National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Machine Learning Engineers earn a national median of $158,000/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 63% more nationally. The gap is $98,800 per year — or $8,233 per month.
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Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$98,800
Machine Learning Engineers earn 63% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,119,927.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Mississippi+$-65,800
West Virginia+$-67,800
North Dakota+$-69,800
Wyoming+$-69,800
Arkansas+$-71,800
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs Paralegals
California+$135,800
Washington+$127,800
Virginia+$115,800
Massachusetts+$111,800
New York+$111,800
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Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Machine Learning Engineers is $158,000 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $98,800 per year or $8,233 per month.
The national median salary gap between Machine Learning Engineers and Paralegals is $98,800 per year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 63% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,119,927.
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 Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 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. Computer and Information Research Scientists and Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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 Paralegals earn approximately $28 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.
