Machine Learning Researcher.
Austin.
$141,000
median salary, at the national average
$97,000 to $187,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Machine Learning Researcher pay in Austin at $141,000, within a range of $97,000 to $187,000. That is right at the national average. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Machine Learning Researcher in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $127,360 for Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 300 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$80,250
25th percentile
$82,400
Median
$127,360
75th percentile
$171,660
90th percentile
$213,760
Workers surveyed
300
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) rather than Machine Learning Researcher specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1221Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $127,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$92,000
to $113,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$120,000
to $148,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$155,000
to $183,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$176,000
to $219,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $58,000 to the total package.
Base
$141,000
Equity
$35,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $199,000
How Austin compares.
Austin, TX
$141,000
Cost of living: 3% above average
National Average
$141,000
Same as local rate
Machine Learning Researcher salary by city.
Salary by role in Austin.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Machine Learning Researcher offer in Austin, understand the terrain. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Publication record in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR is the strongest salary differentiator. Researchers with first-author papers at these conferences command 15 to 25% premiums. Industry labs at major tech firms pay significantly more than academic positions or smaller startups.
Research interns start at $45,000 to $65,000 for summer positions. Junior researchers earn $140,000 to $170,000, while senior researchers reach $200,000 to $280,000. Principal researchers and research directors at major labs can exceed $400,000 in base salary alone. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at top labs often doubles base salary through equity grants and annual bonuses of 20 to 40%. Many positions include conference travel budgets, compute credits, and sabbatical programs for independent research. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $141,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Machine Learning Researchers in Austin runs from $97,000 to $187,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An AI Research Scientist in Austin earns $142,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Austin is CTO at $318,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
Machine Learning Researcher salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Austin.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Machine Learning Researcher Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/machine-learning-researcher/austin
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