Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Cleveland, OH: $114,380 (2026)

Machine Learning Engineer Pay in Cleveland: What to Expect (2026)

Cleveland offers a median machine learning engineer salary of $114,380, which is $5,320 below the Ohio state average of $119,700. Compared to the national median of $133,000, Cleveland pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Cleveland's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $114,380 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $133,000 in an average-cost city. This makes Cleveland an attractive option for machine learning engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for machine learning engineers in Cleveland spans from $70,520 at the 10th percentile to $176,300 at the 90th percentile — a $105,780 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $75,680, while senior machine learning engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $165,120. With a population of 372,624, Cleveland is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Cleveland by Experience

In Cleveland, an entry-level machine learning engineer earns around $75,680, while experienced professionals earn up to $165,120 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)

$75,680

$-12,320 vs national

Mid Level (3-7 yrs)

$116,100

$-18,900 vs national

Senior Level (8+ yrs)

$165,120

$-26,880 vs national

Percentile	Cleveland	OH State	National
10th Percentile	$70,520	$73,800	$82,000
25th Percentile	$92,880	$97,200	$108,000
Median (50th)	$114,380	$119,700	$133,000
75th Percentile	$144,480	$151,200	$168,000
90th Percentile	$176,300	$184,500	$205,000

Percentile

Cleveland

10th Percentile

$70,520

25th Percentile

$92,880

Median (50th)

$114,380

75th Percentile

$144,480

90th Percentile

$176,300

How to Become a Machine Learning Engineer in Cleveland

Education

Most machine learning engineer positions require a master's degree. Cleveland and the surrounding Ohio area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonTensorFlow/PyTorchMLOpsStatisticsDeep LearningData Engineering

Job Outlook

Nationally, machine learning engineer employment is projected to grow 40% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Cleveland may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Cleveland

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make in Cleveland, OH? ▼

The median machine learning engineer salary in Cleveland, Ohio is $114,380 per year, which is 14% below the national median of $133,000. Salaries range from $70,520 (10th percentile) to $176,300 (90th percentile).

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make per hour in Cleveland? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $114,380, a machine learning engineer in Cleveland earns approximately $55 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Cleveland compare to the Ohio state average for machine learning engineer pay? ▼

Cleveland's median machine learning engineer salary of $114,380 is 4.4% below the Ohio state average of $119,700. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

What is the cost of living in Cleveland, OH? ▼

Cleveland has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a machine learning engineer salary of $114,380 in Cleveland has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a machine learning engineer in Cleveland? ▼

Most machine learning engineer positions in Cleveland require a master's degree. Key skills include Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, MLOps, Statistics. The job market is projected to grow 40% nationally over the next decade.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Cleveland, Ohio