Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Machine Learning Engineers in Chicago, IL earn a median of $124,000/year, ranging from $95,480 (25th percentile) to $198,400 (90th percentile). After Illinois state taxes (4.95%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 107), this is equivalent to $115,888 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Chicago, IL
Notable employers in this market include Uptake, Avant, and Grubhub, along with the tech and insurance divisions of established firms pushing into AI and predictive analytics. A one-bedroom in Wicker Park or Logan Square runs around $1,500 to $1,700 a month, which is reasonable given the median salary hovers near $124,000. The Blue Line and Red Line give you solid coverage if you're heading toward the Loop or near-north tech clusters, though many engineers end up driving the Eisenhower out to suburban offices. Illinois state income tax sits at roughly 5 percent, which is worth factoring into your take-home math. Chicago's winters are brutal, so remote-work flexibility or a short commute becomes a real quality-of-life issue from November through March.
1Salary Distribution in Chicago, IL
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Chicago, IL Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL (current) | $124,000 | 107 | $115,888 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,000 | 186 | $91,398 |
| New York, NY | $163,000 | 187 | $87,166 |
| Seattle, WA | $165,000 | 162 | $101,852 |
| Boston, MA | $150,000 | 162 | $92,593 |
| Austin, TX | $136,000 | 124 | $109,677 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $124,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $95,480 and the 90th percentile is $198,400.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $124,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is equivalent to $115,888 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107, meaning it is 7% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Illinois is approximately 4.95%.
What is the Machine Learning Engineer salary range in Chicago, IL?
In Chicago, IL, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $95,480 (25th percentile) and $198,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $124,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in Chicago, IL?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 28,000 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in Chicago, IL?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in Chicago, IL earn a median annual wage of $124,000. The middle 50% earn between $95,480 and $158,720. The top 10% earn more than $198,400. There are approximately 28,000 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the Chicago, IL metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.1%.
Is Chicago, IL a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100), making it 7% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago, IL earning $124,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $115,888 relative to the US median. Illinois has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.95%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $124,000 in Chicago, ILhas the same purchasing power as $115,888 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Chicago, IL with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Machine Learning Engineer in Chicago, IL?
The headline median of $124,000 is only part of the picture. Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $124,000 salary effectively purchases $115,888 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Chicago, IL, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $124,000 salary, that translates to roughly $34,720/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Illinois levies a state income tax of approximately 4.95%, which reduces take-home by roughly $6,138 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $108,904. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($170,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($163,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($165,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.1% year-over-year growth rate for Machine Learning Engineers in Chicago, IL is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Machine Learning Engineers or the Illinois state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.