Machine Learning Researcher.
Salt Lake City.
$133,000
median salary, 6% below the national average
$91,000 to $176,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Machine Learning Researcher salary in Salt Lake City is $133,000, 6% below the national average. Entry level starts near $91,000. Experienced professionals push past $176,000. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. That spread is your negotiation window. 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 Researcher in Salt Lake City, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $140,300 for Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) across the United States, based on 37,200 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$82,200
25th percentile
$103,570
Median
$140,300
75th percentile
$188,700
90th percentile
$230,630
Workers surveyed
37,200
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$140,910
May 2025 release
$140,300
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221) rather than Machine Learning Researcherspecifically. The national range 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 15-1221Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $120,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$113,000
to $140,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$146,000
to $173,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$166,000
to $206,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $55,000 to the total package.
Base
$133,000
Equity
$33,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $188,000
How Salt Lake City compares.
Salt Lake City, UT
$133,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$141,000
Salt Lake City is $8,000 below
Machine Learning Researcher salary by city.
Salary by role in Salt Lake City.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Machine Learning Researcher roles in Salt Lake City, here is what you are walking into. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. The region has attracted significant venture investment and tech relocations. Utah's business friendly environment, young educated workforce, and outdoor lifestyle make it a rising destination for tech professionals seeking affordability without sacrificing career growth. Publication record in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR is the strongest salary differentiator. Researchers with first-author papers at these conferences command 15 to 25% premiums. Industry labs at major tech firms pay significantly more than academic positions or smaller startups.
Research interns start at $45,000 to $65,000 for summer positions. Junior researchers earn $140,000 to $170,000, while senior researchers reach $200,000 to $280,000. Principal researchers and research directors at major labs can exceed $400,000 in base salary alone. In Salt Lake City, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at top labs often doubles base salary through equity grants and annual bonuses of 20 to 40%. Many positions include conference travel budgets, compute credits, and sabbatical programs for independent research. And on the tax side: utah has a flat 4.65% state income tax. Salt Lake City imposes no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with affordable living costs results in strong net compensation. When someone quotes you $133,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent. The range for Machine Learning Researchers in Salt Lake City runs from $91,000 to $176,000. 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 Engineer in Salt Lake City earns $132,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Salt Lake City is CTO at $306,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
Machine Learning Researcher salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Salt Lake City.
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