Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Mesa, AZ (2026)
Median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Mesa is approximately $160,100/year — 3.0% below the US national average.
Salary breakdown — Mesa
After-tax estimate
| City | Cost mult. | Estimated annual | vs Mesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 0.97× | $160,100 | +$0 |
| Charlotte, NC | 0.97× | $160,100 | +$0 |
| Houston, TX | 0.96× | $158,400 | -$1,700 |
| Fort Worth, TX | 0.96× | $158,400 | -$1,700 |
| Tucson, AZ | 0.96× | $158,400 | -$1,700 |
Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Mesa, AZ
The estimated median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Mesa, Arizona is $160,100/year, working out to approximately $77/hour at full-time, $6,158 per biweekly paycheck, or $13,342/month before taxes. Mesa's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.97× national reflects local prices, housing costs, and employer concentration in this metro area.
Compared to the Arizona state average for this role ($165,000), Mesa pays about $4,900 less. This typically reflects how the metro area's cost of living and employer density differ from the state as a whole.
Take-home pay in Mesa
Of the gross $160,100, you take home roughly $117,433 after:
- Federal income tax (~14% effective at this income)
- FICA — Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65%
- Arizona state income tax (~5% effective)
- Mesa has no local income tax
That works out to about $9,786/month after-tax — useful for budgeting rent (typically 25–35% of net income), savings (15–20% target), and other expenses. For an exact calculation including 401(k), HSA, and your filing status, use our Mesa Paycheck Calculator.
What affects your actual pay
- Experience: entry-level often 25–35% below median; senior roles 40–60%+ above.
- Specific employer: top-tier employers in Mesa pay 10–25% above market for the same role.
- Industry: a Software Engineer at a tech company in Mesa typically out-earns one at a non-tech employer.
- Negotiation: simply negotiating an offer can shift comp by 5–15%.
- Education and credentials: degrees and licenses (especially for healthcare, legal, engineering) can move comp by 15–30%.
- Remote vs in-office: many Mesa employers now base pay on cost of living, with remote workers in cheaper metros paid less.
Related calculators
Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Arizona — state-level average. Salary Calculator — convert hourly ↔ annual. Mesa Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home. Income Tax Calculator — federal tax with brackets. Investment Calculator — long-term portfolio growth.