $132,404 | $183,895 | $261,130 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £79,391 | £110,265 | £156,576 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$102,910 | CA$142,931 | CA$202,962 |
| Australia | 13 | A$119,284 | A$165,672 | A$235,255 |
| Sweden | 24 | 751,372 kr | 1,043,572 kr | 1,481,872 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $159,805 | $221,951 | $315,171 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $154,429 | $214,485 | $304,569 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $153,576 | $213,300 | $302,886 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $142,200 | $197,500 | $280,450 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $140,494 | $195,130 | $277,085 |
| Washington | 8 | $137,792 | $191,378 | $271,756 |
| New York | 5 | $129,687 | $180,120 | $255,771 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $129,686 | $180,120 | $255,770 |
| Florida | 22 | $128,704 | $178,755 | $253,833 |
| Colorado | 11 | $126,480 | $175,667 | $249,447 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $126,274 | $175,380 | $249,040 |
| Nevada | 5 | $126,046 | $175,064 | $248,591 |
| Arizona | 12 | $125,420 | $174,195 | $247,357 |
| Oregon | 5 | $125,136 | $173,800 | $246,796 |
| Idaho | 3 | $124,757 | $173,273 | $246,048 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $123,771 | $171,904 | $244,104 |
| Utah | 4 | $123,430 | $171,430 | $243,431 |
| Virginia | 7 | $121,398 | $168,609 | $239,424 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $119,827 | $166,427 | $236,326 |
| Alaska | 1 | $119,448 | $165,900 | $235,578 |
| Illinois | 5 | $118,083 | $164,004 | $232,886 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $115,150 | $159,931 | $227,102 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $113,760 | $158,000 | $224,360 |
| Montana | 1 | $113,760 | $158,000 | $224,360 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $113,381 | $157,473 | $223,612 |
| Texas | 40 | $112,821 | $156,697 | $222,509 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $112,623 | $156,420 | $222,117 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $112,054 | $155,630 | $220,995 |
| Georgia | 6 | $111,674 | $155,103 | $220,247 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $111,485 | $154,840 | $219,873 |
| Kansas | 4 | $110,916 | $154,050 | $218,751 |
| Michigan | 6 | $110,537 | $153,523 | $218,003 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $109,210 | $151,680 | $215,386 |
| Maryland | 1 | $109,210 | $151,680 | $215,386 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $108,072 | $150,100 | $213,142 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $108,072 | $150,100 | $213,142 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $105,228 | $146,150 | $207,533 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $104,659 | $145,360 | $206,411 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $103,237 | $143,385 | $203,607 |
| Missouri | 4 | $103,237 | $143,385 | $203,607 |
| Alabama | 5 | $102,839 | $142,832 | $202,821 |
| Indiana | 3 | $101,246 | $140,620 | $199,680 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $101,246 | $140,620 | $199,680 |
| Iowa | 2 | $100,109 | $139,040 | $197,437 |
| Ohio | 6 | $99,919 | $138,777 | $197,063 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $95,558 | $132,720 | $188,462 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Machine Learning Engineer median of $221,951 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($214,485) and Hawaii ($213,300). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $132,720 and $139,040. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($334,960 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $158,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $334,960 | 212 | $158,000 | $177,175 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $312,840 | 198 | $158,000 | $167,431 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $290,720 | 184 | $158,000 | $157,687 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $285,980 | 181 | $158,000 | $155,599 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $281,240 | 178 | $158,000 | $153,511 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $279,660 | 177 | $158,000 | $152,815 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $279,660 | 177 | $158,000 | $152,815 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $273,340 | 173 | $158,000 | $150,032 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $273,340 | 173 | $158,000 | $150,032 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $267,020 | 169 | $158,000 | $147,248 |
Career economics for Machine Learning Engineers: entry level averages $132,404, mid-career hits $183,895, and experienced professionals reach $261,130. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Master's in CS/ML, and the work is remote-eligible. The outlook: very high demand. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Machine Learning Engineers is $183,895 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $132,404, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $261,130.
The highest-paying city for Machine Learning Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $334,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($334,960), Santa Clara ($312,840), Irvine ($290,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Machine Learning Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $131,140. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Machine Learning Engineers (10th percentile) average $132,404 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $241,171. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Machine Learning Engineers average $261,130 nationally — $128,726 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Machine Learning Engineers can earn up to $475,643.
The top-paying states for Machine Learning Engineers are California ($221,951 median), Massachusetts ($214,485 median), Hawaii ($213,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Machine Learning Engineer involves Master's in CS/ML. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $183,895 and representation across 288 metro areas, Machine Learning Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $128,726 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.