Cybersecurity Analyst vs Machine Learning Engineer Salary
National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Cybersecurity Analysts earn a national median of $120,360/year vs Machine Learning Engineers at $158,000/year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 31% more nationally. The gap is $37,640 per year — or $3,137 per month.
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Cybersecurity Analyst
$120,360
national median/year
$10,030/mo • $58/hr
VS
Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
Annual salary gap
$37,640
Machine Learning Engineers earn 31% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $426,660.
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs Cybersecurity Analysts
California+$63,640
Washington+$55,640
Colorado+$43,640
New York+$43,640
Massachusetts+$41,640
Best states for Cybersecurity Analysts
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Mississippi+$-21,640
Alaska+$-23,640
Arkansas+$-23,640
West Virginia+$-23,640
Alabama+$-25,640
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Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Cybersecurity Analysts is $120,360 versus $158,000 for Machine Learning Engineers — a difference of $37,640 per year or $3,137 per month.
The national median salary gap between Cybersecurity Analysts and Machine Learning Engineers is $37,640 per year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 31% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $426,660.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Cybersecurity Analysts the highest median salary at $148,360 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Machine Learning Engineers the highest median salary at $212,000 per year.
Salary is one factor — Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Information Security Analysts and Computer and Information Research Scientists both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Cybersecurity Analysts earn approximately $58 per hour nationally and Machine Learning Engineers earn approximately $76 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
