AI & Machine Learning · Client side · Updated September 2026
Machine Learning Engineer salary
in the UK.
Based on Stonor Search's salary data, Machine Learning Engineers in the UK typically earn between £35,000 and £95,000 depending on level: around £35,000 – £45,000 at junior / executive level, rising to £75,000 – £95,000 at lead / team manager level. London roles sit higher, at £40,000 to £100,000, roughly 10% above the UK average in our data. Pay varies with seniority, location, company stage and sector, and the real scope of the role.
Also covers: ML Engineer, AI Engineer, MLE, Junior Machine Learning Engineer, Machine Learning Manager, ML Manager.
UK average
High confidence£65,500
Typical salary (band midpoint)
- Salary range
- £35,000 – £95,000
- London
- £40,000 – £100,000
- Levels covered
- Junior / Executive to Lead / Team Manager
- Last updated
- September 2026
Machine Learning Engineer salary by seniority and location
Annual base salary, GBP. "Typical" is the midpoint of the published band. London and UK-average bands are published separately.
| Level | UK average range | UK typical | London range | London typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / ExecutiveJunior Machine Learning Engineer | £35,000 – £45,000 | £40,000 | £40,000 – £50,000 | £45,000 |
| Manager / MidweightMachine Learning Engineer / AI / Machine Learning Engineer | £55,000 – £90,000 | £71,500 | £60,000 – £100,000 | £79,000 |
| Lead / Team ManagerMachine Learning Manager | £75,000 – £95,000 | £85,000 | £80,000 – £100,000 | £90,000 |
Manager / Midweight (UK) combines 2 published bands: Machine Learning Engineer, Client side — AI & Machine Learning: £55,000 – £70,000 (Marketing Salary Benchmark 2025); AI / Machine Learning Engineer, Client side — SaaS & Tech: £70,000 – £90,000 (SaaS & Tech Salary Benchmark 2025).
Manager / Midweight (London) combines 2 published bands: Machine Learning Engineer, Client side — AI & Machine Learning: £60,000 – £75,000 (Marketing Salary Benchmark 2025); AI / Machine Learning Engineer, Client side — SaaS & Tech: £80,000 – £100,000 (SaaS & Tech Salary Benchmark 2025).
What does a Machine Learning Engineer earn by location?
- London
- £40,000 – £100,000
- UK average
- £35,000 – £95,000
Other regions use the UK average band: South East, South West, Midlands, North West, North East & Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Remote (UK).
In Stonor's data, London Machine Learning Engineers earn around 10% more than the UK average at the same level. Regional searches outside London fall back to the UK figure and say so.
Market context
Expertise in AI tools and data analytics is commanding premium pay. Data scientists, engineers and ML engineers are the most sought-after data professionals, and government investment in AI and supercomputing is expected to push demand further.
Source: Stonor Search Marketing Salary Benchmark 2025
About this data
- Sources
- Stonor Search Marketing Salary Benchmark 2025; Stonor Search SaaS & Tech Salary Benchmark 2025
- Sector coverage
- Client side — AI & Machine Learning, Client side — SaaS & Tech
- Benchmark period
- 2025
- Includes
- Base salary only. No bonus, commission or equity.
- Confidence
- High confidence. A published Stonor band for this exact role and location.
What affects a Machine Learning Engineer's salary?
Seniority
The biggest lever. In Stonor's data a junior / executive Machine Learning Engineer sits around £40,000, while lead / team manager level is around £85,000. Titles inflate faster than pay, so check the scope, team size and budget behind the title before assuming the top band applies.
Location
London pays about 10% more than the UK average for Machine Learning Engineers in Stonor's data. Hybrid roles based outside London are increasingly benchmarked against the national band rather than the London one, and candidates know it.
Sector and company stage
This benchmark draws on Client side — AI & Machine Learning and Client side — SaaS & Tech data, and the bands differ between them. Earlier-stage businesses often pay a lower base with more equity; established SaaS firms pay closer to the top of the band in cash.
Skills that push pay higher
Hands-on AI and ML tooling. Blending technical AI skill with strategic, human-centred thinking. Personalisation and customer-journey work. (Source: Stonor Search Marketing Salary Benchmark 2025.)
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Machine Learning Engineer roles Stonor is hiring for now
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The band above is a benchmark, not a verdict. If you'd like an honest, off-the-record read on where you sit and what would move it, Stonor talks to people in your position every week.