Machine Learning Engineer Salary Guide
National median: $142,830/yr · Range: $108,550–$179,965 · Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Last updated: 2026-04-22
National Machine Learning Engineer Salary Overview
Data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024 OEWS. O*NET code: 15-2051.00.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary by City — Top 20 Metros
| Metro Area | 25th Pct | Median | 75th Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $164,193 | $208,110 | $250,074 |
| San Jose, CA | $149,451 | $203,545 | $247,785 |
| New York, NY | $146,804 | $190,262 | $229,932 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $140,451 | $182,560 | $231,670 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,120 | $179,327 | $224,697 |
| San Diego, CA | $137,947 | $174,328 | $206,988 |
| Denver, CO | $117,624 | $158,989 | $194,511 |
| Chicago, IL | $122,981 | $157,824 | $200,828 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $124,165 | $156,800 | $188,631 |
| Austin, TX | $117,777 | $152,846 | $195,269 |
| Nashville, TN | $117,392 | $147,533 | $187,569 |
| Charlotte, NC | $115,496 | $145,056 | $184,302 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $109,038 | $144,310 | $178,652 |
| Dallas, TX | $112,120 | $141,703 | $169,263 |
| Columbus, OH | $103,105 | $139,787 | $169,074 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $108,670 | $137,883 | $169,024 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $107,055 | $135,788 | $161,404 |
| Houston, TX | $103,032 | $135,783 | $161,799 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $96,628 | $133,730 | $165,406 |
| San Antonio, TX | $95,854 | $131,696 | $165,117 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates. Click any city for detailed local salary data.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Experience Level
| Level | Typical Salary | Years of Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level Machine Learning Engineer | $102,837 | 0–2 years |
| Mid-level Machine Learning Engineer | $131,403 | 3–5 years |
| Senior Machine Learning Engineer | $168,539 | 5–8 years |
| Staff / Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $202,818 | 8–12 years |
| Principal / Director | $239,954 | 12+ years |
Career path estimates derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 national benchmarks. Actual salaries vary by company, location, and skills.
Skills That Raise Machine Learning Engineer Salary
Professionals with these skills typically earn 15–35% above the median:
- LLM fine-tuning
- CUDA/GPU optimization
- MLOps (MLflow/Kubeflow)
- Distributed training
- Rust/C++ for inference
How to Negotiate a Machine Learning Engineer Offer
The most effective salary negotiation for Machine Learning Engineer roles follows three steps:
- Anchor with data. Quote BLS OEWS median ($142,830) and top-metro benchmarks as your reference point. Numbers beat feelings.
- Frame with ROI. Describe a specific project outcome in dollar terms: "I reduced churn by 8%, which retained $2M ARR." This turns the conversation from cost to investment.
- Negotiate total comp. If base is firm, ask about sign-on bonus, equity refresh, additional PTO, or a 6-month review. Employers have more flexibility in these buckets.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary by City — All Locations
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