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2026 Salary Data — Sacramento, CA
Updated April 28, 2026

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Sacramento: $175K Median

Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento, CA earn between $119K and $319K per year.

That's +8% above the US national median of $162,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento, CA is $174,960 per year — +8% above the US national median of $162,000. Salaries range from $118,800 (entry, 25th percentile) to $318,600 (90th percentile). Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento earned approximately $28,219 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$174,960
+520.0% YoY · $14,580/mo
Entry
$140,400
0–2 years
Experienced
$270,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$318,600
Senior/lead
Machine Learning Engineer Salary — Sacramento vs Nearby
Sacramento
$175K
Los Angeles
$207K
-16% vs Sacramento
San Diego
$191K
-8% vs Sacramento
San Francisco
$251K
-30% vs Sacramento

Free ATS scan · Sacramento employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento

ML engineers design, build, and deploy machine learning models at scale, bridging research and production engineering.

Core Responsibilities

  • Model development and training
  • Production ML pipelines
  • Feature engineering
  • Model evaluation
  • MLOps

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Master's or PhD preferred (Bachelor's with strong portfolio acceptable)

In-demand certifications

AWS ML SpecialtyGoogle ML EngineerTensorFlow Developer

Sacramento Job Market

California state capital with growing tech sector.

Population
524K
Cost of Living
130
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$525K

Top Industries in Sacramento

GovernmentHealthcareTechEducationReal Estate

Top Employers Hiring Machine Learning Engineers

Major employers active in Sacramento or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Meta
OpenAI
Anthropic
NVIDIA
Apple
Tesla
Microsoft

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Machine Learning Engineer listings.

LLMsPyTorchRAG/fine-tuningDistributed trainingMLOps

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PythonPyTorchTensorFlowscikit-learnMLOpsKubernetesfeature engineeringdistributed trainingLLMs
Career Outlook
+40% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

ML engineering demand exploded 40%+ in 2025-2026 with the GenAI boom. Frontier labs paying $500K+ for senior roles.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary Breakdown — Sacramento

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$118,800$174,960$318,600
Monthly$9,900$14,580$26,550
Weekly$2,285$3,365$6,127
Hourly$57$84$153

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($162,000) adjusted for Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier (1.08×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Machine Learning Engineer Take-Home Pay in Sacramento

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$120,619.36
Per month$10,052
Biweekly paycheck$4,639
Effective tax rate31.1%

Tax Breakdown on $174,960

Gross salary$174,960
Federal income tax−$31,333.4
California state tax−$9,622.8
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$13,384.44
Take-home (net)$120,619.36

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Experience — Sacramento

Career-stage progression for Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$129,168
2–3 yr$140,400
4–6 yr$205,200
7–10 yr$270,000
11–15 yr$318,600
15+ yr$294,300

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Sacramento's 1.08× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$28,219
2026 median:$174,960
Change:+$146,741

Technology sector growth driven by demand for LLMs and PyTorch.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$134,585
Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.

How to Negotiate Your Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Sacramento

Walk-away anchor: $152,139 (offers below this are below market for Sacramento).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $270K–$319K for experienced roles, citing Sacramento market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary FAQ — Sacramento

What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento, CA?
The average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento is $174,960 per year as of April 2026 — $14,580/month, $3,365/week, or about $84/hour. Salaries range from $118,800 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $318,600 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier (1.08×).
Is $174,960 a good Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Sacramento's cost-of-living index is 130 (vs 100 nationally), giving $174,960 a real purchasing power of approximately $134,585 in national terms. Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.
Can you live on $174,960 in Sacramento?
Dual-income households are functionally required to raise a family at this cost level. Single earners on the median typically rent rather than buy and delay starting a family. Many residents spend 35-40% of pre-tax income on rent here, but the textbook target is still 30%. Going above 35% will materially crimp retirement and emergency savings. For Sacramento specifically (median home price $525,000), a $174,960 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $174,960 enough for a single person in Sacramento?
A single adult in Sacramento typically needs ~$58,500 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $174,960 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $174,960 enough for a couple in Sacramento?
A couple (one earner) in Sacramento typically needs ~$93,600 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $174,960 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $174,960 each ($349,920 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $174,960 enough for a family of 4 in Sacramento?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Sacramento typically needs ~$143,000 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $174,960 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Machine Learning Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Sacramento typically run $20K-$36K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in Sacramento?
On a $174,960 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento, CA, you take home approximately $120,619.36 per year ($10,052/month, $4,639 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $31,333.4, state $9,622.8, FICA $13,384.44. Effective tax rate: 31.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento earn compared to the US average?
Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento earn approximately 8% more than the US national median for this role ($162,000 nationally vs $174,960 in Sacramento). However, Sacramento's cost-of-living index of 130 means real purchasing power is approximately $134,585 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Machine Learning Engineer earn in Sacramento?
Entry-level Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento typically start at around $140,400 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Machine Learning Engineers earn $270,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $318,600+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Sacramento increase in 2026?
Yes — Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Sacramento grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $28,219 in 2025 to $174,960 in 2026 (+$146,741). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento?
ML engineering demand exploded 40%+ in 2025-2026 with the GenAI boom. Frontier labs paying $500K+ for senior roles. Sacramento's top industries include Government, Healthcare, Tech, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Machine Learning Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Machine Learning Engineers are: LLMs, PyTorch, RAG/fine-tuning, Distributed training, MLOps. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Sacramento.
Who are the top employers hiring Machine Learning Engineers in Sacramento?
Top employers hiring Machine Learning Engineers in or near Sacramento include: Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, NVIDIA, Apple. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Machine Learning Engineer salary in Sacramento?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (LLMs, PyTorch, RAG/fine-tuning) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., AWS ML Specialty or Google ML Engineer). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Machine Learning Engineer in Sacramento?
Master's or PhD preferred (Bachelor's with strong portfolio acceptable) is the typical path. However, Sacramento's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Machine Learning Engineer salary figures for Sacramento are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($162,000) by Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.08× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Sacramento

Data Scientist →Software Engineer →Product Manager →Web Developer →DevOps Engineer →Cybersecurity Analyst →

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Los Angeles, CA$207KChicago, IL$170KHouston, TX$170KPhiladelphia, PA$168KSan Diego, CA$191KDallas, TX$170KSan Francisco, CA$251KDenver, CO$178K

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