ML Engineer Salary Guide (2026)
ML Engineer
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ML Engineer salaries vary significantly by location, experience level, and company size. Across the 17 locations we track, the average median salary is $113,111.
The highest-paying location is San Francisco, where the median salary reaches $216,805 (cost of living: 100/100). However, high salaries don't always translate to higher purchasing power — factor in the cost of living and tax implications for each location.
United States: US-based ml engineers earn between $118,894 and $327,935. Cities like San Francisco, Seattle and New York offer the most competitive packages.
Europe: European ml engineers typically earn between $53,865 and $140,400 (USD equivalent). While lower in absolute terms, strong worker protections, healthcare, and paid leave can offset the gap.
United Kingdom: UK-based roles range from $75,600 to $197,820 (USD equivalent).
These figures reflect base compensation and may not include bonuses, equity grants, or other benefits that often matter when you compare offers across markets. For the most accurate picture, click into a specific city to see detailed breakdowns, top hiring companies, and career advice tailored to that market.
Compare compensation across cities. All salaries shown in local currency with USD equivalent for comparison.
| Location | Salary Range | Median | Cost of LivingCoL |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco United StatesAll San Francisco salaries | $156,276 – $300,778 | $216,805 | 100/100 |
| Seattle United StatesAll Seattle salaries | $118,894 – $327,935 | $197,458 | 97/100 |
| New York United StatesAll New York salaries | $140,000 – $267,000 | $189,063 | 67/100 |
| Remote United StatesAll Remote salaries | $135,000 – $215,000 | $168,730 | 67/100 |
| London United KingdomAll London salaries | £60,000 – £157,000 ≈ $75,600 – $197,820 | £93,000 ≈ $117,180 | 54/100 |
| Berlin GermanyAll Berlin salaries | €60,000 – €130,000 ≈ $64,800 – $140,400 | €95,000 ≈ $102,600 | 44/100 |
| Toronto CanadaAll Toronto salaries | CA$110,000 – CA$175,000 ≈ $81,400 – $129,500 | CA$135,000 ≈ $99,900 | 45/100 |
| Bonn GermanyAll Bonn salaries | €60,000 – €120,000 ≈ $64,800 – $129,600 | €90,000 ≈ $97,200 | 48/100 |
| Cologne GermanyAll Cologne salaries | €75,000 – €115,000 ≈ $81,000 – $124,200 | €90,000 ≈ $97,200 | 49/100 |
| Frankfurt GermanyAll Frankfurt salaries | €65,000 – €110,000 ≈ $70,200 – $118,800 | €82,000 ≈ $88,560 | 52/100 |
| Stuttgart GermanyAll Stuttgart salaries | €65,000 – €120,000 ≈ $70,200 – $129,600 | €82,000 ≈ $88,560 | 55/100 |
| Düsseldorf GermanyAll Düsseldorf salaries | €60,000 – €105,000 ≈ $64,800 – $113,400 | €78,000 ≈ $84,240 | 51/100 |
| Hamburg GermanyAll Hamburg salaries | €58,000 – €100,000 ≈ $62,640 – $108,000 | €76,000 ≈ $82,080 | 51/100 |
| Nuremberg GermanyAll Nuremberg salaries | €58,000 – €100,000 ≈ $62,640 – $108,000 | €76,000 ≈ $82,080 | 48/100 |
| Dresden GermanyAll Dresden salaries | €52,000 – €95,000 ≈ $56,160 – $102,600 | €68,000 ≈ $73,440 | 44/100 |
| Leipzig GermanyAll Leipzig salaries | €50,000 – €88,000 ≈ $54,000 – $95,040 | €65,000 ≈ $70,200 | 43/100 |
| Karlsruhe GermanyAll Karlsruhe salaries | €49,875 – €68,000 ≈ $53,865 – $73,440 | €62,581 ≈ $67,587 | 43/100 |
USD conversions use approximate exchange rates for comparison purposes. Cost of Living: 100 = most expensive, lower is cheaper.
Go beyond salary data — practical guides to help you land the role and negotiate the best offer.
The average median ml engineer salary across 17 locations is $113,111 (USD). However, this varies significantly by location — from $55,296 to $280,511 depending on the city and market.
San Francisco currently shows the highest median salary in this data set at $216,805. Absolute pay is only one part of the picture, so compare employer mix, taxes, and cost of living before treating it as the strongest overall market.
Location is one of the biggest salary drivers for ml engineers. Market maturity, employer mix, cost of living, and the density of local tech hiring all influence compensation, which is why city-by-city comparisons are more useful than a single global number.
The salary ranges shown here reflect base compensation. Some employers also add bonuses, equity, and benefits, so use the city-level pages as a starting point and pressure-test any offer against the specific employer and market you are targeting.
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