Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salary in Des Plaines, IL

How much does a Senior Machine Learning Scientist make in Des Plaines, IL?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Machine Learning Scientist in Des Plaines, IL is $139,086 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

However, a Senior Machine Learning Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $159,604
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,633 to $149,826
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $122,937
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $130,633 10% $122,937 90% $159,604 75% $149,826 $139,086 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $149,826 $12,485 $2,881 $72
Average $139,086 $11,591 $2,675 $67
25th Percentile $130,633 $10,886 $2,512 $63
Check out Senior Machine Learning Scientist Job Openings in Des Plaines, IL
Controller

Plasticade - Des Plaines, IL

Senior Accounting Manager

Addison Group - Des Plaines, IL

Senior Accountant

Addison Group - Des Plaines, IL

HR Manager [$90-$95K] Manufacturing

IMS Engineered Products - Des Plaines, IL

Search More Senior Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in Des Plaines, IL

Key Factors That Influence Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salaries

A Senior Machine Learning Scientist'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Machine Learning Scientist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $103,170
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,725
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $138,296
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $162,165
  • Expert (over 8 years): $192,331
Levels Salary
AI Engine... Level Senior Machine Learning Scientist$103,170
AI Engine... Level Senior Machine Learning Scientist$114,725
Senior Ma... Level Senior Machine Learning Scientist$138,296
AI Engine... Level Senior Machine Learning Scientist$162,165
AI Engine... Level Senior Machine Learning Scientist$192,331
$103,170 0 yr
$114,725 < 2 yrs
$138,296 2-4 yrs
$162,165 5-8 yrs
$192,331 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Senior Machine Learning Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $171,336
  • San Francisco: $169,460
  • Oakland: $165,889

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Machine Learning Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Science (Mentioned in 4.67% Job Postings): Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. Data science is the same concept as data mining and big data: "use the most powerful hardware, the most powerful programming systems, and the most efficient algorithms to solve problems". Data science is a "concept to unify statistics, data analysis, machine learning and their related methods" in order to "understand and analyze actual phenomena" with data. It employs techniques and theories drawn from many fields within the context of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and information science. Turing award winner Jim Gray imagined data science as a "fourth paradigm" of science (empirical, theoretical, computational and now data-driven) and asserted that "everything about science is changing because of the impact of information technology" and the data deluge. In 2015, the American Statistical Association identified database management, statistics and machine learning, and distributed and parallel systems as the three emerging foundational professional communities.
  • Artificial Intelligence (Mentioned in 1.5% Job Postings): Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. Specific applications of AI include expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition and machine vision.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.97%
Data Science 4.67%
Artificial Intelligence 1.5%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Senior Machine Learning Scientist's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Active Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$144,650
4%
Team Building
$144,650
4%
Active Learning
$144,650
4%
Presentation
$144,650
4%
Continuous Learning
$143,259
3%
Data Structure
$141,868
2%
Get Latest Data

Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Machine Learning Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Senior Machine Learning Scientist positions in Transportation or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Machine Learning Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Machine Learning Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$194,721$94.040%
Biotechnology$173,858$84.025%
Financial Services$173,858$84.025%
Insurance$159,949$77.015%
Energy & Utilities$152,995$74.010%

Senior Machine Learning Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Machine Learning Scientist'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 September 01, 2026

Find Your Next Senior Machine Learning Scientist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior Machine Learning Scientist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Brilliant®

    Des Plaines, IL

    Brilliant® | Des Plaines, IL

    We are partnering with an established, privately held organization in the construction industry that is looking to add a. Corporate Accountant. to its team... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Barrington James

    Des Plaines, IL

    Barrington James | Des Plaines, IL

    Associate Director/Director Program Management. Greater Chicago Area - Hybrid. We’re. exclusively partnered. with a biopharmaceutical company operating a u... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Acuity

    Des Plaines, IL

    Acuity | Des Plaines, IL

    Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Th... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Tranquilo Communities

    Des Plaines, IL

    Tranquilo Communities | Des Plaines, IL

    Tranquilo Communities is seeking an experienced Community Manager to oversee a well-established, 140-site manufactured housing community near O’Hare Airpor... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Blue Signal Search

    Des Plaines, IL

    Blue Signal Search | Des Plaines, IL

    Manufacturing / NPI Engineer. Location: Des Plaines, IL. Our client is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing / NPI Engineer to take new products through one of ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Hudson Construction Services, Inc.

    Des Plaines, IL

    Hudson Construction Services, Inc. | Des Plaines, IL

    Position Title. CONSTRUCTION OFFICE MANAGER. Location. Des Plaines, IL. Schedule. Full-time, primarily in-office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM... more

    6 Days Ago

For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

Cost of Living In Des Plaines, IL

Cost of Living in Des Plaines, IL is
12.1% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst