Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$116,000 vs $170,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$103,571 vs $91,398
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$91,250 vs $76,598
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $116,000 | $170,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,320 | $130,900▲ | -$41,580 |
| 75th Percentile | $148,480 | $217,600▲ | -$69,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $185,600 | $272,000▲ | -$86,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 186 | -74 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65%▲ | 9.3% | -4.65% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,571▲ | $91,398 | +$12,173 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $102,200 | $142,472▲ | -$40,272 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,250▲ | $76,598 | +$14,652 |
| Total Employment | 14,400 | 41,600 | -27,200 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $54,000 more (median: $116,000 vs $170,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 186), Salt Lake City, UT provides better purchasing power ($103,571 vs $91,398 equivalent). Salt Lake City, UT has the lower state tax rate (4.65% 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.