National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Machine Learning Engineers earn a national median of $158,000/year vs Welders at $47,990/year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 70% more nationally. The gap is $110,010 per year — or $9,168 per month.
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Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
VS
Welder
$47,990
national median/year
$3,999/mo • $23/hr
Annual salary gap
$110,010
Machine Learning Engineers earn 70% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,246,996.
Best states for Welders
vs Machine Learning Engineers
North Dakota+$-57,010
Wyoming+$-59,010
West Virginia+$-63,010
Alaska+$-65,010
Mississippi+$-65,010
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs Welders
California+$155,010
Washington+$137,010
Virginia+$129,010
New York+$127,010
Massachusetts+$125,010
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Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Machine Learning Engineers is $158,000 versus $47,990 for Welders — a difference of $110,010 per year or $9,168 per month.
The national median salary gap between Machine Learning Engineers and Welders is $110,010 per year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 70% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,246,996.
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, Alaska pays Welders the highest median salary at $66,990 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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 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 Welders earn approximately $23 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.
