Machine Learning Engineer Salary: How Much Can You Make?

Machine learning (ML) engineers research, design, and develop critical artificial intelligence on data science teams. 

Whether they’re working on algorithms to power your Spotify recommendations or creating algorithms to make real-time stock predictions, machine learning engineers are in high demand in many industries. As a result, they're well-compensated for their in-depth knowledge and ability to make decisions that drive profits.

In this article, you’ll learn the average salary a machine learning engineer can expect to earn in the United States and how it can vary by experience and location. You’ll also learn about the overall job outlook for machine learning engineers and the top sectors hiring them today. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced professional, we've got the salary scoop for you.

What is an average machine learning engineer salary? 

The average salary of a machine learning engineer is impacted by many factors, such as experience, industry, and geographic location. However, according to various salary aggregate sites, the average salary for a machine learning engineer ranges from $116,416 to $140,180. 

Whatever the salary, machine learning engineers can expect to make much more than the median salary in the United States, which sat at $40,480 as of 2022 [1].

Machine learning engineer salaries by experience

Experience has a big impact on what machine learning engineers can expect to make. Generally, the more experience a machine learning engineer has, the more they can expect to make in their role. According to Glassdoor, the experience breaks down as follows [2]:

• 0-1 years: $127,350 

• 1-3 years: $144,572

• 4-6 years: $150,193

• 7-9 years: $154,779

• 10-14 years: $162,356

• 15+ years: $170,603

Those in more senior positions can typically expect to make even more. For example, according to Glassdoor, the average annual salary that a senior machine learning engineer makes is $140,180 across all years of experience [2].

Machine learning engineer industries 

As data becomes increasingly more valuable, so too do machine learning engineers capable of manipulating it with artificial intelligence. As a result, there are many industries where machine learning engineers can expect to find work. Here are the top five sectors, according to AI magazine [3]: 

• Healthcare

• Transportation

• Finance 

• Agriculture 

• Cybersecurity

Salaries for related jobs in machine learning

Machine learning engineer isn’t the only game in town for those with the required skill set. According to Glassdoor, here’s how other similar jobs’ salaries stack up: 

Software engineer - machine learning: $155,960

Research engineer: $122,747

Machine learning research scientist: $160,007

Machine learning scientist: $158,229

Machine learning engineer salaries by location 

Typically, salaries vary from region to region. Every location has its own cost of living and market competition, which inevitably impacts the salary that a machine learning engineer can expect to make. 

Here are the average salaries for machine learning engineers across the country – from the west coast to the east, the midwest to the south – courtesy of Glassdoor: 

Job outlook for machine learning engineers 

The job outlook for machine learning engineers is positive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information research scientists – the group under which machine learning engineers typically fall – are projected to grow by 23 percent between 2022 and 2032 [4]. 

In 2019, meanwhile, Indeed ranked machine learning engineer as the number one job in the United States, noting its high salary and the 344 percent job growth seen between 2015 and 2018 as key reasons [5]. 

Get started with Coursera

Becoming a machine learning engineer takes time and dedication. To get started, you might consider taking a relevant online course through Coursera to hone your machine learning expertise. Stanford and DeepLearning.AI's Machine Learning specialization can provide a two-month crash course in machine learning.