Engineering · Salary Guide · Austin
Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Austin
Austin's compensation has compressed somewhat since the 2022–2023 tech relocation wave, but it remains one of the best COL-adjusted markets in the US. Base salaries are 70–80% of SF levels, but zero state income tax and housing costs roughly 45% lower than SF push effective take-home pay within 10% of SF for many roles. Tesla, Apple, Oracle, and Indeed anchor the market; a growing remote-work ecosystem means many Austin-based engineers work for out-of-state employers while paying Texas tax rates. A 1BR averages $1,650/month.
Median base in Austin
$205k
Cost of living index
115
US = 100
Market multiplier
1.05x
vs US national
Salary by experience level in Austin
| Experience level | Base salary (US national) |
|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $121k – $179k |
| Mid (3–5 yrs) | $168k – $247k |
| Senior (6–9 yrs) | $226k – $357k |
| Staff / Principal (10+ yrs) | $326k – $630k |
Adjusted from national ranges using the Austin market multiplier (1.05x).
Tax and take-home considerations
No state income tax. Lower COL than coastal markets boosts effective take-home pay meaningfully.
Dominant employers in Austin
Lower base salaries but strong take-home due to zero state tax and ~40% lower housing costs than SF.
FAQ
What is the average machine learning engineer salary in Austin?
The median base salary for a machine learning engineer in Austin is approximately $205k in 2026. Austin's compensation has compressed somewhat since the 2022–2023 tech relocation wave, but it remains one of the best COL-adjusted markets in the US.
Does Austin have state income tax for machine learning engineers?
No state income tax. Lower COL than coastal markets boosts effective take-home pay meaningfully.
Which companies hire the most machine learning engineers in Austin?
The dominant employers in Austin are Tesla, Apple, Oracle, Indeed, Dell. Lower base salaries but strong take-home due to zero state tax and ~40% lower housing costs than SF.
What is the average ML engineer salary in the US?
As of 2026, the median base salary for a US ML engineer is about $195,000, with mid-level ranges of $160k–$235k. Total compensation varies widely — applied ML engineers at Big Tech clear $300k–$450k TC, while research engineers at frontier AI labs reach $700k–$1.1M+.
How much do research engineers at OpenAI or Anthropic make?
Research engineers at OpenAI and Anthropic typically earn $350k–$700k total comp at the mid level and $700k–$1.1M+ at the senior level. Compensation is paid in base plus PPUs (OpenAI) or equity (Anthropic). Offers above $1M generally require a published research track record.
Related Machine Learning Engineer Resources
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