Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Portland, OR vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers in Portland, OR and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$136,000 vs $163,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$104,615 vs $87,166
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$88,206 vs $75,024
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $136,000 | $163,000▲ | -$27,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,720 | $125,510▲ | -$20,790 |
| 75th Percentile | $174,080 | $208,640▲ | -$34,560 |
| 90th Percentile | $217,600 | $260,800▲ | -$43,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 187 | -57 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 6.85%▲ | +1.9000000000000004% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $104,615▲ | $87,166 | +$17,449 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $114,668 | $140,295▲ | -$25,627 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $88,206▲ | $75,024 | +$13,182 |
| Total Employment | 16,000 | 54,400 | -38,400 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $27,000 more (median: $136,000 vs $163,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 187), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($104,615 vs $87,166 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 8.75%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.