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ML / AI Engineer Salary in Chicago

ML / AI Engineer Salary in Chicago

ML / AI Engineers in Chicago earn $109K–$150K. Median: $125K. Based on 25 public job postings (2025–2026).

💰 $109K–$150K salary range

Median: $125K  ·  Based on 25 public job postings  ·  Updated June 13, 2026


This ML / AI Engineer salary benchmark for Chicago is built from public job postings at high-growth and AI-native companies — no private placement data. Figures reflect base salary and are refreshed as new postings are collected.

📊 Salary breakdown

ML / AI Engineer pay in Chicago vs. national

  • Chicago: $125K median
  • National: $190K median

Chicago ML / AI Engineer pay runs 34% below the national median.

AI/ML salaries in Chicago by seniority

  • ML / AI Engineer: $125K
  • Senior ML Engineer: $159K
  • Head of AI: $233K

What does a ML / AI Engineer in Chicago do?

ML / AI Engineers are machine-learning and AI engineers who build, train, and ship models into production. This benchmark reflects Mid-level base compensation for Chicago-based roles at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Common questions

What is the average ML / AI Engineer salary in Chicago?
The median pay is $125K, with a typical range of $109K–$150K, based on 25 public Chicago job postings collected in 2025–2026.

How does Chicago compare to the national ML / AI Engineer salary?
The national median is $190K; Chicago is shown above.

Where does this data come from?
Public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. Minimum 15 Chicago postings.

Methodology

Posted-range midpoints (USD) aggregated from 25 public job postings located in Chicago (2025–2026). Range = 25th–75th percentile; median = 50th percentile. Equity is excluded. At least 15 Chicago postings required to publish. Last refreshed June 13, 2026.

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