Machine Learning developer demand
Last updated
How many developer roles ask for Machine Learning and what those roles pay — tracked from live job postings.
What do roles requiring Machine Learning pay in 2026?
As of October 2026, the typical advertised salary is US$180,700 a year, with most postings between US$132,283 and US$225,000.
That's about 36% more than the typical US software developer earns (US$133,080), per Bureau of Labor Statistics figures from May 2024.
| 25th percentile | US$132,283 |
|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | US$180,700 |
| 75th percentile | US$225,000 |
Advertised base salary, from 400 job postings with pay data, as of October 2026.
How strong is hiring demand for Machine Learning in 2026?
Tarmac tracked 1,302 postings in September 2026, the most recent month we tracked from start to finish.
We're not publishing a month-by-month series yet: the number of postings Tarmac collects each month is still growing, so a month-on-month change would measure our coverage rather than the job market.
Job titles that ask for Machine Learning
In United States postings, these titles require Machine Learning in at least a fifth of their openings, the same bar Tarmac counts you against when you pick one of them as a destination.
| Job title | Postings requiring it | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning Engineer | 54% | — |
| Data Scientist | 33% | — |
Practice interview questions
Vacancy and salary data includes Adzuna.
Prep for these roles
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