Machine Learning Engineer.
Omaha.
$122,000
median salary, 8% below the national average
$91,000 to $159,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Machine Learning Engineer in Omaha earns a median of $122,000 in 2026. That is 8% below the national average. The range runs from $91,000 to $159,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Production ML experience, deep learning framework fluency, and ability to optimize models for scale are the strongest differentiators. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Machine Learning Engineer in Omaha, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $125,220 for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan area, based on 3,920 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$80,120
25th percentile
$100,120
Median
$125,220
75th percentile
$137,150
90th percentile
$162,800
Workers surveyed
3,920
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) rather than Machine Learning Engineer specifically. The Omaharange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1252Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $110,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$79,000
to $98,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$104,000
to $128,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$134,000
to $159,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $54,000 to the total package.
Base
$122,000
Equity
$33,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$7,000
Estimated total: $176,000
Machine Learning Engineer salary by company.
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings (DOL).
How Omaha compares.
Omaha, NE
$122,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$133,000
Omaha is $11,000 below
Machine Learning Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Omaha.
What you should know.
The Machine Learning Engineer landscape in Omaha is not what most salary sites will tell you. Omaha punches above its weight with Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, and a strong financial services cluster. The city has a growing tech scene and is home to several Fortune 500 companies. Very affordable living costs combined with corporate headquarters salaries create exceptional purchasing power. Production ML experience, deep learning framework fluency, and ability to optimize models for scale are the strongest differentiators. Engineers who bridge research and production by deploying models that serve millions of predictions per day command significant premiums. Specialization in recommendation systems, search ranking, or fraud detection adds further value.
Entry level ML engineers start at $110,000 to $140,000, reaching mid level at $145,000 to $190,000 in two to three years. Senior ML engineers earn $190,000 to $260,000. Staff ML engineers at top companies exceed $350,000 in total compensation, with research oriented roles paying even more. In Omaha, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 12% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at AI focused companies adds $30,000 to $150,000+ annually. Bonuses of 10 to 20% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common at well funded firms. Benefits frequently include GPU compute budgets, conference sponsorship, and research publication support. And on the tax side: nebraska's top income tax rate is 5.84%. Omaha has no city income tax. The moderate rate is offset by some of the most affordable housing costs among major metros. When someone quotes you $122,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Fortune 500 headquarters pay scales. Omaha's corporate density means employers benchmark against national compensation data, not just regional rates. The range for Machine Learning Engineers in Omaha runs from $91,000 to $159,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An AI Platform Engineer in Omaha earns $121,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Omaha is CTO at $267,000
- See all ai engineering roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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