Machine Learning Engineer Salary in 2026
Machine learning engineers design and deploy ML models at scale, building data pipelines and inference systems. They bridge research and production to deliver AI-powered features.
Median Salary
$135,980
$11,332/mo
Entry Level
$91,600
starting pay
Senior Level
$192,600
experienced
Job Growth
+40%
10-yr outlook
BLS OEWS May 2025 · official national figures
BLS reports Software Developers (SOC 15-1252, the closest published occupation to Machine Learning Engineer) at a national median of $135,980 per year (mean $148,100), or $65.38 per hour, with 1,687,890 people employed nationwide. The median above is this BLS figure; the entry, senior and top tiers are Salario estimates calibrated to it. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Machine Learning Engineer Overview
Machine learning engineers design and deploy ML models at scale, building data pipelines and inference systems. They bridge research and production to deliver AI-powered features.
Education
Master's Degree
Experience
3-5 years
Industry
Technology
Total Jobs (US)
1.7M
5-Year Growth
+33%
Category
Technology
Hourly Rate
$65.38/hr
Monthly Pay
$11,332
Reviewed May 18, 2026
2026 Machine Learning Engineer Salary Market Notes
Market context
Machine learning engineer pay sits between software engineering, data science, and computer research. Compensation is highest when the role owns production models, inference cost, evaluation, data pipelines, MLOps, and measurable product impact rather than only notebooks or model experiments.
What drives higher pay
The strongest salary drivers are Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, distributed training, feature stores, data engineering, model evaluation, LLM/RAG systems, MLOps, cloud GPUs, latency/cost optimization, and the ability to ship reliable ML into production.
Location note
San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Boston, Austin, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Washington DC can all support premium pay, but the real split is employer type: foundation-model labs, cloud platforms, fintech, ads, autonomy, healthcare AI, and defense AI price talent differently.
Career move
A practical salary move is to show production evidence: model performance before/after, latency, cost per inference, data quality fixes, monitoring, rollback strategy, and business metric lift. That evidence prices better than model names alone.
BLS does not publish a single machine learning engineer OOH profile. Use software developer, data scientist, and computer/information research scientist sources as adjacent baselines, then compare against current AI engineering postings.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Machine Learning Engineer salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Machine Learning Engineer Salary
$158,000
$13,167/month · $6,077/biweekly · $75.96/hr
Machine Learning Engineer Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Machine Learning Engineer field.
Entry-level Machine Learning Engineers earn around $91,600, while the top 10% earn $216,700 or more.
Top Paying States for Machine Learning Engineers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $160,000 | +$24,020 |
| New York | $156,000 | +$20,020 |
| Washington | $152,000 | +$16,020 |
| Massachusetts | $152,000 | +$16,020 |
| Texas | $133,000 | $-2,980 |
Top Paying Cities for Machine Learning Engineers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San FranciscoBLS metro | $186,640 | +$50,660 |
| SeattleBLS metro | $167,280 | +$31,300 |
| New YorkBLS metro | $166,830 | +$30,850 |
| BostonBLS metro | $166,090 | +$30,110 |
| AustinBLS metro | $134,120 | $-1,860 |
Rows marked BLS metro are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers in that city's metropolitan statistical area (5 of 5); the remaining rows are Salario estimates that scale the national median by a city cost-of-labor multiplier.
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Machine Learning Engineer Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Machine Learning Engineer from entry level to expert.
$91,600
0-2 years
$142,000
3-7 years
$192,600
8-14 years
$240,800
15+ years
Related Technology Jobs
Machine Learning Engineer Salary FAQ
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make in 2026?
The median salary for a Machine Learning Engineer in the United States is $135,980 per year, the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252); the mean is $148,100. Salario's calibrated tiers put entry-level positions around $91,600, senior professionals around $192,600, and top earners at $240,800 or more annually.
What education is needed to become a Machine Learning Engineer?
A Machine Learning Engineer typically requires a Master's Degree with 3-5 years of experience. Key skills include Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch. Relevant certifications such as TensorFlow Developer Certificate or AWS Machine Learning can boost earning potential and career advancement.
What is the job outlook for Machine Learning Engineers?
The job market for Machine Learning Engineers is projected to grow by 40% over the next decade. There are currently approximately 1.7M Machine Learning Engineer positions in the US. Salary growth over the past 5 years has been approximately 33%, reflecting strong demand for this role.
Which states pay Machine Learning Engineers the most?
The highest-paying states for Machine Learning Engineers include California, New York, Washington. In California, the median salary is approximately $160,000. However, cost of living varies significantly, so adjusted purchasing power should be considered when comparing salaries across states.
How can I increase my Machine Learning Engineer salary?
To increase your Machine Learning Engineer salary, focus on gaining expertise in high-demand skills like Python and TensorFlow. Pursue certifications such as TensorFlow Developer Certificate. Consider relocating to higher-paying markets like San Francisco. With 3-5 years of experience, you can progress from $91,600 to $192,600 or more.
Methodology & Data Sources: Machine Learning Engineer Salary
How we calculate Machine Learning Engineer salary data: The national median is the official BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), retrieved from the BLS Public Data API. The entry, senior and top tiers are a Salario model: the shape of the distribution is Salario's, rescaled so that its median equals the BLS median. State and most city figures are Salario estimates that apply cost-of-labor multipliers to that median.
- National median salary: $135,980, BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median for Software Developers; BLS mean $148,100; BLS hourly median $65.38.
- Entry-level ($91,600) and senior-level ($192,600) are Salario tiers calibrated to the BLS median; they are not BLS percentiles. BLS publishes P10/P25/P75/P90 wages for this occupation in its OEWS tables.
- Job outlook: +40% projected growth is Salario's outlook figure; compare with the BLS Employment Projections program. BLS OEWS May 2025 counts 1,687,890 Software Developers jobs nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 33% is a Salario estimate of past 5-year wage growth for the Technology sector, informed by the BLS Employment Cost Index.
- Education requirement: Master's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State and city estimates apply Salario cost-of-labor multipliers to the national median of $135,980; city rows marked "BLS metro" are real OEWS metropolitan-area medians instead.
Authoritative US data sources for Machine Learning Engineer compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Machine Learning Engineer job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections, 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index, quarterly compensation trend data for Technology
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Machine Learning Engineer salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS figures: OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026), retrieved from the BLS API on September 17, 2026
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