As of February 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Machine Learning Engineer in District of Columbia is $121,721, equivalent to $59 per hour, $2,341 weekly, or $10,143 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Machine Learning Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Machine Learning Engineer in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $103,207 to $141,504. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($112,030) and 75th percentile ($132,076), while top earners (90th percentile) make $141,504 per year. This $20,046 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Software Development, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Machine Learning Engineer often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 63 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Machine Learning Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Machine Learning Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $103,207 DC February 01, 2026
25th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $112,030 DC February 01, 2026
50th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $121,721 DC February 01, 2026
75th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $132,076 DC February 01, 2026
90th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $141,504 DC February 01, 2026
25% $112,030 10% $103,207 90% $141,504 75% $132,076 $121,721 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Machine Learning Engineer ?

Machine learning (ML) is the scientific study of algorithms and statistical models that computer systems use to effectively perform a specific task without using explicit instructions, relying on patterns and inference instead. It is seen as a subset of artificial intelligence. Machine learning algorithms build a mathematical model of sample data, known as "training data", in order to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to perform the task.:2 Machine learning algorithms are used in a wide variety of applications, such as email filtering, and computer vision, where...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $128,067 Date Updated February 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $128,067 Date Updated February 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $128,067 Date Updated February 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $128,067 Date Updated February 01, 2026
Job Openings for Machine Learning Engineer in District of Columbia

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Software Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Machine Learning Engineer

    4 - 7 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Software Engineer IV

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Jobs with a similar salary range to Machine Learning Engineer : Computer Vision Researcher, Software Administrator, Software Developers