Senior Machine Learning Engineer Average Salary & Hourly Rate in 2025
A senior machine learning engineer’s main responsibility includes ensuring that every part of their AI systems runs as smoothly as possible. As of June 13, 2025, the average salary for a senior machine learning engineer in the United States is $131,190 per year.
The salary of senior machine learning engineers may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand.
In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of senior machine learning engineers’ salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
An Overview of Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salaries
The average salary for a senior machine learning engineer in the United States is $131,190 per year, as of June 13, 2025. The income of senior machine learning engineers usually ranges from $102,533 to $161,356, with the majority earning $116,190 to $146,980 per year.
| Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% Percentile | $102,533 |
| 25% Percentile | $116,190 |
| 50% Percentile (Median) | $131,190 |
| 75% Percentile | $146,980 |
| 90% Percentile | $161,356 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that the income for senior machine learning engineers may vary depending on their industry. For instance, senior machine learning engineers working in software publishing can earn up to $102,070, while those working on computer systems design and other related services can only typically earn $129,890.
- Software publishing: $149,990 per year
- Manufacturing: $134,910 per year
- Management of companies and enterprises: $133,650 per year
- Finance and insurance: $132,880 per year
- Computer systems design and other related services: $129,890 per year
Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Hourly, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Breakdown
The average income for senior machine learning engineers can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average rate for senior machine learning engineers in the United States is $32 per hour or $5,475 per month.
- Average salary per hour: $59
- Average salary per week: $2,348
- Average salary per month: $10,173
- Average salary per year: $131,190
As previously noted, Senior Machine Learning Engineers in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
How Experience Impacts Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salaries
Aside from a senior machine learning engineer’s educational background, certifications, and accreditations, their level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing their salary. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of Senior Machine Learning Engineers in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level senior machine learning Engineer’s pay and an expert-level senior machine learning engineer is $14,674. This also shows a sizeable gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level Senior Machine Learning Engineer and a senior-level Senior Machine Learning Engineer at $122,048 and $125,339, respectively.
- Entry level senior machine learning engineer salary: $122,048
- Intermediate level Senior machine learning engineer salary: $123,145
- Senior level senior machine learning engineer salary: $125,339
- Specialist level senior machine learning engineer salary: $131,404
- Expert level senior machine learning engineer salary: $136,722
State-by-State Breakdown of Average Salaries for Senior Machine Learning Engineer
It can also be noted that each US state has a different average income for senior machine learning engineers due to several factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual income for senior machine learning engineers in the United States at $145,250. The next ones are California and Massachusetts with $144,700 and $142,770 per year, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $120,520 |
| Alaska | $142,010 |
| Arizona | $127,830 |
| Arkansas | $118,520 |
| California | $144,700 |
| Colorado | $133,850 |
| Connecticut | $140,200 |
| Delaware | $132,860 |
| District of Columbia | $145,250 |
| Florida | $124,130 |
| Georgia | $126,530 |
| Hawaii | $137,120 |
| Idaho | $122,470 |
| Illinois | $133,720 |
| Indiana | $125,930 |
| Iowa | $125,550 |
| Kansas | $124,920 |
| Kentucky | $123,450 |
| Louisiana | $124,740 |
| Maine | $127,910 |
| Maryland | $135,270 |
| Massachusetts | $142,770 |
| Michigan | $129,200 |
| Minnesota | $134,250 |
| Mississippi | $117,000 |
| Missouri | $124,640 |
| Montana | $123,860 |
| Nebraska | $123,590 |
| Nevada | $129,840 |
| New Hampshire | $132,620 |
| New Jersey | $142,200 |
| New Mexico | $121,510 |
| New York | $139,470 |
| North Carolina | $124,670 |
| North Dakota | $129,590 |
| Ohio | $127,740 |
| Oklahoma | $121,300 |
| Oregon | $133,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,600 |
| Rhode Island | $136,020 |
| South Carolina | $122,930 |
| South Dakota | $119,230 |
| Tennessee | $122,600 |
| Texas | $127,960 |
| Utah | $125,630 |
| Virginia | $132,100 |
| Vermont | $128,700 |
| Washington | $142,250 |
| Wisconsin | $129,050 |
| West Virginia | $118,140 |
| Wyoming | $124,810 |
Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salaries: Top Earning Cities Revealed
Salary.com data reveals that the top three paying cities for senior machine learning engineers in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
| Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $82,401 |
| San Francisco, CA | $82,101 |
| Oakland, CA | $80,101 |
| New York, NY | $76,701 |
| Queens Village, NY | $76,201 |
| Paramus, NJ | $75,601 |
Explore Senior Machine Learning Engineer Benefits and Perks Beyond Salary
In addition to their pay, senior machine learning engineers receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for a senior machine learning engineer includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans.
- Social Security
- 401K/403B plans
- Disability insurance
- Healthcare
- Pension plan
- Time Off (PTO)
Senior Machine Learning Engineer Job Description: Roles and Responsibilities
Senior Machine Learning Engineers are mainly responsible for helping smooth a company’s machine learning process and ensuring that their entire process runs smoothly. They are also responsible for building models that can help companies with their overall strategic planning process.
The job description for a senior machine learning engineer is as follows:
- Know the users’ needs and design software that can aid them with their pain points.
- Recommend software upgrades depending on the customer’s current situation.
- Design systems and learn how each part synergizes with each other.
When and How to Ask for a Raise as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer?
The job of a senior machine learning engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or any adjacent programs like engineering or mathematics.
However, you can still boost your credibility through upskilling and learning some valuable skills for a higher senior machine learning engineer salary. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow to ask for a raise as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer:
- Acquire the needed degree: Getting a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering and mathematics can help senior machine learning engineers with their careers.
- Boost your portfolio: For senior machine learning engineers, recording every work that they’ve done can solidify their standing compared to their peers. Thus, it’s highly suggested for senior machine learning engineers save their work to create a strong portfolio.
- Ask for a formal meeting: For corporate senior machine learning engineers, we suggest setting up a meeting with your managers and employers beforehand to set a more formal and serious tone for the conversation.
- Make a clear and confident presentation: Discuss what you bring to the company and make sure to highlight milestones you’ve achieved during your tenure with the company. Be clear about your intentions and maintain a positive mindset.
Why Does a Senior Machine Learning Engineer Make So Much?
The average senior machine learning engineer can receive a good baseline salary since they hold a pivotal role in the overall production process. Some companies can even ask senior machine learning engineers for their input regarding their AI programs as well.
This means that being a senior machine learning engineer requires skills on top of stellar communication skills to boot. The U.S. BLS has outlined these specific skills that a Senior Machine Learning Engineer should ideally have:
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Creativity
- Decision-making skills
- Leadership skills
However, Salary.com’s Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution has also pointed out that senior machine learning engineers with certain skills can earn more money. Senior machine learning engineers with Cloud platform knowledge and Big Data Analytics can earn 9.08% and 6.85% more, respectively.
Other high compensation skills include the following:
- Cloud Platform: 9.08%
- Big Data Analytics: 6.85%
- Python: 6.84%
- Computer Vision: 6.83%
- Data Science: 6.31%
- Technical Support: 6.08%
- Software Engineering: 5.04%
- Machine Learning: 1.73%
The Future of Senior Machine Learning Engineer: Job Outlook and Career Trends
Based on reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job title outlook for Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers including the senior machine learning engineers sees a positive uptrend of 17% for the years 2023 to 2033. This is because AI and machine learning are slowly becoming the norm when it comes to most businesses, and most companies need to adjust their systems to work with most systems.
