In [5]: # location_distribution.ipynb
| Metro | Base | Index |
|---|---|---|
San Francisco / Bay Area World's highest ML pay; T1 frontier labs and T2 hyperscalers concentrated here | $195k - $230k | 100 |
New York City T4 quant trading dominates; T2 and T3 also present | $170k - $205k | 96 |
Seattle T2 hyperscalers anchor the market; strong stock-comp culture | $165k - $200k | 95 |
Los Angeles Growing AI ecosystem; lower COL than Bay Area | $155k - $185k | 88 |
Boston / Cambridge Research community proximity; biotech-ML and academic spinouts | $150k - $180k | 92 |
Austin Fast-growing tech hub with lower COL | $140k - $168k | 85 |
Chicago T4 quant trading and fintech demand | $135k - $162k | 86 |
Denver / Boulder Outdoor-friendly tech hub; moderate COL | $130k - $155k | 85 |
Atlanta Growing AI research and enterprise tech | $125k - $150k | 83 |
Raleigh / Durham Research Triangle; university spinouts and enterprise tech | $120k - $145k | 81 |
Table 4.1. Index = base salary relative to Bay Area baseline (= 100).
| Market | Base (local) |
|---|---|
London (UK) Strongest European market; T1 and T2 presence | GBP 95k - 140k |
Zurich (CH) Highest European base salaries; lower equity | CHF 140k - 200k |
Paris (FR) Strong AI research scene; lower base than London | EUR 80k - 130k |
Toronto (CA) T2 hyperscaler outposts; tax-favourable for some | CAD 130k - 180k |
Berlin (DE) Growing AI startup ecosystem; lower base | EUR 80k - 120k |
Amsterdam (NL) T2 outposts and AI startups | EUR 85k - 125k |
Singapore Asia-Pacific hub; lower equity than US | SGD 140k - 220k |
Sydney (AU) Limited T1 / T2 presence; T3 unicorns growing | AUD 140k - 200k |
Tel Aviv (IL) Concentrated AI infrastructure ecosystem | USD 120k - 180k |
Q.Which city pays ML engineers the most?
▸A.The San Francisco Bay Area pays the highest ML engineer salaries, with base pay of $195k - $230k for L5 senior engineers and total compensation often exceeding $400k at top tiers. Concentration of T1 frontier AI labs, T2 hyperscalers, and venture capital creates exceptional total compensation through equity grants.
Q.Is the Bay Area premium worth it given cost of living?
▸A.On purchasing-power basis, Bay Area ML salaries are roughly 30-40 percent higher than COL-equivalently adjusted salaries in Austin or Denver. The key compounding factor is equity: a $300k T2 hyperscaler package in the Bay Area can generate substantially more wealth than a $160k base in Austin over four years.
Q.How much do international ML engineers earn relative to US?
▸A.European ML engineers typically earn 50-75 percent of US base salaries (with Zurich the closest to US parity). Equity grants tend to be smaller in international offices of US-headquartered companies. Tax treatment varies substantially and changes the after-tax comparison.