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Machine Learning Engineer salary in Artificial Intelligence startups in 2026
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer expect to make in Artificial Intelligence startups? The average expected salary for Machine Learning Engineers in Artificial Intelligence startups is 161k per year, with a range from 75k to 240k. These amounts were gathered from Wellfound self-reported data and represent the median salary range. The salary range for Machine Learning Engineers in Artificial Intelligence startup varies depending on factors such as location, experience, skills, and startup stage.
160.8k
Average Salary
3 years
Average years of experience
Salary
The average salary for a Machine Learning Engineer in Artificial Intelligence startups is $160,750, which is 20.8% higher than the average salary of $133,042 in Artificial Intelligence startups. Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Artificial Intelligence are based on exclusive Wellfound data. All data is updated on a weekly basis. Factors that may influence salary include: location, years of experience, title, size of company, and skill-set.
Top of market
$226,625/yr
Range $210k - $240k
Average
$160,750/yr
Range $120k - $185k
Below Average
$113,458/yr
Range $75k - $160k
Top Locations
The highest average salary a Machine Learning Engineer in Artificial Intelligence can get in New York, that is $225,000. This pay is 40.0% higher than the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Artificial Intelligence startups, which is $160,750. Salaries will vary based on your location. The top-paying markets in the US, on average, are currently: New York (avg $225,000 per year), Toronto (avg $190,000 per year), Los Angeles (avg $185,000 per year). Remote jobs often pay based on the location you reside in.
New York
$225k
Toronto
$190k
Los Angeles
$185k
Austin
$155k
Boston
$135k
Chicago
$135k
Seattle
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Tech Stack
The highest average salary a Machine Learning Engineer in Artificial Intelligence can get with TypeScript, that is $202,000. This pay is 51.8% higher than the average salary in Artificial Intelligence startups, which is $133,042. Salary range for specific skills will vary based on the supply and demand in the current market.
Top Tech Stacks
The top-paying Machine Learning Engineer skills in Artificial Intelligence startups of 2026 are:
1. TypeScript
$202k
2. Docker
$197k
3. Flask
$197k
4. C++
$192k
5. Numpy
$185k
6. C
$185k
7. SQL
$172k
8. GraphQL
$170k
9. OpenCV
$160k
10. AWS
$157k
Years of experience
Below Average
Average
Top of Market
The highest average salary a Machine Learning Engineer in Artificial Intelligence can get with 10+ years of experience, that is $107,000. This pay is 19.6% lower than the average salary in Artificial Intelligence startups, which is $133,042. The salary range varies with years of experience and depends on other factors such as skill set, size of company, and industry.
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