Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
BLS does not publish a separate estimate for Machine Learning Engineers. The figures on this page are the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Data Scientists (15-2051), the closest published occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Machine Learning Engineers in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $132,200 | $170,110▲ | -$37,910 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,700 | $130,430▲ | -$24,730 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,960 | $212,970▲ | -$40,010 |
| 90th Percentile | $212,320 | $272,430▲ | -$60,110 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 108.9 | 115.6 | -6.7 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $121,414 | $147,137▲ | -$25,723 |
| Total Employment | 9,260 | 10,460 | -1,200 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $37,910 more (median: $132,200 vs $170,110). BEA's regional price parity is 108.9 in Washington, DC and 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $121,414 and $147,137, so San Francisco, CA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $37,910 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $121,414 for Washington and $147,137 for San Francisco, a difference of $25,723.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 9,260 Machine Learning Engineer jobs in the Washington area and 10,460 in the San Francisco area. For broader context, see our District of Columbia overview and the full Machine Learning Engineer city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Machine Learning Engineer salary higher in Washington, DC or San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for Machine Learning Engineers ($170,110 per year, against $132,200 in Washington, DC; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $121,414 in Washington, DC and $147,137 in San Francisco, CA.
How do prices compare between Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 108.9 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area and 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 8.9% above the national level for Washington, DC and 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA.
Which city pays Machine Learning Engineers more once local prices are counted?
San Francisco, CA: at national-average prices its median Machine Learning Engineer wage is $147,137, against $121,414 for Washington, DC. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.