As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the United States is $175,450. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $150,786 to a high of $207,928, with most professionals earning between $162,540 and $192,450.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $192,450 | $16,038 | $3,701 | $93 |
| Average | $175,450 | $14,621 | $3,374 | $84 |
| 25th Percentile | $162,540 | $13,545 | $3,126 | $78 |
An entry-level Lead Machine Learning Engineer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $168,706. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $169,669. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $170,633. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $172,560, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $175,065.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $168,706 |
| Intermediate Level Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $169,669 |
| Senior Level Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $170,633 |
| Specialist Level Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $172,560 |
| Expert Level Lead Machine Learning Engineer | $175,065 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Lead Machine Learning Engineer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $172,227 in 2023 to approximately $174,002 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Lead Machine Learning Engineer salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Lead Machine Learning Engineer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Lead Machine Learning Engineer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Lead Machine Learning Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $175,450 | 73.5% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $12,997 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $7,369 | 3.1% | ||
| Disability | $3,509 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 3.5% | ||
| Pension | $9,474 | 4.0% | ||
| Time Off | $21,594 | 9.0% | ||
| Total Compensation | $238,745 | 100% | ||
As of now, the salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the United States ranges from $172,880 to $209,640 annually, with a median salary of $189,440. This translates to approximately $83.05 to $100.67 per hour, or $3,290 to $4,000 per week.
The estimated total pay range for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Meta is approximately $172,880 to $209,640 per year, based on base salary data. The average base salary is around $189,440 per year. Additional compensation may vary and could include bonuses or stock options, but specific figures for these are not provided.
The highest paying job in machine learning is often the Lead Machine Learning Engineer, with salaries ranging from $172,880 to $209,640. Other top roles include ML Research Scientist, NLP Engineer, and Computer Vision Engineer, all of which offer competitive compensation in the growing field of machine learning.
The estimated total pay range for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Google is $172,880 to $209,640 per year, which includes base salary and additional compensation. The average base salary for this role is approximately $189,440 per year.
A PhD in Machine Learning Engineering typically earns between $172,880 and $209,640 annually. This role requires a deep understanding of data engineering, as well as expertise in designing, training, and evaluating machine learning models. The mid-salary for this position is approximately $189,440.
A good salary for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the USA ranges from $172,880 to $209,640 annually, with a median salary of $189,440. This is significantly higher than the average engineer salary, reflecting the specialized skills and expertise required in this field.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
