Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL: 2026
Machine Learning Engineer salary data for Chicago, IL, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $134,380 per year ($11,198/month, $64.61/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (the closest BLS occupation to Machine Learning Engineer) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, which covers Chicago. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 107) would have estimated $145,499; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Also known as: ML Engineer, AI Engineer, Machine Learning Developer. The estimates on this page are used for these related job titles in Chicago, IL, although actual pay can differ by title and scope.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Machine Learning Engineer Take-Home Pay in Chicago
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $134,380 |
| Federal Tax | -$20,985 |
| State Tax (5.0% eff.) | -$6,652 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$10,280 |
| Annual Take-Home | $96,463 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $8,039 |
Living Cost Comparison
Machine Learning Engineer Requirements
Key Skills
Machine Learning Engineer salary search terms in Chicago
People comparing Machine Learning Engineer pay in Chicago, IL may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Machine Learning Engineer role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $134,380 median salary, $90,500-$190,300 modeled range, and $96,463 estimated take-home pay in Chicago. |
| Title variants | ML Engineer, AI Engineer, Machine Learning Developer can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Chicago Job Market Overview
Chicago, Illinois has a population of 2,696,555 and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. The top industries are Finance, Technology, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 35minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Technology Salaries in Chicago
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago, IL, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $90,500 | $44/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $112,440 | $54/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $134,380 | $65/hr | Mid-career, 3-5 years |
| 75th | $190,300 | $91/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $238,000 | $114/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Chicago's Finance sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 33.0% salary growth for Machine Learning Engineers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Chicago estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Machine Learning Engineer can expect a 11.2% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 7 years in Chicago. Negotiation, certifications (TensorFlow Developer Certificate, AWS Machine Learning), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Chicago vs National Average
The national median Machine Learning Engineer salary is $135,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Software Developers). In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro, the BLS median of $134,380 is 1.2% below the national figure. Chicago's cost of living index is 107 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Machine Learning Engineers, this means: rent typically consumes 21.8% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Chicago costs about 3.3× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Chicago.
Industry Context: Finance in Chicago
Chicago's economy is anchored by Finance, Technology, Healthcare, with 2,696,555 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Machine Learning Engineers can differ by sector, so compare Finance employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 40.0% growth outlook for Machine Learning Engineer roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Chicago, IL:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Chicago-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($145,499 modeled) using the Chicago index of 107 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), IL 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 5.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Chicago figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Machine Learning Engineer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Finance vs others in Chicago), specific skill set (Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL?
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer take home in Chicago after taxes?
Is Chicago a good city for Machine Learning Engineers?
What skills are needed for a Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago?
How does Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago?
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay
Use our free paycheck calculator to see your after-tax income based on your specific salary, deductions, and filing status.
Calculate NowExplore More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $134,380 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $90,500 and the senior estimate of $190,300 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer take home in Chicago after taxes?
A Machine Learning Engineer earning the median salary of $134,380 in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $96,463 per year ($8,039/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 28.2%.
Is Chicago a good city for Machine Learning Engineers?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (above national average). Machine Learning Engineers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.2% and top industries include Finance, Technology, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago?
Key skills for Machine Learning Engineers include Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Deep Learning, MLOps. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree. Valuable certifications include TensorFlow Developer Certificate, AWS Machine Learning.
How does Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago compare to the national average?
The national median for Software Developers is $135,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro, the BLS median is $134,380, which is 1.2% lower than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 107) would have estimated $145,499.
What job titles are similar to Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago?
Related search terms for Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago, IL include ML Engineer, AI Engineer, Machine Learning Developer. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.