AI / ML Engineer Salary in Mississippi (2026)
Average AI / ML Engineer pay in Mississippi
$112,880/year
≈ $54/hour before tax
Middle 50% earn $79,500–$137,240
US average: $153,930
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists
After tax (single filer)
$84,458/year
$7,038/month · effective tax rate 25.18%
- Federal $16,004
- State $3,783
- FICA $8,635
- Take-home
Pay by role in Mississippi
- Staff / Principal ML Engineer (UMMC / Ingalls / MSU)$160,000–$275,000+ TC
- Senior ML Engineer (Clinical AI / UMMC)$125,000–$190,000
- Senior ML Engineer (Cleared Naval / Ingalls)$125,000–$190,000
- Senior ML Engineer (Academic Research)$105,000–$162,000
- Senior ML Engineer (Federal / NASA Stennis)$115,000–$175,000
- Senior ML Engineer (Telecom / C Spire)$108,000–$162,000
See the full tax breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $84,458 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $7,038 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $3,248 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $41/hr |
Federal Tax | $16,004 |
State Tax | $3,783 |
FICA Taxes | $8,635 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 25.18% |
Not all AI / ML Engineers earn the same — not even close
Mississippi's AI/ML engineering market is anchored by UMMC Jackson clinical AI (clinical decision support + sepsis prediction + radiology AI + population health risk + the only MS academic medical center), Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula cleared AI (naval systems AI + shipbuilding production AI + supply chain ML supporting the largest US Navy shipbuilder), MSU Bagley College of Engineering High Performance Computing Center (MSU HPC2 + Magnus + MSU Geosystems Research Institute) supporting substantial NSF + DoD + USDA AI research, C Spire Ridgeland wireless network AI, Stennis Space Center NASA rocket engine testing AI + Keesler AFB cleared cyber AI + NCBC Gulfport Seabees AI, plus MS State Bagley CS + Ole Miss DS + USM Cybersecurity Center MS pipelines.
Staff / Principal ML Engineer (UMMC / Ingalls / MSU)
$160,000–$275,000+ TC
Senior ML IC at MS major employers · clinical + cleared + academic research AI leadership
Senior ML Engineer (Clinical AI / UMMC)
$125,000–$190,000
UMMC + Memorial Hospital Gulfport · clinical decision support + sepsis + radiology AI + risk stratification
Senior ML Engineer (Cleared Naval / Ingalls)
$125,000–$190,000
Ingalls Shipbuilding · cleared naval systems AI · DDG + LPD + LHA combat systems · TS/SCI premium
Senior ML Engineer (Academic Research)
$105,000–$162,000
MSU HPC2 + GRI · NSF + DoD + USDA-funded AI research · NASA cooperative + agriculture remote sensing
Senior ML Engineer (Federal / NASA Stennis)
$115,000–$175,000
Stennis Space Center · Keesler AFB cyber · cleared federal civilian + contractor AI/ML
Senior ML Engineer (Telecom / C Spire)
$108,000–$162,000
C Spire Ridgeland · wireless network + customer + churn ML · MS-HQ private telecom
ML Engineering Manager
$155,000–$255,000+ TC
EM at UMMC + Ingalls + C Spire + MSU + cleared contractors · team lead
Mid-Level ML Engineer (3-6 yrs)
$85,000–$128,000
Functional IC at MS employers + academic research · transitioning to senior band
Junior ML Engineer (0-3 yrs)
$65,000–$92,000
MSU + Ole Miss + USM + Jackson State + UMMC pipeline · entry band
Senior ML Engineer (Remote, MS-based)
$145,000–$245,000+ TC
FAANG MS remote · Anthropic · OpenAI MS remote · MS cost of living + JAN airport
Worth knowing: MSU Bagley College of Engineering HPC2 (MSU Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems + MSU High Performance Computing Collaboratory) is one of the country's most distinctive concentrated US academic + federal HPC + AI research clusters HQ'd in the Deep South and a feature most national AI/ML surveys understate for MS. MSU HPC2 (founded 1989 as one of the earliest US academic HPC centers + ~$50M+ annual research funding + Magnus + Orion supercomputers + the MSU Geosystems Research Institute GRI supporting NASA + NOAA + USACE remote sensing research + the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems CAVS supporting automotive + heavy truck + autonomous vehicle research with substantial Nissan + Toyota + DoD industry partnerships) operates substantial in-house HPC + AI/ML research. Senior MSU academic ML researchers clear $105-162K. UMMC Jackson clinical AI (the only MS academic medical center + the only MS Children's of Mississippi pediatric + UMC Trauma Center I + UMMC Center for Telehealth) operates substantial in-house clinical AI + ML supporting sepsis early warning + radiology AI + population health risk + telehealth + chronic disease management. Senior UMMC clinical ML engineers clear $125-190K. Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula operates substantial cleared shipbuilding production AI + naval systems AI supporting the largest US Navy shipbuilder. Stennis Space Center supports substantial cleared federal civilian + contractor AI work at the country's largest US rocket engine testing + SLS RS-25 engine ground test program. MS flat 4.0% by 2026 + MS personal exemption $6,000 single + no state estate tax + MS RTW since 1954 + MS retirement income FULL EXEMPTION at any age + lower MS cost of living anchor the MS AI/ML engineer proposition.
Sources & Methodology
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- →IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — 2026 HSA contribution limits
- →Social Security Administration — 2026 Social Security wage base
- →MS DOR Publication 89-700, rev. 13 January 2026 - the Exemptions and Deductions Schedule ($6,000/$9,500/$12,000 exemption beside a $2,300/$3,400/$4,600 standard deduction) and the Tax Year 2026 rate table (first $10,000 at 0%, balance at 4.0%)
- →BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — AI / ML Engineer wage data for Mississippi
Salary figures are market estimates for AI / ML Engineers in Mississippi and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Mississippi 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
- Mississippi paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
- RSU calculator → · flat 22% withholding often falls short
- ISO / AMT calculator → · option exercises and AMT
- Capital-gains calculator → · long-term rates, NIIT, state tax
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More on Mississippi
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Mississippi in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Mississippi in 2026.
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