The Top 24 Best-Paying Cities for Machine Learning Engineers in 2023
These are the top 24 best-paying cities for machine learning engineers in the United States in 2023, according to the more than 8 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by the highest average total compensation. Total compensation is a combination of a job’s annual salary, equity or stock-based compensation, and a bonus if paid by an employer.
The average salary of a machine learning engineer in the United States is between $112,185 and $216,800 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights. Salaries can be significantly higher for senior machine learning engineers or directors of machine learning engineering.
A machine learning engineer’s pay is often higher when taking into account the role’s total compensation. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a machine learning engineer in the United States can be as high as $356,406 in 2023.
1. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $356,406
- Median total compensation: $335,000
- Average annual salary: $181,668
- Median annual salary: $182,000
2. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $312,521
- Median total compensation: $201,250
- Average annual salary: $216,800
- Median annual salary: $175,000
3. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $283,249
- Median total compensation: $263,000
- Average annual salary: $171,768
- Median annual salary: $168,000
4. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $271,911
- Median total compensation: $261,300
- Average annual salary: $178,989
- Median annual salary: $170,000
5. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $270,323
- Median total compensation: $247,500
- Average annual salary: $168,566
- Median annual salary: $160,000
6. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $265,975
- Median total compensation: $242,000
- Average annual salary: $178,640
- Median annual salary: $175,000
7. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $265,476
- Median total compensation: $255,000
- Average annual salary: $170,159
- Median annual salary: $165,000
8. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $258,111
- Median total compensation: $232,797
- Average annual salary: $166,749
- Median annual salary: $165,000
9. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $254,492
- Median total compensation: $231,000
- Average annual salary: $191,360
- Median annual salary: $170,000
10. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $248,998
- Median total compensation: $240,000
- Average annual salary: $169,359
- Median annual salary: $165,000
11. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $236,413
- Median total compensation: $224,000
- Average annual salary: $171,855
- Median annual salary: $175,000
12. New York
- Average total compensation: $229,726
- Median total compensation: $214,500
- Average annual salary: $170,404
- Median annual salary: $165,000
13. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $223,333
- Median total compensation: $179,000
- Average annual salary: $145,333
- Median annual salary: $144,000
14. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $209,969
- Median total compensation: $212,000
- Average annual salary: $159,080
- Median annual salary: $160,000
15. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $196,516
- Median total compensation: $211,000
- Average annual salary: $141,041
- Median annual salary: $144,000
16. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $193,539
- Median total compensation: $180,029
- Average annual salary: $150,615
- Median annual salary: $153,000
17. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $190,252
- Median total compensation: $185,000
- Average annual salary: $153,110
- Median annual salary: $154,000
18. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $189,820
- Median total compensation: $185,000
- Average annual salary: $161,125
- Median annual salary: $158,000
19. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $185,760
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $136,642
- Median annual salary: $132,000
20. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $180,471
- Median total compensation: $185,000
- Average annual salary: $164,750
- Median annual salary: $165,000
21. Boston
- Average total compensation: $167,274
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $139,907
- Median annual salary: $138,000
22. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $156,201
- Median total compensation: $142,000
- Average annual salary: $133,717
- Median annual salary: $120,120
23. Denver
- Average total compensation: $143,194
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $134,828
- Median annual salary: $128,000
24. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $122,769
- Median total compensation: $120,000
- Average annual salary: $112,185
- Median annual salary: $120,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by machine learning engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior machine learning engineer or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and bonuses.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.