How much does a AI / ML Engineer make in Kansas?

BLS publishes no Kansas figure; the US average AI / ML Engineer pay is $153,930 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Kansas, after federal taxes, FICA, and Kansas state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $108,688 annually ($9,057/month).

What is the take-home pay for a AI / ML Engineer in Kansas?

On a $153,930 salary in Kansas, your take-home pay is approximately $108,688/year or $9,057/month. Federal tax: $25,677. State tax: $7,790. FICA: $11,776.

Is $153,930 a good AI / ML Engineer salary?

$153,930 is the BLS US average AI / ML Engineer pay; BLS publishes no Kansas figure (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in the US earn between $103,570 and $188,700.

How do Kansas taxes affect AI / ML Engineer salaries?

Kansas levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $153,930 is $7,790. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 29.4%.

What are the career growth prospects for AI / ML Engineers?

In the US, the top 10% earn over $230,630 and the bottom 10% under $82,200 (BLS, May 2025). 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 senior MLEs at premium pay plus equity. Related roles include: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Research Scientist, Applied Scientist, Deep Learning Engineer, NLP Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, MLE, AI Engineer, Quant ML Engineer.

How can a AI / ML Engineer in Kansas reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Tech

AI / ML Engineer Salary in Kansas (2026)

Average AI / ML Engineer pay in the US

$153,930/year

≈ $74/hour before tax

BLS publishes no Kansas figure; US average shown.

Source: BLS, May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists

After tax (single filer)

$108,688/year

$9,057/month · effective tax rate 29.39%

Federal $25,677
State $7,790
FICA $11,776
Take-home

Pay by role in Kansas

Staff / Principal ML Engineer (Koch / Spirit / Garmin)$160,000–$285,000+ TC
Senior ML Engineer (Aerospace / Computer Vision)$130,000–$200,000
Senior ML Engineer (Commodity / Algorithmic Trading)$135,000–$215,000
Senior ML Engineer (Auto / Driver-Assist)$125,000–$190,000
Senior ML Engineer (Telecom / 5G)$120,000–$185,000
Senior ML Engineer (Healthcare / KU Cancer)$115,000–$175,000

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$108,688
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$9,057
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$4,180
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$52/hr
Federal Tax	$25,677
State Tax	$7,790
FICA Taxes	$11,776
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	29.39%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all AI / ML Engineers earn the same — not even close

Kansas's AI/ML engineering market is anchored by Spirit AeroSystems Wichita (aerospace manufacturing computer vision + production AI + supply chain ML), Koch Industries Wichita commodity + trading + petrochemical AI (the substantial Koch Supply & Trading algorithmic trading + Flint Hills Resources refining optimization ML), Garmin Olathe consumer electronics AI (auto driver-assist + fitness recommendation + outdoor wearables), T-Mobile Overland Park 5G network AI + customer service automation, Black & Veatch engineering AI, KU Cancer Center precision oncology ML + KU Medical Center clinical AI, McConnell AFB cleared AI/ML + Fort Leavenworth Combined Arms Center AI, plus FAANG remote + Anthropic + OpenAI KS remote opportunities.

Staff / Principal ML Engineer (Koch / Spirit / Garmin)

$160,000–$285,000+ TC

Senior ML IC at KS Fortune 500 + private · aerospace + petrochem + consumer electronics AI

Senior ML Engineer (Aerospace / Computer Vision)

$130,000–$200,000

Spirit + Textron + Boeing Defense · aerospace manufacturing CV + quality inspection ML

Senior ML Engineer (Commodity / Algorithmic Trading)

$135,000–$215,000

Koch Supply & Trading + Flint Hills Resources · commodity trading + refining optimization ML

Senior ML Engineer (Auto / Driver-Assist)

$125,000–$190,000

Garmin Olathe · auto driver-assist + auto infotainment + auto telematics ML

Senior ML Engineer (Telecom / 5G)

$120,000–$185,000

T-Mobile Overland Park · 5G network optimization + customer service chatbot ML

Senior ML Engineer (Healthcare / KU Cancer)

$115,000–$175,000

KU Cancer Center + KU Medical · precision oncology + clinical decision support AI

Senior ML Engineer (Cleared / McConnell / Fort Leavenworth)

$125,000–$195,000

McConnell + Fort Leavenworth · cleared AI/ML + ISR + Combined Arms Center · TS/SCI premium

ML Engineering Manager

$155,000–$265,000+ TC

EM at KS Fortune 500 + cleared contractors · team lead

Mid-Level ML Engineer (3-6 yrs)

$82,000–$125,000

Functional IC at KS major employers · transitioning to senior band

Senior ML Engineer (Remote, KS-based)

$140,000–$245,000+ TC

FAANG KS remote · Anthropic · OpenAI · ICT + MCI + MHK airport hubs · KS cost of living

Worth knowing: Wichita's aerospace manufacturing computer vision + production AI is one of the country's most distinctive concentrated US aerospace AI applications and a feature most national AI/ML surveys understate for KS. Spirit AeroSystems Wichita (the country's largest US aerospace tier-1 supplier manufacturing 737 + 787 + A220 fuselages + the substantial Spirit in-house computer vision for aerospace quality inspection + the substantial Spirit production line AI for fuselage assembly + skin lamination + composite layup + the substantial Spirit supply chain ML for tier-2 supplier coordination + the substantial Spirit predictive maintenance AI for production tooling) supports substantial aerospace manufacturing AI work. Senior Spirit aerospace ML engineers clear $130-200K. Koch Supply & Trading Wichita (the substantial Koch Industries commodity trading subsidiary + the substantial Koch algorithmic trading across energy + petrochemicals + metals + agricultural commodities + the substantial Flint Hills Resources refining + the substantial Koch quantitative analytics + the substantial Koch private-company trading desk operations) supports substantial KS commodity trading AI. Garmin Olathe substantial auto driver-assist + auto infotainment + auto telematics ML supporting Garmin auto OEM partnerships + the substantial Garmin Connect outdoor wearables ML + the substantial Garmin Fenix recommendation algorithms. T-Mobile Overland Park substantial 5G network optimization + customer service chatbot ML supporting the substantial post-2020 Sprint-T-Mobile integration. KU Cancer Center (NCI-designated + the substantial KU Cancer Center precision oncology + tumor genomics + clinical decision support AI + the substantial KU Medical Center radiology AI + the substantial KU Cancer Center-Children's Mercy Kansas City pediatric oncology partnership) supports substantial KS clinical AI. McConnell AFB substantial cleared AI/ML (KC-46 Pegasus + 22nd Air Refueling Wing) + Fort Leavenworth substantial Combined Arms Center AI/ML. KS two-bracket 5.2%/5.58% top by 2026 + KS RTW since 1958 + KS property tax ~1.41% + no state estate tax + lower KS cost of living anchor the KS AI/ML proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for AI / ML Engineers in Kansas and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Kansas 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers