Machine learning (ML) is an interesting and exciting field to get into. Pursuing a career in ML is lucrative as it’s one of the most sought-after careers in 2022. Because of the high demand, people considering a career in tech want to know how much machine learning engineers make.
In this guide, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge of the salaries that ML engineers earn, including freelancers in this field. You’ll also find comprehensive information on wages for ML professionals across various locations and skill sets, from the average entry-level machine learning salary to salaries for advanced machine learning engineers.
Machine Learning Engineers Salary: An Overview of How Much Machine Learning Engineers Make
- Average Salary: $126,830
- 10th Percentile Salary: $72,210
- 90th Percentile Salary: $194,430
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), machine learning (ML) engineers and other computer and information research scientists earn an average annual salary of $126,830. The lowest 10 percent earn an average of $72,210, while the highest 10 percent earn over $194,430.
How Much Do Machine Learning Engineers Make Per Hour?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average machine learning engineer makes $63 per hour. How much you earn depends on your experience in the field, your location, and any specializations you may have. For example, a senior machine learning scientist earns $71.90 per hour.
Do Machine Learning Engineers Make Good Money?
Yes, ML engineers make good money. When compared to other tech professionals, ML engineers are some of the highest-paid professionals with their average annual salary of $126,830.
In comparison, software engineers in software development earn an average annual salary of $110,140. Computer hardware engineers earn $119,560 annually, on average, while data analytics professionals earn an average annual salary of $86,200.
How Much Do Machine Learning Engineers Make? A Salary Breakdown by Location, Experience, and Skills
In the following sections, we will explain the three factors that affect the salary of machine learning (ML) engineers. These factors include location, experience level, and skills. The more experience in machine learning you have as an ML engineer, the higher pay you can earn. Also, learning additional programming skills can make you more specialized and better paid.
Some ML engineer skills are better suited for engineer roles while other skills are suited for science roles in the ML field. Salaries are also heavily dependent on location. Some cities, such as San Francisco, pay more than cities where the demand for ML engineers isn’t as high.
Machine Learning Engineers Salaries by Location
Some states pay more for ML engineer positions. Below is a list of the top five highest-paying cities in the United States for machine learning engineers. This accurate salary information has been sourced from ZipRecruiter.
| Location | 25th Percentile Salary | Median Salary | 75th Percentile Salary |
| New York | $112,977 | $149,269 | $163,981 |
| New Hampshire | $108,913 | $138,025 | $158,083 |
| Massachusetts | $111,908 | $131,556 | $162,430 |
| Vermont | $102,277 | $129,615 | $148,451 |
| Wyoming | $101,424 | $128,533 | $147,212 |
Machine Learning Engineers Salaries by Level of Experience
ML engineers’ salaries also differ by their level of experience. In the table below, for example, the average entry-level machine learning engineer with one to four years of experience earns $93,845 per year, while a machine learning specialist at the mid-level with five to nine years of experience has an average salary of $139,398. These statistics were provided by Payscale.
| Experience Level | 10th Percentile Salary | Median Salary | 90th Percentile Salary |
| Senior Machine Learning Engineer | $114,000 | $150,432 | $204,000 |
| Experienced Machine Learning Engineer | $104,000 | $147,181 | $187,000 |
| Mid-Level Machine Learning Engineer | $99,000 | $139,084 | $176,000 |
| Early-Career Machine Learning Engineer | $77,000 | $111,424 | $150,000 |
| Entry-Level Machine Learning Engineer | $68,000 | $93,845 | $131,000 |
Machine Learning Engineers Salaries by Skill
To get into this field, you need to have excellent analytical skills and mathematical skills. Coding skills, analytical prediction, and some basic skills for predictive models are also required. The important coding skills for machine learning are listed below, with information from Payscale.
| Skill | 10th Percentile Salary | Median Salary | 90th Percentile Salary |
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) | $78,000 | $127,743 | $169,000 |
| Natural Language Processing (NLP) | $78,000 | $115,387 | $155,000 |
| Machine Learning | $77,000 | $113,025 | $153,000 |
| Python | $76,000 | $111,549 | $151,000 |
| Deep Learning | $76,000 | $110,491 | $153,000 |
How Much Do Freelance Machine Learning Engineers Make?
In the US, the national average yearly salary for a freelance machine learning engineer is $129,097. In this field, freelancers have a wide range of salaries, from $23,000 to $215,500. Also, many freelancers in this occupation work hourly, with an average hourly wage of $62 per hour.
Machine Learning Engineers Job Outlook
There is rapid job growth for machine learning engineers, with the BLS estimating a 22 percent rise by 2030. This amounts to over 3,200 job openings each year, on average, through 2030. In comparison, the annual growth rate for all occupations through 2030 is nearly eight percent.
Industries such as healthcare, government, marketing, and sales are beginning to heavily rely on machine learning (ML) to assist in how they do business. If you become an ML engineer, you’ll be at the leading edge of AI opportunities and have prosperous job prospects in the future.
Is Machine Learning Engineering a Good Career?
Yes, a career in machine learning (ML) as an engineer is a good career. Artificial intelligence and ML technology is the technology of the future. Not only are they being implemented in tech companies, but almost every field. Careers in machine learning are high-paying and in-demand through the next decade. Pursuing a career path in machine learning means strong growth prospects and high earning potential.
How Much Do Machine Learning Engineers Make? FAQ
Yes, machine learning (ML) engineers are involved in blockchain technology. The predictive and descriptive algorithms of ML work well for cryptocurrencies creation, as well as trading and transactions security. Some ML engineers even work on decentralized enterprise machine solutions.
Yes, there is a high demand for machine learning (ML) engineers, with no signs of change in their rapid growth. According to the 2021 special report from LinkedIn, there will be over 150,000 technology-related jobs in the US over the next five years. Some of the most sought-after tech positions are in the artificial intelligence and ML fields.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary base for an ML engineer at Google is $145,442 per year. That is 14 percent more than the average annual ML engineer salary in the United States. An Apple machine learning engineer and an Amazon machine learning engineer also receive more than fair compensation.
Yes, becoming a machine learning engineer (ML) is hard. Knowledge of key machine learning programming languages, statistics, and software engineering are essential skills. You must also have advanced math skills, and advanced knowledge of machine learning algorithms, signal processing algorithms, and machine learning models. This career path requires a lot of research and learning.
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