Technology Houston, TX Pop. 2,304,580

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Houston, Texas

The median machine learning engineer salary in Houston, TX is $135,660 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median and 4.1% above the Texas state average.

City Median
$135,660
vs State Avg
+$5,320
vs National
+$2,660
Cost of Living
96%

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

Houston offers a median machine learning engineer salary of $135,660, which is $5,320 above the Texas state average of $130,340. Compared to the national median of $133,000, Houston pays above average for this role.

Houston's cost of living is 96% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for machine learning engineers in Houston spans from $83,640 at the 10th percentile to $209,100 at the 90th percentile — a $125,460 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $89,760, while senior machine learning engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $195,840. As a major metro area with a population of 2,304,580, Houston typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Houston by Experience

In Houston, an entry-level machine learning engineer earns around $89,760, while experienced professionals earn up to $195,840 per year. The local cost of living index is 96% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$89,760
+$1,760 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$137,700
+$2,700 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$195,840
+$3,840 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Houston, TX

Percentile Houston
10th Percentile $83,640
25th Percentile $110,160
Median (50th) $135,660
75th Percentile $171,360
90th Percentile $209,100

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other Texas Cities

How to Become a Machine Learning Engineer in Houston

Education

Most machine learning engineer positions require a master's degree. Houston and the surrounding Texas 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 Houston may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Houston

Browse open machine learning engineer positions in Houston, TX:

Frequently Asked Questions: Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Houston

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make in Houston, TX? ▼
The median machine learning engineer salary in Houston, Texas is $135,660 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median of $133,000. Salaries range from $83,640 (10th percentile) to $209,100 (90th percentile).
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make per hour in Houston? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $135,660, a machine learning engineer in Houston earns approximately $65 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Houston compare to the Texas state average for machine learning engineer pay? ▼
Houston's median machine learning engineer salary of $135,660 is 4.1% above the Texas state average of $130,340. The local cost of living index is 96% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Houston, TX? ▼
Houston has a cost of living index of 96% compared to the national average. This means a machine learning engineer salary of $135,660 in Houston 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 Houston? ▼
Most machine learning engineer positions in Houston 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.