Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$136,000 vs $170,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$104,615 vs $91,398
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$88,206 vs $76,598
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $136,000 | $170,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,720 | $130,900▲ | -$26,180 |
| 75th Percentile | $174,080 | $217,600▲ | -$43,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $217,600 | $272,000▲ | -$54,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $104,615▲ | $91,398 | +$13,217 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $114,668 | $142,472▲ | -$27,804 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $88,206▲ | $76,598 | +$11,608 |
| Total Employment | 16,000 | 41,600 | -25,600 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $34,000 more (median: $136,000 vs $170,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($104,615 vs $91,398 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% vs 9.3%).
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.