London, UK • 74% Geo-Band • 40% State/Regional Tax
Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer Salary in London
2026 local compensation bands, state tax drag ($94,850/yr at L5), and purchasing power benchmarks.
L5 Median Total Comp
$237,126
Cost of Living Index
82 / 100
Real Purchasing Power vs SF
60%
Median Home Price
£650,000
| 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 |
$62,900 | $75,480 | $90,280 | $103,600 | 10% / $13,320 | $96,348 |
| L4 | Data Scientist / ML Engineer II 2 - 5 Years |
$92,500 | $109,520 | $131,720 | $151,700 | 12% / $25,900 | $148,562 |
| L5 | Senior Machine Learning Engineer 5 - 8 Years |
$129,500 | $153,920 | $185,000 | $218,300 | 18% / $55,500 | $237,126 |
| L6 | Staff / Principal AI Scientist 8 - 12+ Years |
$177,600 | $210,900 | $259,000 | $310,800 | 22% / $118,400 | $375,698 |
London Compensation FAQs
How much does a Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer make in London in 2026?
Adjusted for London (74% market tier), median Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer total compensation spans from $96,348 at L3 to $375,698 at L6.
How do taxes and cost of living affect Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer pay in London?
London carries an estimated 40% state/regional income tax rate and a 82/100 cost-of-living index (median home £650,000), giving roughly 60% real purchasing power compared to San Francisco.