How much does a AI / ML Engineer make in North Dakota?

The average AI / ML Engineer salary in North Dakota is around $220,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and North Dakota state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $159,409 annually ($13,284/month).

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

On a $220,000 salary in North Dakota, your take-home pay is approximately $159,409/year or $13,284/month. Federal tax: $41,704. State tax: $4,078. FICA: $0.00.

Is $220,000 a good AI / ML Engineer salary?

$220,000 is a strong salary for a AI / ML Engineer — above the national median. In North Dakota, demand for this role is active.

How do North Dakota taxes affect AI / ML Engineer salaries?

North Dakota levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $220,000 is $4,078. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 27.5%.

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

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.. 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota (2026)

The average AI / ML Engineer in North Dakota earns around $220,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $159,409/year ($13,284/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$159,409
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$13,284
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$6,131
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$77/hr
Federal Tax	$41,704
State Tax	$4,078
FICA Taxes	$14,809
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	27.54%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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AI / ML Engineer Salary Ranges in North Dakota

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$165,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$220,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$380,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

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

North Dakota's AI/ML engineering market is anchored by Microsoft Fargo (the substantial Microsoft Copilot + Microsoft Fabric AI + Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central AI + post-2024 Microsoft Power Platform AI), Doosan-Bobcat Fargo (the substantial Bobcat autonomous skid steer + compact excavator AI + post-2024 Bobcat connected machines AI + the substantial Bobcat Doosan Bobcat North America autonomy roadmap), Sanford Health Bismarck + Fargo (clinical AI + post-2024 generative AI clinical decision support + Sanford multi-state SD-ND-MN-IA), University of North Dakota Aerospace Grand Forks (UND J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences + UND ATM + the substantial UND Global Hawk UAS AI + the substantial UND atmospheric research AI), the substantial Bakken oilfield AI (Continental Resources + ConocoPhillips + Hess + Marathon + the substantial Bakken reservoir characterization + production optimization AI), Minot AFB cleared AI + post-2024 LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM AI + Grand Forks 319th RW Global Hawk UAS AI, plus NDSU + the substantial ND ag AI.

Staff / Principal AI Engineer (Microsoft Fargo)

$165,000–$298,000+ TC

Senior AI IC at Microsoft Fargo · Copilot + Fabric AI + Dynamics 365 + Power Platform

Senior AI Engineer (Microsoft Fargo Copilot)

$128,000–$195,000+ TC

Microsoft Fargo · Copilot + Microsoft Fabric AI + Dynamics Business Central AI

Senior AI Engineer (Doosan-Bobcat Autonomy)

$115,000–$178,000+ TC

Doosan-Bobcat Fargo · autonomous skid steer + compact excavator AI + connected machines

Senior AI Engineer (Sanford Clinical AI)

$108,000–$165,000+ bonus

Sanford Bismarck + Fargo · clinical AI + post-2024 generative clinical decision support

Senior AI Engineer (Bakken Reservoir AI)

$118,000–$182,000+ bonus

Continental + ConocoPhillips + Hess Bakken · reservoir + production AI optimization

Senior AI Engineer (Cleared / UND UAS / Sentinel)

$118,000–$185,000+ TC

UND Aerospace UAS AI + Grand Forks Global Hawk + Minot Sentinel · TS/SCI premium

Senior AI Engineer (NDSU Ag AI)

$98,000–$152,000+ bonus

NDSU Ag Experiment Station + Pioneer ND + the substantial ND #1 US wheat AI

AI/ML Manager

$148,000–$245,000+ TC

AI lead at Microsoft + Doosan-Bobcat + Sanford + UND · team lead

Mid-Level AI Engineer (3-6 yrs)

$88,000–$132,000

Functional AI IC at ND employers · transitioning to senior band

Junior AI Engineer (0-3 yrs)

$68,000–$92,000

UND + NDSU + Dickinson State AI pipeline · entry band

Worth knowing: Microsoft Fargo Copilot + Microsoft Fabric AI + the substantial Microsoft Fargo serving as Microsoft second-largest US campus outside Redmond is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state Microsoft regional AI anchor and a feature most national AI/ML surveys understate for ND. Microsoft Fargo AI (the substantial Microsoft Copilot development at Fargo + the substantial Microsoft Fabric AI + Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central AI + the substantial Microsoft Power Platform AI + post-2024 Microsoft 365 Copilot enterprise rollout + the substantial Microsoft Fargo generative AI + the substantial Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service Fargo development + the substantial Microsoft Fargo post-2020 substantial AI hiring surge) supports substantial ND Microsoft-anchored AI work. Senior Microsoft Fargo AI engineers clear $128-298K+ TC. Doosan-Bobcat Fargo autonomy AI (the substantial Bobcat autonomous skid steer + compact excavator + the substantial post-2024 Bobcat connected machines + telematics AI + the substantial Doosan-HD Bobcat post-2024 split autonomy roadmap) + Sanford Health clinical AI + Bakken oilfield AI + UND UAS AI + Grand Forks Global Hawk AI + Minot AFB + post-2024 Sentinel ICBM cleared AI + NDSU ag AI. ND flat 1.95%/2.5% top + ND RTW since 1948 + ND property tax ~0.98% anchor the ND AI proposition.

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AI / ML Engineer Salary in Other States

AI / ML Engineer Salary in California →AI / ML Engineer Salary in Texas →AI / ML Engineer Salary in New York →AI / ML Engineer Salary in Florida →AI / ML Engineer Salary in Washington →$220,000 salary in North Dakota →

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Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for North Dakota in 2026.

North Dakota Paycheck Calculator →

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