Software Engineer vs Machine Learning Engineer Salary
National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Software Engineers earn a national median of $132,270/year vs Machine Learning Engineers at $158,000/year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 19% more nationally. The gap is $25,730 per year — or $2,144 per month.
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Software Engineer
$132,270
national median/year
$11,023/mo • $64/hr
VS
Machine Learning Engineer
$158,000
national median/year
$13,167/mo • $76/hr
Annual salary gap
$25,730
Machine Learning Engineers earn 19% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $291,657.
Best states for Machine Learning Engineers
vs Software Engineers
Virginia+$51,680
California+$43,680
Maryland+$43,680
Washington+$39,680
Minnesota+$37,680
Best states for Software Engineers
vs Machine Learning Engineers
Alaska+$-19,680
Idaho+$-21,680
Alabama+$-23,680
Arkansas+$-23,680
Mississippi+$-23,680
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Machine Learning Engineers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Software Engineers is $132,270 versus $158,000 for Machine Learning Engineers — a difference of $25,730 per year or $2,144 per month.
The national median salary gap between Software Engineers and Machine Learning Engineers is $25,730 per year. Machine Learning Engineers earn 19% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $291,657.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Software Engineers the highest median salary at $168,320 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. Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance 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, Software Engineers earn approximately $64 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.
