Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Portland, OR
Machine Learning Engineers in Portland, OR earn a median of $136,000/year, ranging from $104,720 (25th percentile) to $217,600 (90th percentile). After Oregon state taxes (8.75%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 130), this is equivalent to $104,615 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Portland, OR
Portland's ML engineering scene draws talent to companies like Intel's Hillsboro campus just outside the city, plus growing teams at Vacasa and local startups pushing into AI infrastructure. A $136,000 salary gets you solid footing here, though Oregon's 8.75% state income tax takes a meaningful bite compared to zero-tax states. Southeast Portland neighborhoods like Hawthorne or Belmont rent around $1,400 to $1,600 monthly for a 1BR, letting you live close to walkable coffee shops and breweries without crushing your paycheck. The city sprawls enough that most engineers commute by car on I-5 or I-84, though biking is real on the east side if you're near work. Rainy winters are relentless, but the tech community here values depth over hype-chasing, which shapes a more measured approach to ML projects than you'd find in the Bay Area.
1Salary Distribution in Portland, OR
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 Portland, OR Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR (current) | $136,000 | 130 | $104,615 |
| 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 Portland, OR?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Portland, OR is $136,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $104,720 and the 90th percentile is $217,600.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
Portland, OR has a cost of living index of 130 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $136,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Portland, OR is equivalent to $104,615 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Portland, OR?
Portland, OR has a cost of living index of 130, meaning it is 30% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Oregon is approximately 8.75%.
What is the Machine Learning Engineer salary range in Portland, OR?
In Portland, OR, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $104,720 (25th percentile) and $217,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $136,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in Portland, OR?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 16,000 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the Portland, OR metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in Portland, OR?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in Portland, OR earn a median annual wage of $136,000. The middle 50% earn between $104,720 and $174,080. The top 10% earn more than $217,600. There are approximately 16,000 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the Portland, OR metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.8%.
Is Portland, OR a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
Portland, OR has a cost of living index of 130 (US average = 100), making it 30% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in Portland, OR earning $136,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $104,615 relative to the US median. Oregon has a state income tax rate of approximately 8.75%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Portland, OR?
Portland, OR's cost of living index is 130, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $136,000 in Portland, ORhas the same purchasing power as $104,615 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 Portland, OR 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 Portland, OR?
The headline median of $136,000 is only part of the picture. Portland, OR's cost of living index is 130 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 77¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $136,000 salary effectively purchases $104,615 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Portland, OR, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $136,000 salary, that translates to roughly $43,520/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Oregon levies a state income tax of approximately 8.75%, which reduces take-home by roughly $11,900 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 $114,668. 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 4.8% year-over-year growth rate for Machine Learning Engineers in Portland, OR 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 Oregon 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.