As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the United States is $176,170 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $85.
However, a Lead Machine Learning Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
Recruit with AI
A Lead Machine Learning Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Machine Learning Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Algorithm Engineer | 4-7 years | $121,946 |
| Principal Algorithm Engineer | 7+ years | $158,357 |
| Lead Machine Learning Engineer | 7-10 years | $176,170 |
| Algorithm Engineering Manager | 10+ years | $176,928 |
| Algorithm Engineering Senior Manager | 10+ years | $198,971 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead Machine Learning Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 2.73% |
| Computer Science | 4.61% |
| Programming | 1.37% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Active Learning
|
$197,310 |
12%
|
|
Data-Driven Decision-Making
|
$195,549 |
11%
|
|
Products and Services
|
$192,025 |
9%
|
|
Team Building
|
$186,740 |
6%
|
|
Data Structure
|
$186,740 |
6%
|
|
Team Development
|
$184,979 |
5%
|
Understanding how a Lead Machine Learning Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on May 01, 2026For a Lead Machine Learning Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Artificial Intelligence Engineer VI role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $197,200 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.
Salaries for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $172,227 in 2023 to around $172,230 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Machine Learning Engineer salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $172,227 |
| 2024 | $174,002 |
| 2025 | $172,230 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Lead Machine Learning Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Machine Learning Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
As of now, the salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the United States ranges from $172,880 to $209,640 annually, with a median salary of $189,440. This translates to approximately $83.05 to $100.67 per hour, or $3,290 to $4,000 per week.
The estimated total pay range for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Meta is approximately $172,880 to $209,640 per year, based on base salary data. The average base salary is around $189,440 per year. Additional compensation may vary and could include bonuses or stock options, but specific figures for these are not provided.
The highest paying job in machine learning is often the Lead Machine Learning Engineer, with salaries ranging from $172,880 to $209,640. Other top roles include ML Research Scientist, NLP Engineer, and Computer Vision Engineer, all of which offer competitive compensation in the growing field of machine learning.
The estimated total pay range for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Google is $172,880 to $209,640 per year, which includes base salary and additional compensation. The average base salary for this role is approximately $189,440 per year.
A PhD in Machine Learning Engineering typically earns between $172,880 and $209,640 annually. This role requires a deep understanding of data engineering, as well as expertise in designing, training, and evaluating machine learning models. The mid-salary for this position is approximately $189,440.
A good salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the USA ranges from $172,880 to $209,640 annually, with a median salary of $189,440. This is significantly higher than the average engineer salary, reflecting the specialized skills and expertise required in this field.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
