Austin, TX • 90% Geo-Band • 0% State/Regional Tax
Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Austin
2026 local compensation bands, state tax drag ($0/yr at L5), and purchasing power benchmarks.
L5 Median Total Comp
$288,396
Cost of Living Index
72 / 100
Real Purchasing Power vs SF
138%
Median Home Price
$560,000
| Level | Title & Experience | 25th %ile Base | Median Base (P50) | 75th %ile Base | 90th %ile Base | Bonus / Equity | Median Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3 | Associate Data Scientist / ML Engineer 0 - 2 Years |
$76,500 | $91,800 | $109,800 | $126,000 | 10% / $16,200 | $117,180 |
| L4 | Data Scientist / ML Engineer II 2 - 5 Years |
$112,500 | $133,200 | $160,200 | $184,500 | 12% / $31,500 | $180,684 |
| L5 | Senior Machine Learning Engineer 5 - 8 Years |
$157,500 | $187,200 | $225,000 | $265,500 | 18% / $67,500 | $288,396 |
| L6 | Staff / Principal AI Scientist 8 - 12+ Years |
$216,000 | $256,500 | $315,000 | $378,000 | 22% / $144,000 | $456,930 |
Austin Compensation FAQs
How much does a Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer make in Austin in 2026?
Adjusted for Austin (90% market tier), median Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer total compensation spans from $117,180 at L3 to $456,930 at L6.
How do taxes and cost of living affect Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer pay in Austin?
Austin carries an estimated 0% state/regional income tax rate and a 72/100 cost-of-living index (median home $560,000), giving roughly 138% real purchasing power compared to San Francisco.