AI/ML Salary Guide 2026: What to Expect

Understanding AI/ML compensation in 2026. ## By Role and Experience **ML Engineer** - Entry (0-2 years): $90k-$130k - Mid (3-5 years): $130k-$180k - Senior (6-10 years): $180k-$250k - Staff+ (10+ years): $250k-$400k+ **Research Scientist** - PhD Entry: $120k-$160k - Senior: $200k-$300k - Principal: $300k-$500k+ ## By Company Type - FAANG: 20-40% above market - AI-first startups: Competitive base + equity - Traditional enterprise: At or below market ## Geographic Multipliers - San Francisco/NYC: 1.0x (baseline) - Seattle/Boston: 0.9x - Austin/Denver: 0.8x - Remote: 0.7-0.9x Total comp often includes RSUs worth 30-50% of base.