Machine learning engineer salary ranges in Washington DC
What open ML & AI postings in Washington DC say they pay: the top and the low end of the range each one states, in yearly dollars.
By level
How far the posted top moves from one level to the next, for ML & AI in Washington DC.
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Senior23 postings$208,000$190k–$272k
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Staff and principal11 postings$280,000$253k–$350k
Best-paying companies in Washington DC
Ranked by the median top of their open ML & AI postings in Washington DC, among companies with at least three that state pay.
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SpaceX7 with pay$350,000$220k–$350k
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Psu3 with pay$319,000$280k–$319k
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Scale AI3 with pay$294,000$294k–$319k
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Twenty3 with pay$263,000$263k–$359k
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Capital One5 with pay$262,000$225k–$262k
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Seekr4 with pay$245,000$240k–$249k
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Lockheed Martin3 with pay$228,000$199k–$254k
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Booz Allen Hamilton7 with pay$225,000$176k–$241k
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Accenture Federal Services9 with pay$203,000$203k–$203k
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MITRE6 with pay$180,000$166k–$208k
Machine learning engineer pay by place
The same work in every place with enough postings, highest median first; Washington DC is marked.
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SF Bay Area1,820 postings$288,000$242k–$350k
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New York579 postings$250,000$213k–$300k
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All of the US5,579 postings$247,000$195k–$300k
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Seattle472 postings$242,000$194k–$301k
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Remote1,108 postings$240,000$185k–$300k
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Austin73 postings$239,000$193k–$261k
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Boston166 postings$220,000$180k–$258k
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Washington DC102 postings$220,000$190k–$263k
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Los Angeles74 postings$210,000$180k–$250k
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San Diego68 postings$209,000$182k–$239k
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Atlanta30 postings$204,000$171k–$246k
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Denver35 postings$195,000$160k–$232k
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Chicago62 postings$190,000$151k–$225k
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Dallas56 postings$187,000$155k–$228k
Using these numbers
- Before you apply, check where the posting's own range sits against the middle half here. A range far below it is worth a question before you spend an afternoon on the application.
- When they ask what you expect, a figure inside the middle half for your level is one the market has already posted. Name the top of the posting's range if your experience matches what it asks for.
- Remember what a top is: the most a company says it may pay for the role. Offers land anywhere in the range, and equity and bonus are not in it.
Questions
How much do machine learning engineer jobs pay in Washington DC?
Open ML & AI postings in Washington DC that state pay post a median top of $220,000 a year; the middle half runs from $190,000 to $263,000, and the median low end of the ranges is $148,000. That is from 102 postings as of October 14, 2026.
How does the pay change with level?
For ML & AI postings in Washington DC, the median posted top is $208,000 for senior, $280,000 for staff and principal.
Which companies post the most for ML & AI in Washington DC?
Among companies with at least three postings that state pay, SpaceX ($350,000), Psu ($319,000), Scale AI ($294,000) post the highest median tops.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the pay ranges employers state in their own open job postings, which DonutApply reads from company job boards and public job feeds every day. They are what a company says it may pay for the role, not salaries anyone reported.
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