Are you aiming for machine learning positions? Machine Learning is a rapidly expanding subject with a high need for professionals in the United States. According to researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute, from 2023 to 2027, the demand for ML specialists will increase by 40%. As far as machine learning professions are concerned, the machine learning salary is an ongoing quest of many aspirants and ML professionals. Machine Learning Engineer Salaries are affected by several factors like skill sets, experience, location, and so on. 

In this article, we will understand the machine learning salary in the US and the various factors that influence it. 

Factors Influencing Machine Learning Engineer Salary

Recruiters are looking for applicants with current and in-demand skills such as deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), Python, and computer vision to work as machine learning engineers in the United States.

1. Skills

Your ML engineer salary is mainly dependent on your machine learning engineer skills. The following are some of the key skills for an ML engineer:

• Scala
• Data modeling
• Image processing 
• Apache Spark
• Artificial intelligence
• PyTorch 
• Software development
• Natural language processing
• Big data analytics 

Knowing which skills offer better pay can help you strategize your career progress and boost your growth substantially. 

2. Experience

Experience is another important factor in deciding the ML engineer salary. Entry-level machine learning engineers typically earn less than the norm. However, a mid-career professional in this sector earns more. 

For example, machine learning engineers with less than a year of expertise earn less than those with one to four years of professional experience. So, acquiring more experience in machine learning will help you earn a greater salary. 

3. City

This is another key factor that influences the ML engineer salary in the US. Each city has its own culture, demographics, and cost of life. As a result, the city in which people work might have a significant impact on how much they earn as a machine learning engineer. Several cities in the United States pay much more than the national average. Working there may help one find higher-paying jobs as an ML engineer at reputable companies. 

The cities with the highest average salaries for the role of an ML engineer include the following:

• San Francisco
• San Jose
• Palo Alto 
• Seattle 

Similarly, cities such as Chicago and Boston offer below-average earnings for this position. 

4. Organization

The machine learning engineer salary in the US varies from company to company. It is determined by a variety of criteria, including the size of the organization, the work environment, the benefits provided, and so on.

Adobe (average compensation $197,997) and Meta (average pay $183,265) offer the best salaries for machine learning roles. Similarly, due to the nature of the job, some organizations give lower pay for this position. Lockheed Martin Corp (an average salary of $125,727) and MITRE (an average salary of $109,731) are two such organizations. 

5. Industry

The machine learning engineer salary in the US may also be affected by the industry in which they work. The value machine learning adds to the operations of tech organizations, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and e-commerce companies often translates into greater pay.

6. Remote Work

This is also a key factor in determining the machine learning engineer salary in the US. With the growing acceptability of remote work, machine learning engineers may discover opportunities to work for organizations in high-cost-of-living areas while living in lower-cost ones, which could affect their effective income.

To decide on fair and competitive compensation in your individual circumstances, you must examine these elements and perform extensive research. Remember that pay is only one component of total pay; perks, stock options, and work-life balance should all be addressed when evaluating job offers.

Now that you have understood the factors that influence the ML engineer salary, how much you will earn also depends on how well you have understood the machine learning interview questions and answers.

Average Machine Learning Engineer Salary

According to Levels.fyi, the average base salary for a Machine Learning Engineer in the United States is $249,000 annually.

Source: Levels.fyi

Machine Learning Engineer Salary By Experience

The salary of a machine learning engineer is heavily influenced by experience. Due to expertise, skill development, and contributions to more complicated Machine learning projects, entry-level engineers earn less than those with years of experience.

1. Entry-level Machine Learning Engineer – (0-4 years of experience)

According to Glassdoor, the average total income for a Junior machine learning engineer in the USA is between $100,000 to $180,000 per year. The base pay ranges between $74,000 - $132,000 with an additional pay between $26,000 to $49,000 per year. 

3. Mid-level Machine Learning Engineer – (5-9 years of experience) 

According to Glassdoor, the average total income for a mid-level machine learning engineer in the USA is between $144,000 to $253,000 per year. The base pay ranges between $99,000 - $169,000 with an additional pay between $45,000 to $84,000 per year.

3. Senior Machine Learning Engineer – (10+ years of experience)

According to Glassdoor, the average total income for a senior machine learning engineer in the USA is between $174,000 to $306,000 per year. The base pay ranges between $115,000 - $195,000 with an additional pay between $59,000 to $111,000 per year.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary By Location

Machine Learning Engineers' salaries are also affected by their location. Machine Learning Engineers in high-cost-of-living places should expect to earn more than those in small towns or rural areas.

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Here is a list of the highest-paying cities for Machine Learning Engineers around the United States as of October 2023.

Source: Indeed.com

Machine Learning Engineer Salary at Top Tech Companies in the USA

Machine learning engineers in FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) and top tech companies often have a wide range of duties that revolve around designing and deploying machine learning models to address challenging issues.

The table below shows a comparison of the average annual machine learning engineer salary at FAANG and top tech companies.

Source: Glassdoor.com

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FAQs About Machine Learning Salary

Q1. How much do machine learning engineers make?

According to Levels.fyi, the Machine Learning Scientist's salary annually is estimated to be $249,000 per year in the United States.

Q2. What educational background is typically required for a Machine Learning Engineer role?

Most machine learning engineer roles require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related field, while many employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree or specialized training in machine learning.

Q3. Are machine learning and data science the same?

Data science and machine learning are related but distinct disciplines. Data science adds structure to huge amounts of data, but machine learning learns from the data itself. 

Q4. Can I get a job as a Machine Learning Engineer outside the USA?

India is one of the top countries for ML Engineers due to the Indian government's adequate financial allocation. Other popular countries in ML recruitment include Japan, Germany, and South Korea.

Q5. Is machine learning in demand in the USA?

Machine Learning is a rapidly expanding subject with a high need for professionals in the United States. Machine Learning graduates can work as Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, Big Data Engineers, and Business Intelligence Analysts.

Related reads:

• Exploring the Best Machine Learning Jobs at Google
• Supervised vs Unsupervised Learning: Key Differences
• Artificial Intelligence vs Machine Learning: 9 Key Differences
• Machine Learning vs. Data Science — Which Has a Better Future?
• Top 30 Machine Learning MCQs with Answers