National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Machine Learning Engineers earn a national median of $158,000/year vs IT Managers at $169,510/year. IT Managers earn 7% more nationally. The gap is $11,510 per year — or $959 per month.
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Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
VS
IT Manager
$169,510
national median/year
$14,126/mo • $81/hr
Annual salary gap
$11,510
IT Managers earn 7% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $130,469.
Best states for IT Managers
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Connecticut+$18,510
Hawaii+$18,510
Maryland+$18,510
New Jersey+$18,510
Tennessee+$18,510
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs IT Managers
California+$-510
Washington+$-4,510
Arkansas+$-10,510
Colorado+$-10,510
Georgia+$-10,510
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IT Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Machine Learning Engineers is $158,000 versus $169,510 for IT Managers — a difference of $11,510 per year or $959 per month.
The national median salary gap between Machine Learning Engineers and IT Managers is $11,510 per year. IT Managers earn 7% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $130,469.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Machine Learning Engineers the highest median salary at $212,000 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays IT Managers the highest median salary at $212,510 per year.
Salary is one factor — IT Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Computer and Information Research Scientists and Computer and Information Systems Managers 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, Machine Learning Engineers earn approximately $76 per hour nationally and IT Managers earn approximately $81 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.
