As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Machine Learning Engineer in Washington, DC is $121,722, equivalent to $59 per hour, $2,341 weekly, or $10,144 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 Washington, DC vary widely, spanning from $103,338 to $141,756. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($112,099) and 75th percentile ($132,209), while top earners (90th percentile) make $141,756 per year. This $20,110 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, Washington Machine Learning Engineer often earn 0.0% higher than national averages. However, Washington currently ranks 84 statewide 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 $103,338 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $112,099 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $121,722 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $132,209 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Machine Learning Engineer Salary $141,756 Washington, DC January 01, 2026
25% $112,099 10% $103,338 90% $141,756 75% $132,209 $121,722 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

See user submitted job responsibilities for Machine Learning Engineer.

Job Openings for Machine Learning Engineer in Washington, DC

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

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Machine Learning Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
112099
132209
121722

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
121276
148774
134356
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Machine Learning Engineer in Washington, DC. The base salary for Machine Learning Engineer ranges from $112,099 to $132,209 with the average base salary of $121,722. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $121,276 to $148,774 with the average total cash compensation of $134,356.

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112099
132209

 

About Washington, District of Columbia    Washington, D.C. is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area....More

Washington, District of Columbia  area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in popular cities:

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