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ML Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a ML Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a ML Engineer in the United States is $136,106 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

However, a ML Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,185
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,835 to $146,616
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $120,305
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence ML Engineer Salaries

A ML 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.

How Experience Level Affects ML Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a ML 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $100,959
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $112,267
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $135,333
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,691
  • Expert (over 8 years): $188,211
Levels Salary
AI Engine... Level ML Engineer$100,959
AI Engine... Level ML Engineer$112,267
ML Engine... Level ML Engineer$135,333
AI Engine... Level ML Engineer$158,691
AI Engine... Level ML Engineer$188,211
View as Graph

How Do ML Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 ML Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $150,697.
  • California: $150,125.
  • Massachusetts: $148,124.

Top Paying Cities for ML Engineers

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: $171,670
  • San Francisco: $169,791
  • Oakland: $166,213

What Skills Can Increase a ML Engineer'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.97%
Data Science 4.67%
Artificial Intelligence 1.5%
See More Skills

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 ML Engineer'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 $141,550
4%
Team Building $141,550
4%
Active Learning $141,550
4%
Get Latest Data

ML Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For ML Engineer 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, ML Engineer positions in Transportation or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view ML Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a ML Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$190,548$92.040%
Biotechnology$170,132$82.025%
Financial Services$170,132$82.025%
Insurance$156,522$75.015%
Energy & Utilities$149,717$72.010%

ML Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a ML 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 September 01, 2026
$127,835
Average $136,106/year
$146,616
$10,653
Average $11,342/month
$12,218
$2,458
Average $2,617/week
$2,820
$61
Average $65/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,616 $12,218 $2,820 $70
Average $136,106 $11,342 $2,617 $65
25th Percentile $127,835 $10,653 $2,458 $61

Most common benefits for ML Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for ML Engineer

Here are companies hiring for ML Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about ML Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for ML Engineer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for ML Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.)

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