National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Machine Learning Engineers earn a national median of $158,000/year vs UX Designers at $98,000/year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 38% more nationally. The gap is $60,000 per year — or $5,000 per month.
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Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
VS
UX Designer
$98,000
national median/year
$8,167/mo • $47/hr
Annual salary gap
$60,000
Machine Learning Engineers earn 38% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $680,118.
Best states for UX Designers
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Mississippi+$-40,000
West Virginia+$-42,000
Arkansas+$-44,000
North Dakota+$-44,000
Wyoming+$-44,000
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs UX Designers
California+$76,000
Virginia+$70,000
Washington+$70,000
Colorado+$64,000
Maryland+$64,000
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Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Machine Learning Engineers is $158,000 versus $98,000 for UX Designers — a difference of $60,000 per year or $5,000 per month.
The national median salary gap between Machine Learning Engineers and UX Designers is $60,000 per year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 38% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $680,118.
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 UX Designers the highest median salary at $136,000 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. Computer and Information Research Scientists and Web and Digital Interface Designers 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 UX Designers earn approximately $47 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.
