In [13]: # by_state.ipynb
California leads at $198k average, with Washington and New York close behind. Cost-of-living adjustment shifts the ranking substantially: Texas and Colorado offer better purchasing power despite lower nominal salaries.
Highest raw salary
Best after cost of living
| State | Average |
|---|---|
| California | $198,000 |
| Washington | $188,000 |
| New York | $178,000 |
| Massachusetts | $170,000 |
| Colorado | $158,000 |
| Virginia | $155,000 |
| Illinois | $148,000 |
| Texas | $142,000 |
| Georgia | $138,000 |
| Oregon | $152,000 |
Out[13]:
Remote shift
Around 35 to 40 percent of ML engineer postings in 2026 are remote-eligible, although back-to-office has tightened this through 2025-26. Many employers apply location-adjusted pay: 80-90 percent of Bay Area rate for remote workers in lower-COL states. An ML engineer earning $170k remote in Austin (COL 93) has more purchasing power than $198k in San Francisco (COL 142).