Level-Specific Salary Guide

Junior Machine Learning Engineer Salary in New York (2026)

Updated July 20266 min readSources: BLS OES 2024, Levels.fyi 2024, JFR job feed

Junior Machine Learning Engineers in New York earn a median base salary of $152K per year, based on 5,000 verified data points. This guide covers salary ranges, total comp, and negotiation tactics specific to the junior level in 2026.

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Verified — 2026 · Junior Level
Machine Learning Engineer · New York
0% YoY
25th Percentile
$120K
Walk-away floor
Median (50th)
$152K
Market midpoint
75th Percentile
$193K
Realistic ceiling
Sources: BLS OES 2024, Levels.fyi 2024, JFR job feed·Sample: 5,000 data points

Machine Learning Engineer salary by level in New York

See how junior-level pay compares to other seniority bands for the same role and location.

LevelApprox. Median Base
JuniorThis guide$152K
Mid-Level$217K
Senior$293K
Staff$358K
Principal$412K

* Figures are approximate estimates relative to the junior-level verified data above.

What does a Junior Machine Learning Engineer earn in New York in 2026?

The median base salary for a Junior Machine Learning Engineer in New York is $152K per year, with the 25th–75th percentile range spanning $120K$193K. Total annual compensation — including bonuses and equity — typically reaches $168K at the median for junior-level engineers.

At the junior level, engineers are typically 0–2 years into their careers and working under close mentorship. Compensation reflects this: base salaries sit well below the market median across all seniority bands, but the gap closes quickly with demonstrated impact.

To negotiate effectively, open at $177K — the 65th percentile for this level and location — which gives you room to settle above median while appearing reasonable. Know your walk-away floor: $120K.

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Top-paying companies for Junior Machine Learning Engineers in New York

CompanyMedian Base
OpenAI$207K
Anthropic$200K
Google DeepMind$154K
Meta AI$147K
Microsoft Research$144K
Tesla$123K
Palantir$137K

Skills that pay more at the junior level

LLM / GenAI
+32%
PyTorch / TensorFlow
+20%

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