Salaries/ML Research Engineer

ML Research Engineer Salary — 2026 Data

Bridge research and production: train novel models and ship them into real products. Compare compensation across 50 locations, from entry-level to senior positions.

Location	Entry-Level	Mid-Level	Senior	COL Index
San Francisco	$176K – $243K	$230K – $324K	$297K – $473K	180
New York	$166K – $230K	$218K – $307K	$282K – $448K	170
San Jose	$174K – $241K	$228K – $322K	$295K – $469K	178
Seattle	$159K – $220K	$207K – $293K	$268K – $427K	155
Los Angeles	$150K – $207K	$195K – $276K	$253K – $402K	150
Boston	$153K – $212K	$201K – $283K	$260K – $413K	145
Washington D.C.	$156K – $216K	$204K – $288K	$264K – $420K	150
San Diego	$146K – $202K	$190K – $269K	$246K – $392K	140
Chicago	$137K – $189K	$179K – $252K	$231K – $368K	115
Austin	$140K – $194K	$184K – $259K	$238K – $378K	110
Denver	$137K – $189K	$179K – $252K	$231K – $368K	120
Atlanta	$130K – $180K	$170K – $240K	$220K – $350K	105
Dallas	$130K – $180K	$170K – $240K	$220K – $350K	105
Houston	$129K – $178K	$168K – $238K	$218K – $347K	102
Miami	$137K – $189K	$179K – $252K	$231K – $368K	125
Phoenix	$124K – $171K	$162K – $228K	$209K – $333K	100
Philadelphia	$133K – $184K	$173K – $245K	$224K – $357K	110
Minneapolis	$133K – $184K	$173K – $245K	$224K – $357K	108
Portland	$140K – $194K	$184K – $259K	$238K – $378K	130
San Antonio	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	95
Detroit	$122K – $169K	$160K – $226K	$207K – $329K	95
Raleigh	$127K – $176K	$167K – $235K	$216K – $343K	102
Charlotte	$127K – $176K	$167K – $235K	$216K – $343K	102
Nashville	$129K – $178K	$168K – $238K	$218K – $347K	105
Orlando	$124K – $171K	$162K – $228K	$209K – $333K	102
Tampa	$125K – $173K	$163K – $230K	$211K – $336K	100
Jacksonville	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	98
Salt Lake City	$127K – $176K	$167K – $235K	$216K – $343K	108
Pittsburgh	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	95
Indianapolis	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	95
Columbus	$121K – $167K	$158K – $223K	$205K – $326K	95
Cleveland	$117K – $162K	$153K – $216K	$198K – $315K	92
Cincinnati	$118K – $164K	$155K – $218K	$200K – $319K	94
Kansas City	$122K – $169K	$160K – $226K	$207K – $329K	95
St. Louis	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	92
Milwaukee	$121K – $167K	$158K – $223K	$205K – $326K	94
Baltimore	$130K – $180K	$170K – $240K	$220K – $350K	108
Richmond	$124K – $171K	$162K – $228K	$209K – $333K	100
Virginia Beach	$122K – $169K	$160K – $226K	$207K – $329K	98
Sacramento	$137K – $189K	$179K – $252K	$231K – $368K	125
Las Vegas	$127K – $176K	$167K – $235K	$216K – $343K	108
Oklahoma City	$114K – $158K	$150K – $211K	$194K – $308K	88
Memphis	$114K – $158K	$150K – $211K	$194K – $308K	88
Louisville	$117K – $162K	$153K – $216K	$198K – $315K	90
New Orleans	$120K – $166K	$156K – $221K	$202K – $322K	95
Albuquerque	$117K – $162K	$153K – $216K	$198K – $315K	95
Tucson	$117K – $162K	$153K – $216K	$198K – $315K	95
Buffalo	$117K – $162K	$153K – $216K	$198K – $315K	90
Honolulu	$137K – $189K	$179K – $252K	$231K – $368K	175
Remote (US)	$124K – $171K	$162K – $228K	$209K – $333K	100

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