AI / ML Engineer Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
AI/ML engineers design, train, and deploy machine learning systems — large language models, recommender systems, computer vision, reinforcement learning. The role separated from generic software engineering during the 2022-2025 frontier-model cycle. Compensation structure is base + bonus + RSU (and pre-IPO PPU at OpenAI/Anthropic/Scale), with FAANG mid-senior MLE total comp $300K-$700K and frontier-lab researcher comp reaching $1M+ at staff level. Top niches: foundation-model research (OpenAI / Anthropic / Google DeepMind / Meta FAIR), applied ML at FAANG, autonomous driving (Tesla AI / Waymo / Cruise), quant ML (Citadel / Two Sigma / Jane Street / D.E. Shaw).
US Average
$153,930
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$144,722
Washington
Take-Home TX
$100,394
on $130,400 · No state tax
Job Growth
BLS projects 23%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221)
Key Facts — AI / ML Engineer 2026
BLS median: ~$165K base for ML engineers (2024 estimate, role classification still in flux); FAANG MLE TC $325K-$700K with RSU; frontier lab staff $900K-$2M
RSU vesting at FAANG typically 4-year graded (25/25/25/25 annual) — Microsoft 2024+ moved to 1/3/3/3-year cliff for newer hires
Mega Backdoor Roth (MBR) at FAANG = $46.5K/year of after-tax 401(k) → in-plan Roth conversion (uniquely valuable at AI/ML salary tier)
Pre-IPO PPU (Profit Participation Units) at OpenAI / Anthropic / Scale = secondary-market liquid equity, taxed as ordinary income on tender
Section 1202 QSBS (Qualified Small Business Stock) = $10M federal tax-free gain on 5-year hold of pre-IPO C-corp stock at <$50M aggregate gross assets
83(b) election within 30 days of restricted stock grant — locks tax basis at grant value, critical for early-stage equity
AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) hits ISO exercises at private startups — exercise-and-hold creates AMT phantom income before liquidity
Quant ML carry interest 3-year holding rule (TCJA) — short-term gains taxed as ordinary, long-term LTCG only after 3-year hold
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for AI / ML Engineers across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$82,200
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$66,658
25th percentile
$103,570
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$81,691
Median
$140,300
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$107,161
75th percentile
$188,700
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$140,503
Top 10%
$230,630
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$170,466
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Lab Researcher (OpenAI / Anthropic / DeepMind) | $363,000 | +120% |
| Quant ML (Citadel / Two Sigma / Jane Street) | $412,500 | +150% |
| Autonomous Driving ML (Tesla AI / Waymo) | $247,500 | +50% |
| FAANG Applied ML (Google / Meta / Apple / Amazon AGI / Microsoft) | $231,000 | +40% |
| AI Infrastructure / GPU Systems (NVIDIA / AMD / Cerebras) | $264,000 | +60% |
| NLP / Computer Vision Specialist | $214,500 | +30% |
Best States for AI / ML Engineers — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
AI / ML Engineer Salary by State — All 50 States
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. BLS publishes no figure for 16 states: they show the US average, marked "US figure", at the end of the table. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $194,360 | $144,722 | |
| $215,420 | $141,001 | |
| $203,370 | $139,439 | |
| $173,530 | $122,702 | |
| $170,470 | $119,479 | |
| $164,260 | $114,907 | |
| $151,040 | $114,502 | |
| $168,580 | $112,866 | |
| $152,580 | $112,142 | |
| $142,800 | $108,870 | |
11Colorado | $146,790 | $105,847 |
| $148,250 | $104,719 | |
13Maryland | $148,630 | $102,634 |
14Illinois | $142,950 | $102,041 |
| $130,400 | $100,394 | |
| $136,080 | $99,356 | |
| $128,620 | $99,178 | |
18Missouri | $134,230 | $97,641 |
| $137,690 | $97,402 | |
| $131,430 | $97,064 | |
| $133,580 | $95,403 | |
22Ohio | $126,370 | $94,600 |
| $127,470 | $92,839 | |
24Alabama | $124,970 | $91,611 |
25Hawaii | $129,070 | $91,090 |
| $116,810 | $91,006 | |
| $122,950 | $89,863 | |
| $117,930 | $88,631 | |
| $112,880 | $84,458 | |
30Utah | $109,430 | $80,944 |
31Michigan | $106,130 | $79,233 |
32Georgia | $105,860 | $78,769 |
33Oklahoma | $99,480 | $74,883 |
34Indiana | $92,800 | $71,407 |
| $153,930US figure | $116,477 | |
| $153,930US figure | $116,477 | |
| $153,930US figure | $116,477 | |
| $153,930US figure | $114,756 | |
39Iowa | $153,930US figure | $111,280 |
40Kentucky | $153,930US figure | $111,207 |
41Arkansas | $153,930US figure | $110,982 |
42Nebraska | $153,930US figure | $110,353 |
| $153,930US figure | $110,316 | |
44Idaho | $153,930US figure | $109,427 |
45Montana | $153,930US figure | $109,141 |
| $153,930US figure | $108,960 | |
47Kansas | $153,930US figure | $108,688 |
48Vermont | $153,930US figure | $108,663 |
49Delaware | $153,930US figure | $107,659 |
50Maine | $153,930US figure | $106,719 |
Job Market Outlook
BLS projects 23% growth through 2032 for computer/info-research scientists (which AI/ML engineers fall under) — among the fastest-growing tech roles. Frontier-lab demand uniquely strong — OpenAI / Anthropic / xAI / Mistral / DeepMind hiring at premium tiers $300K-$700K base alone for senior MLE, plus equity 1.5x-3x base. The role separated from generic software engineering during the 2022-2025 frontier-model cycle; BLS may eventually issue a separate SOC code (currently bundled under 15-1221 Computer and Information Research Scientists or 15-1252 Software Developers depending on classification).
Fastest-growing states:
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a AI / ML Engineer
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AI / ML Engineer Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$91,611
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$116,477
net
Arizona
$112,142
net
Arkansas
$110,982
net
California
$112,866
net
Colorado
$105,847
net
Connecticut
$95,403
net
Delaware
$107,659
net
FloridaNo state tax
$99,178
net
Georgia
$78,769
net
Hawaii
$91,090
net
Idaho
$109,427
net
Illinois
$102,041
net
Indiana
$71,407
net
Iowa
$111,280
net
Kansas
$108,688
net
Kentucky
$111,207
net
Louisiana
$88,631
net
Maine
$106,719
net
Maryland
$102,634
net
Massachusetts
$119,479
net
Michigan
$79,233
net
Minnesota
$97,402
net
Mississippi
$84,458
net
Missouri
$97,641
net
Montana
$109,141
net
Nebraska
$110,353
net
NevadaNo state tax
$108,870
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$114,502
net
New Jersey
$104,719
net
New Mexico
$122,702
net
New York
$139,439
net
North Carolina
$99,356
net
North Dakota
$114,756
net
Ohio
$94,600
net
Oklahoma
$74,883
net
Oregon
$141,001
net
Pennsylvania
$97,064
net
Rhode Island
$92,839
net
South Carolina
$89,863
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$116,477
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$91,006
net
TexasNo state tax
$100,394
net
Utah
$80,944
net
Vermont
$108,663
net
Virginia
$114,907
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$144,722
net
West Virginia
$110,316
net
Wisconsin
$108,960
net
WyomingNo state tax
$116,477
net