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

BLS publishes no North Dakota figure; the US average AI / ML Engineer pay is $153,930 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in North Dakota, after federal taxes, FICA, and North Dakota state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $114,756 annually ($9,563/month).

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

On a $153,930 salary in North Dakota, your take-home pay is approximately $114,756/year or $9,563/month. Federal tax: $25,677. State tax: $1,721. 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 North Dakota figure (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in the US earn between $103,570 and $188,700.

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 $153,930 is $1,721. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 25.4%.

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 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)

Average AI / ML Engineer pay in the US

$153,930/year

≈ $74/hour before tax

BLS publishes no North Dakota figure; US average shown.

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

After tax (single filer)

$114,756/year

$9,563/month · effective tax rate 25.45%

Federal $25,677
State $1,721
FICA $11,776
Take-home

Pay by role in North Dakota

Staff / Principal AI Engineer (Microsoft Fargo)$165,000–$298,000+ TC
Senior AI Engineer (Microsoft Fargo Copilot)$128,000–$195,000+ TC
Senior AI Engineer (Doosan-Bobcat Autonomy)$115,000–$178,000+ TC
Senior AI Engineer (Sanford Clinical AI)$108,000–$165,000+ bonus
Senior AI Engineer (Bakken Reservoir AI)$118,000–$182,000+ bonus
Senior AI Engineer (Cleared / UND UAS / Sentinel)$118,000–$185,000+ TC

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$114,756
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$9,563
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$4,414
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$55/hr
Federal Tax	$25,677
State Tax	$1,721
FICA Taxes	$11,776
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	25.45%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for AI / ML Engineers in North Dakota and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and North Dakota 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