Machine Learning Engineer Salary: How Much Can You Make?

Machine learning (ML) engineers research, design, and develop critical artificial intelligence on data science teams. Whether working on algorithms to power your Spotify recommendations or creating algorithms to make real-time stock predictions, machine learning engineers are in high demand in many industries. As a result, these professionals enjoy ample compensation for their in-depth knowledge and ability to make decisions that drive profits.

Learn more about the average salary a machine learning engineer can expect to earn in Canada and how it can vary by experience and location. Then, discover the overall job outlook for machine learning engineers and the top sectors hiring them today. 

What is an average machine learning engineer's salary?

In this position, you could earn nearly six figures in Canada. According to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, machine learning engineers earn a median hourly wage of $44.10 CAD, which comes out to roughly $91,728 CAD annually [1]. 

 Leading salary aggregate sites also provide an average salary for a machine learning engineer from $114,000 CAD to nearly $141,000 CAD. Check out the data to better understand your earning potential based on your total estimated salary [2, 3, 4]. 

Many factors, such as experience, industry, and geographic location, impact the average salary of a machine learning engineer.

Machine learning engineer salaries by experience

Experience greatly impacts what machine learning engineers can expect to make. Generally, the more experience a machine learning engineer has, the more they can expect to make in their role. Those in more senior positions can typically expect to make even more. 

For example, Glassdoor breaks down the average base salary based on experience as follows [4]: 

• Entry level (0-1 year): $84,769

• Mid-level (4-6 years):  $115,539

• Senior level (10-14 years): $135,452

Machine learning engineer industries 

As data becomes increasingly valuable, so do machine learning engineers capable of manipulating it with artificial intelligence. As a result, many industries hire machine learning engineers, such as: 

• Health care

• Transportation

• Finance 

• Retail

• Government

Salaries for related jobs in machine learning

A machine learning engineer isn’t the only job opportunity for those with the required skill set. According to Glassdoor, two similar job base salaries are: 

Software engineer: $85,253 CAD [5]

Research engineer: $71,330 CAD [6]

Machine learning engineer salaries by location

Typically, salaries vary from region to region. Every location has its own cost of living and market competition, which inevitably impacts a machine learning engineer's earnings. The median salaries for machine learning engineers across Canada, as noted by Job Bank Canada, include [1]: 

Job outlook for machine learning engineers 

While the AI industry continues to grow, the job outlook for machine learning engineers is mixed. The Job Bank Canada reports a shortage of software engineers and designers, including machine learning engineers, between 2022 and 2031. Roughly 44,300 new job openings will be available during that time, with approximately 48,800 job seekers available to fill them [7]. 

Begin your machine learning journey on Coursera.

Becoming a machine learning engineer takes time and dedication, but you can expect to earn a competitive salary once you land a job. To start your career in machine learning engineering, consider taking a relevant online course on Coursera to hone your machine learning expertise. Stanford and DeepLearning.AI's Machine Learning Specialization on Coursera provides a two-month crash course in machine learning.