Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Colorado Springs, CO: 2026
Machine Learning Engineer salary data for Colorado Springs, CO, 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 Colorado Springs, CO is $134,280 per year ($11,190/month, $64.56/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (the closest BLS occupation to Machine Learning Engineer) in the Colorado Springs, CO metropolitan area, which covers Colorado Springs. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 100) would have estimated $135,980; 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 Colorado Springs, CO, although actual pay can differ by title and scope.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), Colorado Springs, CO MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Machine Learning Engineer Take-Home Pay in Colorado Springs
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $134,280 |
| Federal Tax | -$20,961 |
| State Tax (3.9% eff.) | -$5,200 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$10,272 |
| Annual Take-Home | $97,846 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $8,154 |
Living Cost Comparison
Machine Learning Engineer Requirements
Key Skills
Machine Learning Engineer salary search terms in Colorado Springs
People comparing Machine Learning Engineer pay in Colorado Springs, CO 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 | $134,280 median salary, $90,500-$190,200 modeled range, and $97,846 estimated take-home pay in Colorado Springs. |
| 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. |
Colorado Springs Job Market Overview
Colorado Springs, Colorado has a population of 478,961 and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The top industries are Military, Technology, Tourism. The local job growth rate is 2.2%, and the average commute time is 23minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
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Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Nearby Colorado Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs, CO, 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 | $112,390 | $54/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $134,280 | $65/hr | Mid-career, 3-5 years |
| 75th | $190,200 | $91/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $237,800 | $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 Colorado Springs's Military 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs. Negotiation, certifications (TensorFlow Developer Certificate, AWS Machine Learning), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Colorado Springs vs National Average
The national median Machine Learning Engineer salary is $135,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Software Developers). In the Colorado Springs, CO metro, the BLS median of $134,280 is 1.3% below the national figure. Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 100 (lower 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 17.8% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Colorado Springs costs about 4.1× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Colorado Springs.
Industry Context: Military in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs's economy is anchored by Military, Technology, Tourism, with 478,961 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Machine Learning Engineers can differ by sector, so compare Military employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.2%, 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 Colorado Springs, CO:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Colorado Springs, CO 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 Colorado Springs-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($135,980 modeled) using the Colorado Springs index of 100 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%), CO 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 4.4%), 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, Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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 (Military vs others in Colorado Springs), 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 Colorado Springs, CO?
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer take home in Colorado Springs after taxes?
Is Colorado Springs a good city for Machine Learning Engineers?
What skills are needed for a Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs?
How does Machine Learning Engineer salary in Colorado Springs compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Colorado Springs, CO is $134,280 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Colorado Springs, CO metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $90,500 and the senior estimate of $190,200 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer take home in Colorado Springs after taxes?
A Machine Learning Engineer earning the median salary of $134,280 in Colorado Springs, CO takes home approximately $97,846 per year ($8,154/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 27.1%.
Is Colorado Springs a good city for Machine Learning Engineers?
Colorado Springs, CO has a cost of living index of 100 (below national average). Machine Learning Engineers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Military, Technology, Tourism.
What skills are needed for a Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs?
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 Colorado Springs compare to the national average?
The national median for Software Developers is $135,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Colorado Springs, CO metro, the BLS median is $134,280, which is 1.3% lower than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 100) would have estimated $135,980.
What job titles are similar to Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs?
Related search terms for Machine Learning Engineer in Colorado Springs, CO 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.