{"id":4682,"date":"2025-08-06T13:33:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T13:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/?p=4682"},"modified":"2025-11-26T12:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T12:27:11","slug":"do-ml-engineers-make-more-than-software-engineers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/do-ml-engineers-make-more-than-software-engineers\/","title":{"rendered":"Do ML Engineers Make More Than Software Engineers? Here\u2019s What the 2025 Data Says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06131659\/Do-ML-Engineers-Make-More-Than-Software-Engineers-Heres-What-the-2025-Data-Says.jpg\" alt=\"big stack of cash\" class=\"wp-image-4689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06131659\/Do-ML-Engineers-Make-More-Than-Software-Engineers-Heres-What-the-2025-Data-Says.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06131659\/Do-ML-Engineers-Make-More-Than-Software-Engineers-Heres-What-the-2025-Data-Says-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06131659\/Do-ML-Engineers-Make-More-Than-Software-Engineers-Heres-What-the-2025-Data-Says-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>TL;DR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ML engineers usually earn more than software engineers in 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay gap driven by scarce skills, AI\u2019s business value, and tech giant bidding wars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Senior SWE or AI\u2011hybrid roles can match or beat ML pay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Machine learning jobs offer faster, early\u2011career earning growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SWE can pivot to ML for higher pay and growth potential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The question \u201cDo ML engineers make more than software engineers?\u201d is one we hear all the time, from bootcamp grads to experienced coders pondering a pivot into AI. With booming demand for machine learning jobs in 2025 and top firms offering ever-larger pay packages, the gap seems clear, but how big is it really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, the data shows a consistent pattern: machine learning engineer entry level and mid-career roles offer higher base and total compensation than typical software engineer jobs, thanks to the premium placed on AI skills. But it\u2019s not always a one-way street, especially in certain geographies or specialties. Let\u2019s break it all down clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.quiz-container {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  background-color: #000;\n  color: #fff;\n  padding: 20px;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.quiz-container h3 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n}\n.quiz-options {\n  display: flex;\n  flex-direction: column;\n  gap: 10px;\n}\n.quiz-option {\n  background-color: #fff;\n  color: #000;\n  border: 2px solid #FFA500;\n  padding: 12px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  transition: all 0.2s ease;\n  font-weight: bold;\n}\n.quiz-option:hover {\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  color: #fff;\n}\n.quiz-feedback {\n  margin-top: 15px;\n  font-weight: bold;\n}\n.correct {\n  color: #00ff88;\n}\n.incorrect {\n  color: #ff5555;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"quiz-container\">\n  <h3>Salary Guess Challenge<\/h3>\n  <p>In 2025, what\u2019s the average total compensation for a machine learning engineer in the U.S.?<\/p>\n  <div class=\"quiz-options\">\n    <div class=\"quiz-option\" data-correct=\"false\">$140,000<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quiz-option\" data-correct=\"false\">$180,000<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quiz-option\" data-correct=\"true\">$202,000<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quiz-option\" data-correct=\"false\">$220,000<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"quiz-feedback\" id=\"quizFeedback\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\ndocument.querySelectorAll('.quiz-option').forEach(option => {\n  option.addEventListener('click', function() {\n    const feedback = document.getElementById('quizFeedback');\n    const isCorrect = this.getAttribute('data-correct') === 'true';\n    if (isCorrect) {\n      feedback.textContent = '\u2705 Correct! ML engineers average about $202K total compensation in 2025.';\n      feedback.className = 'quiz-feedback correct';\n    } else {\n      feedback.textContent = '\u274c Try again! Hint: It\u2019s just over $200K.';\n      feedback.className = 'quiz-feedback incorrect';\n    }\n  });\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>ML Engineer vs Software Engineer: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXcd8criQlNofiZbZrNK-p8qaOMcYG3IyNL3sKiNquLnytfqd7ca1bDp6druv7y9I0O-GtmURRasFTHbLe8q2x-RBua3B1CoP808SjbKjmrXprLu8LH1_WTwxh63d8kdDmxdqjY.jpg\" alt=\"ML Engineer vs Software Engineer\" class=\"wp-image-4700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXcd8criQlNofiZbZrNK-p8qaOMcYG3IyNL3sKiNquLnytfqd7ca1bDp6druv7y9I0O-GtmURRasFTHbLe8q2x-RBua3B1CoP808SjbKjmrXprLu8LH1_WTwxh63d8kdDmxdqjY.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXcd8criQlNofiZbZrNK-p8qaOMcYG3IyNL3sKiNquLnytfqd7ca1bDp6druv7y9I0O-GtmURRasFTHbLe8q2x-RBua3B1CoP808SjbKjmrXprLu8LH1_WTwxh63d8kdDmxdqjY-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXcd8criQlNofiZbZrNK-p8qaOMcYG3IyNL3sKiNquLnytfqd7ca1bDp6druv7y9I0O-GtmURRasFTHbLe8q2x-RBua3B1CoP808SjbKjmrXprLu8LH1_WTwxh63d8kdDmxdqjY-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Core Responsibilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A machine learning engineer focuses on building, training, and deploying algorithms. They often work on model performance, tuning, production pipelines, and ML infrastructure engineer challenges.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A software engineer builds scalable software systems, APIs, user interfaces, and backend services. They solve architectural and logic problems across full-stack or backend layers.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some roles straddle both: software engineer machine learning, or MLOps salary roles require both coding and ML system skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Required Skills &amp; Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ML engineers typically hold expertise in statistics, machine learning, and software engineering, data pipelines, model deployment, and cloud frameworks.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Software engineers may specialize in languages, frameworks, scalability, microservices, CI\/CD, but without the algorithmic modeling component.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entry into ML often requires more specialized learning: so machine learning engineer entry level roles generally expect machine learning coursework or projects on top of coding ability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Examples of Jobs &amp; Titles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meta machine learning engineer or machine learning engineer meta roles may demand deep ML knowledge plus software architecture skills, and are among the most lucrative in the field.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meanwhile, classic software engineer jobs in Minnesota or other states offer stable pay and well-defined career progression, though typically not at ML-engineer levels unless the project is AI\u2011related.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Career Path Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Software engineer progression: junior \u2192 mid \u2192 senior \u2192 lead \u2192 engineering manager.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ML engineering often goes: junior \u2192 senior ML engineer \u2192 ML architect \u2192 AI leader. Promotions can be faster in AI\u2011heavy organizations hungry for technical depth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.sorter-container {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  background-color: #000;\n  color: #fff;\n  padding: 20px;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.sorter-container h3 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n\n\/* Skills row *\/\n.skills-box {\n  background-color: #111;\n  border: 2px solid #FFA500;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  padding: 10px;\n  margin: 0 auto 20px auto;\n  max-width: 400px;\n}\n.skills-box h4 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  font-size: 16px;\n  margin-bottom: 10px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.skill-card {\n  background-color: #fff;\n  color: #000;\n  padding: 8px;\n  margin: 5px 0;\n  border-radius: 4px;\n  cursor: grab;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  border: 1px solid #FFA500;\n}\n.skill-card.dragging {\n  opacity: 0.5;\n}\n\n\/* ML & SWE columns side-by-side *\/\n.columns-container {\n  display: flex;\n  flex-wrap: wrap;\n  gap: 20px;\n  justify-content: center;\n}\n.sorter-column {\n  flex: 1 1 300px;\n  background-color: #111;\n  padding: 10px;\n  border: 2px solid #FFA500;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  min-height: 200px;\n}\n.sorter-column h4 {\n  margin-bottom: 10px;\n  color: #FFA500;\n  font-size: 16px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n\n#submitSorter {\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  color: #000;\n  border: none;\n  padding: 10px 15px;\n  margin-top: 15px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  display: block;\n  margin-left: auto;\n  margin-right: auto;\n}\n#submitSorter:hover {\n  background-color: #ff8800;\n}\n.sorter-feedback {\n  margin-top: 15px;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.correct {\n  color: #00ff88;\n}\n.incorrect {\n  color: #ff5555;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sorter-container\">\n  <h3>ML Engineer vs Software Engineer: Skill Sorter<\/h3>\n  <p style=\"text-align:center;\">Drag each skill into the correct column, then click Submit to check your answers.<\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"skills-box\" id=\"skillsPool\">\n    <h4>Skills<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"ml\">Model Deployment<\/div>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"ml\">Neural Networks<\/div>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"swe\">UI Development<\/div>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"swe\">CI\/CD<\/div>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"ml\">Data Cleaning<\/div>\n    <div class=\"skill-card\" draggable=\"true\" data-role=\"ml\">Algorithm Optimization<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"columns-container\">\n    <div class=\"sorter-column\" id=\"mlColumn\">\n      <h4>ML Engineer<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sorter-column\" id=\"sweColumn\">\n      <h4>Software Engineer<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <button id=\"submitSorter\">Submit<\/button>\n  <div class=\"sorter-feedback\" id=\"sorterFeedback\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\nconst cards = document.querySelectorAll('.skill-card');\nconst columns = document.querySelectorAll('.sorter-column, #skillsPool');\n\ncards.forEach(card => {\n  card.addEventListener('dragstart', () => {\n    card.classList.add('dragging');\n  });\n  card.addEventListener('dragend', () => {\n    card.classList.remove('dragging');\n  });\n});\n\ncolumns.forEach(column => {\n  column.addEventListener('dragover', e => {\n    e.preventDefault();\n    const draggingCard = document.querySelector('.dragging');\n    if (draggingCard && column !== draggingCard.parentElement) {\n      column.appendChild(draggingCard);\n    }\n  });\n});\n\ndocument.getElementById('submitSorter').addEventListener('click', () => {\n  const feedback = document.getElementById('sorterFeedback');\n  let correctCount = 0;\n  let total = 0;\n\n  document.querySelectorAll('#mlColumn .skill-card').forEach(card => {\n    total++;\n    if (card.getAttribute('data-role') === 'ml') correctCount++;\n  });\n  document.querySelectorAll('#sweColumn .skill-card').forEach(card => {\n    total++;\n    if (card.getAttribute('data-role') === 'swe') correctCount++;\n  });\n\n  if (correctCount === total && total > 0) {\n    feedback.textContent = '\u2705 Perfect! You sorted all skills correctly.';\n    feedback.className = 'sorter-feedback correct';\n  } else {\n    feedback.textContent = `\u274c You got ${correctCount} out of ${total} correct. Try again!`;\n    feedback.className = 'sorter-feedback incorrect';\n  }\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2025 Salary Data: ML Engineer vs Software Engineer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXdp14EOtgm99c030YStqaKIMM62hnVIP6k6EEC-UXocvq9CqCmkG5Dkzb8Nt1oJWXvlOfqqyuKjCBqymzrwUDGT78hW3RfHIA8GbL0neeLiYDX33nbxs8pY54LESi-dgO3oxda1ew.jpg\" alt=\"ML Engineer vs Software Engineer Salary\" class=\"wp-image-4701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXdp14EOtgm99c030YStqaKIMM62hnVIP6k6EEC-UXocvq9CqCmkG5Dkzb8Nt1oJWXvlOfqqyuKjCBqymzrwUDGT78hW3RfHIA8GbL0neeLiYDX33nbxs8pY54LESi-dgO3oxda1ew.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXdp14EOtgm99c030YStqaKIMM62hnVIP6k6EEC-UXocvq9CqCmkG5Dkzb8Nt1oJWXvlOfqqyuKjCBqymzrwUDGT78hW3RfHIA8GbL0neeLiYDX33nbxs8pY54LESi-dgO3oxda1ew-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXdp14EOtgm99c030YStqaKIMM62hnVIP6k6EEC-UXocvq9CqCmkG5Dkzb8Nt1oJWXvlOfqqyuKjCBqymzrwUDGT78hW3RfHIA8GbL0neeLiYDX33nbxs8pY54LESi-dgO3oxda1ew-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>USA Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vettio.com\/salaries\/ai-ml-engineer\">AI\/ML engineer salaries in the U.S. for 2025<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The average machine learning engineer base salary in the U.S. for 2025 is the tune of about $158,147, with additional cash compensation around $44,280, resulting in a <a href=\"https:\/\/builtin.com\/salaries\/us\/machine-learning-engineer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">total average of $202,427<\/a>.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In contrast, the average software engineer salary in 2025 is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/articles\/software-engineer-salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">approximately $112,165 base<\/a>, plus $26\u201349K additional pay, so total comp generally lands in the $130K\u2013160K range.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Experience-Level Breakdown<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/machine-learning-recruitment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">machine learning jobs<\/a>, entry-level (0\u202f\u20131 year) roles start around $118K, rising to <a href=\"https:\/\/365datascience.com\/career-advice\/career-guides\/machine-learning-engineer-job-outlook-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$134K at 2\u20133 years<\/a>, and $156K at 4\u20136 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For software engineering, mid-level engineers (5 years experience) in 2025 make between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/Mid-Level-Software-Engineer-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$120K\u2013173K<\/a>, with seniors earning $205K base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Market Spread &amp; Top Firms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Job postings for ML engineers often advertise compensation ranges: <a href=\"https:\/\/publicinsight.io\/machine-learning-engineer-salary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">min ~$137K, mid ~$176K, and <strong>max ~$214K<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.datacamp.com\/blog\/machine-learning-engineer-salaries-in-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">FAANG\u2011scale companies<\/a>, ML roles can fetch even higher rewards. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Google ML engineers: base ~$177K, total up to ~$281K.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apple ML roles: base ~$193K, total comp up to ~$300K.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meta ML positions: base ~$123K with total pay around ~$152K.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Software engineers at large firms can still earn very well: Microsoft senior engineers and <a href=\"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/ai-staffing-solutions-for-startups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI-focused staff<\/a> receive total compensation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.windowscentral.com\/microsoft\/microsoft-pay-scale-reveals-ai-pros-are-making-bank-with-compensation-packages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">packages regularly exceeding $300K<\/a>, with elite positions at Meta or OpenAI reaching millions per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.salary-comparison {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  background-color: #000;\n  color: #fff;\n  padding: 20px;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.salary-comparison h3 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.salary-slider {\n  width: 100%;\n  margin: 15px 0;\n}\n.salary-labels {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: space-between;\n  font-size: 14px;\n  margin-bottom: 10px;\n  color: #FFA500;\n}\n.salary-bars {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: space-around;\n  gap: 20px;\n}\n.bar-container {\n  flex: 1;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.bar {\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  width: 60%;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  transition: height 0.5s ease;\n}\n.salary-amount {\n  margin-top: 8px;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  color: #fff;\n}\n.toggle-container {\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-top: 15px;\n}\n.toggle-container button {\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  color: #000;\n  border: none;\n  padding: 8px 14px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  font-weight: bold;\n}\n.toggle-container button:hover {\n  background-color: #ff8800;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"salary-comparison\">\n  <h3>2025 Salary Data: ML Engineer vs Software Engineer<\/h3>\n  <div class=\"salary-labels\">\n    <span>Entry-Level<\/span>\n    <span>Mid-Level<\/span>\n    <span>Senior<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <input type=\"range\" min=\"0\" max=\"2\" value=\"0\" class=\"salary-slider\" id=\"salarySlider\">\n  \n  <div class=\"salary-bars\">\n    <div class=\"bar-container\">\n      <div id=\"mlBar\" class=\"bar\" style=\"height:120px;\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"salary-amount\" id=\"mlAmount\">$118K<\/div>\n      <div style=\"color:#FFA500;\">ML Engineer<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"bar-container\">\n      <div id=\"sweBar\" class=\"bar\" style=\"height:100px;\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"salary-amount\" id=\"sweAmount\">$100K<\/div>\n      <div style=\"color:#FFA500;\">Software Engineer<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"toggle-container\">\n    <button id=\"toggleData\">Show: Average Industry<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\nconst salaryData = {\n  average: [\n    { ml: 118000, swe: 100000 }, \/\/ Entry\n    { ml: 155000, swe: 130000 }, \/\/ Mid\n    { ml: 202000, swe: 160000 }  \/\/ Senior\n  ],\n  top: [\n    { ml: 137000, swe: 120000 }, \/\/ Entry\n    { ml: 176000, swe: 150000 }, \/\/ Mid\n    { ml: 281000, swe: 240000 }  \/\/ Senior\n  ]\n};\n\nlet currentData = 'average';\n\nconst slider = document.getElementById('salarySlider');\nconst mlBar = document.getElementById('mlBar');\nconst sweBar = document.getElementById('sweBar');\nconst mlAmount = document.getElementById('mlAmount');\nconst sweAmount = document.getElementById('sweAmount');\nconst toggleBtn = document.getElementById('toggleData');\n\nfunction updateBars() {\n  const index = parseInt(slider.value);\n  const data = salaryData[currentData][index];\n  \n  \/\/ scale bar heights (max height ~300px for $300k)\n  const scaleFactor = 300 \/ 300000;\n  \n  mlBar.style.height = (data.ml * scaleFactor) + 'px';\n  sweBar.style.height = (data.swe * scaleFactor) + 'px';\n  \n  mlAmount.textContent = `$${(data.ml\/1000).toFixed(0)}K`;\n  sweAmount.textContent = `$${(data.swe\/1000).toFixed(0)}K`;\n}\n\nslider.addEventListener('input', updateBars);\n\ntoggleBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {\n  currentData = currentData === 'average' ? 'top' : 'average';\n  toggleBtn.textContent = currentData === 'average' ? 'Show: Top Companies' : 'Show: Average Industry';\n  updateBars();\n});\n\n\/\/ initial load\nupdateBars();\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why ML Engineers Are (Usually) Paid More<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXex2PWw2YKQknVBP3st_3NPa4UK9SezPrR1h-MK2Mei_DdkAd80_IWtWscvTxD1bA7GR4zX4EZ0i5mlo_YAgw9AmL0G7azLt74hmhBLF6Qh9LlNz1X_98h3aRmnTq4rboLrLDZl.jpg\" alt=\"ml engineers are paid more\" class=\"wp-image-4699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXex2PWw2YKQknVBP3st_3NPa4UK9SezPrR1h-MK2Mei_DdkAd80_IWtWscvTxD1bA7GR4zX4EZ0i5mlo_YAgw9AmL0G7azLt74hmhBLF6Qh9LlNz1X_98h3aRmnTq4rboLrLDZl.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXex2PWw2YKQknVBP3st_3NPa4UK9SezPrR1h-MK2Mei_DdkAd80_IWtWscvTxD1bA7GR4zX4EZ0i5mlo_YAgw9AmL0G7azLt74hmhBLF6Qh9LlNz1X_98h3aRmnTq4rboLrLDZl-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXex2PWw2YKQknVBP3st_3NPa4UK9SezPrR1h-MK2Mei_DdkAd80_IWtWscvTxD1bA7GR4zX4EZ0i5mlo_YAgw9AmL0G7azLt74hmhBLF6Qh9LlNz1X_98h3aRmnTq4rboLrLDZl-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Specialized &amp; Scarce Skillset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Machine learning jobs demand proficiency in statistical modeling, working with data pipelines, application of frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, and experience with deployment and ML infrastructure engineer challenges. That combo is rarer than generalist coding skills, pushing up salaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. High Business Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ML roles often drive revenue-impacting products such as recommendation systems, AI tools, forecasting, and automation. Companies see tangible ROI from ML models, so they&#8217;re willing to <strong>invest heavily in ML talent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Competitive Market &amp; Tech Giants\u2019 Bidding Wars<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As AI becomes core to product strategy, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and even startups are competing hard for ML talent. Recent reports show ML talent being offered multi-million dollar contracts, base pay exceeding $300K, and total comp in the $400K+ range for elite roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Roles Evolving Toward MLOps &amp; AI Systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many ML engineers take on roles akin to software engineer, machine learning, MLOps salary, or ML infrastructure engineer. These hybrid roles require both traditional software engineering skills and ML-specific expertise, making them doubly valuable and better compensated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Faster Progression in AI-Driven Organizations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/ai-engineer-vs-ml-engineer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">companies heavily focused on AI<\/a>, ML engineers often move faster up the career ladder: junior \u2192 senior ML engineer \u2192 ML architect \u2192 AI\/ML leadership. That path can bring quicker jumps in pay relative to a traditional SWE track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Do Software Engineers Earn More?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132704\/AD_4nXfYA6Dl-YFvb-CUMIZTuLZpq67b_M2xGFkZZcC2RH7x7h52YGh8c1hG62bsV4nlGKeErbhz8o1olB0Cjk3BjWC1kxNwt7mkrjgu8zY-SWiFAFmLEvYbEmzYL-WEZ0Rmxcw8Qhaldw.jpg\" alt=\"When Do Software Engineers Earn More?\" class=\"wp-image-4698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132704\/AD_4nXfYA6Dl-YFvb-CUMIZTuLZpq67b_M2xGFkZZcC2RH7x7h52YGh8c1hG62bsV4nlGKeErbhz8o1olB0Cjk3BjWC1kxNwt7mkrjgu8zY-SWiFAFmLEvYbEmzYL-WEZ0Rmxcw8Qhaldw.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132704\/AD_4nXfYA6Dl-YFvb-CUMIZTuLZpq67b_M2xGFkZZcC2RH7x7h52YGh8c1hG62bsV4nlGKeErbhz8o1olB0Cjk3BjWC1kxNwt7mkrjgu8zY-SWiFAFmLEvYbEmzYL-WEZ0Rmxcw8Qhaldw-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132704\/AD_4nXfYA6Dl-YFvb-CUMIZTuLZpq67b_M2xGFkZZcC2RH7x7h52YGh8c1hG62bsV4nlGKeErbhz8o1olB0Cjk3BjWC1kxNwt7mkrjgu8zY-SWiFAFmLEvYbEmzYL-WEZ0Rmxcw8Qhaldw-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the general trend that ML engineers earn more, there are clear scenarios where software engineer roles can exceed ML pay:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Senior-Level SWE at Big Tech<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At Microsoft, senior software engineers (including AI software engineers) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/microsoft-salaries-pays-engineers-pm-ai-talent-wars-2025-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">earn base up to $284K<\/a>, while LinkedIn ML engineers receive total comp up to $336K.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Software engineer positions at Apple and Palantir pay strong base ranges: Palantir <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/palantir-salaries-how-much-defense-tech-giant-pays-compensation-2025-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">SWE base spans <strong>$155K\u2013240K<\/strong><\/a>, rivaling ML roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>High-Impact, Large-Scale Engineering Projects<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Positions in backbone systems, DevOps, or MLOps infrastructure sometimes pay as well or more than mid-tier ML engineers. These roles require deep coding expertise and system design skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Equity &amp; Stock-Based Packages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior software engineer jobs in Minnesota or in scaled companies with extensive equity programs can offer compensations that match or exceed ML roles, especially with vesting equity or performance shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Specialized or Leadership Paths<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior software engineers who become staff engineers, principal engineers, or engineering managers in major tech firms often eclipse ML pay, particularly in AI-focused product areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Community Insight:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/cscareerquestions\/comments\/1hz3wie\/are_ml_engineers_paid_more_than_swes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Reddit\u2019s r\/cscareerquestions<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt Snap L5 SWE would be around 550k, then MLE would be at 580k.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reflects real-world pay bands where software engineer, machine learning crossover, and senior SWE roles can be competitive with ML levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Career Outlook: Which Role Is Growing Faster in 2025?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXewzusqfJhhrYAiEA9j5zqhUuAdA4Eejh0_be6l_hAAUExH3qfN0AXvsggSZoJOgvlmJ2ixDbIPs4Lx_v181UW3PO8JOn9uuTpJT0mc-xIiW5ZpZH0OCDrz2RsV9DzSwVdv-msC4g.jpg\" alt=\"ML vs Software Engineer Roles\" class=\"wp-image-4702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXewzusqfJhhrYAiEA9j5zqhUuAdA4Eejh0_be6l_hAAUExH3qfN0AXvsggSZoJOgvlmJ2ixDbIPs4Lx_v181UW3PO8JOn9uuTpJT0mc-xIiW5ZpZH0OCDrz2RsV9DzSwVdv-msC4g.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXewzusqfJhhrYAiEA9j5zqhUuAdA4Eejh0_be6l_hAAUExH3qfN0AXvsggSZoJOgvlmJ2ixDbIPs4Lx_v181UW3PO8JOn9uuTpJT0mc-xIiW5ZpZH0OCDrz2RsV9DzSwVdv-msC4g-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06132707\/AD_4nXewzusqfJhhrYAiEA9j5zqhUuAdA4Eejh0_be6l_hAAUExH3qfN0AXvsggSZoJOgvlmJ2ixDbIPs4Lx_v181UW3PO8JOn9uuTpJT0mc-xIiW5ZpZH0OCDrz2RsV9DzSwVdv-msC4g-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Machine Learning Engineer Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The global machine learning jobs sector is projected to reach <a href=\"https:\/\/365datascience.com\/career-advice\/career-guides\/machine-learning-engineer-job-outlook-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$113.1 billion in 2025<\/a>, growing to $503.4 billion by 2030.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employment is rising fast. There are 1.6 million ML engineers globally, up by 219,000 in just a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/publications\/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025\/digest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">According to the World Economic Forum\u2019s Future of Jobs Report 2025<\/a>, AI and Machine Learning Specialists rank among the fastest-growing tech roles, alongside Big Data and Fintech roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Software Engineering Outlook<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Software engineering roles continue to grow steadily: projected <a href=\"https:\/\/lemon.io\/blog\/software-engineering-job-market\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">17% job growth from 2023 to 2033<\/a>, adding ~327,900 new jobs.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demand focuses on experienced SWE and those with AI\/ML fluency, as traditional entry-level hiring is slowing due to automation and increased expectations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Comparative Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Role<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Growth Rate (2023\u20132030\/33)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Key Drivers &amp; Trends<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Machine Learning Engineer<\/strong><\/td><td>Extremely high. Demand accelerating now, and future projected growth strong<\/td><td>Explosion in AI deployments, MLOps roles, business impact, ML skill premium<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Software Engineer (general\/AI hybrid)<\/strong><\/td><td>Growth steady (~17%)<\/td><td>Core infrastructure, AI-integrated projects, transformation of SWE roles into AI makers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Role Convergence &amp; Adaptation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Roles like software engineer, machine learning, MLOps salary, and ML infrastructure engineer are blending traditional SWE and ML skill sets, unlocking high-growth trajectories and compensation.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, entry-level software engineers are most threatened by automation: layoffs of junior roles are increasing, and companies are hiring fewer new grads unless they offer AI skills or coding creativity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Action Steps Based on Outlook<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>If you&#8217;re targeting rapid growth and high pay<\/strong>: leveling up into ML\/AI-focused SWE roles or switching to full ML engineering is a fast track.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you&#8217;re a senior SWE<\/strong>: continuing in high-scale, AI-enhanced infrastructure or leadership tracks can earn you compensation that competes strongly with ML roles.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For entry-level professionals<\/strong>: bridging early into machine learning engineer entry level roles gives a stronger career position than general software-only paths.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.race-container {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  background-color: #000;\n  color: #fff;\n  padding: 20px;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.race-container h3 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n}\n.track {\n  position: relative;\n  background-color: #111;\n  border: 2px solid #FFA500;\n  height: 80px;\n  margin: 20px 0;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n}\n.runner {\n  position: absolute;\n  top: 10px;\n  left: 0;\n  width: 80px;\n  height: 60px;\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  color: #000;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  text-align: center;\n  line-height: 60px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n}\n.runner.swe {\n  top: 10px;\n  background-color: #00ff88;\n}\n.runner.ml {\n  top: 50px;\n}\n#startRace {\n  background-color: #FFA500;\n  color: #000;\n  border: none;\n  padding: 10px 20px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  display: block;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n}\n#startRace:hover {\n  background-color: #ff8800;\n}\n#raceResult {\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-top: 15px;\n  font-weight: bold;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"race-container\">\n  <h3>Career Outlook: Which Role Is Growing Faster in 2025?<\/h3>\n  <p style=\"text-align:center;\">Click start to see which role races ahead in growth.<\/p>\n  \n  <div class=\"track\" style=\"height:120px;\">\n    <div class=\"runner ml\">ML<\/div>\n    <div class=\"runner swe\">SWE<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  \n  <button id=\"startRace\">Start Race<\/button>\n  <div id=\"raceResult\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n  const mlRunner = document.querySelector('.runner.ml');\n  const sweRunner = document.querySelector('.runner.swe');\n  const raceResult = document.getElementById('raceResult');\n  const startBtn = document.getElementById('startRace');\n\n  startBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {\n    raceResult.textContent = '';\n    mlRunner.style.left = '0px';\n    sweRunner.style.left = '0px';\n    \n    let mlPos = 0;\n    let swePos = 0;\n    const finish = document.querySelector('.track').offsetWidth - 90;\n\n    const raceInterval = setInterval(() => {\n      mlPos += Math.random() * 12 + 8; \/\/ ML faster\n      swePos += Math.random() * 10 + 5; \/\/ SWE slower\n      mlRunner.style.left = mlPos + 'px';\n      sweRunner.style.left = swePos + 'px';\n\n      if (mlPos >= finish || swePos >= finish) {\n        clearInterval(raceInterval);\n        if (mlPos > swePos) {\n          raceResult.innerHTML = \"\ud83c\udfc6 Winner: ML Engineer \u2013 Projected to grow faster due to AI demand and global adoption.\";\n        } else {\n          raceResult.innerHTML = \"\ud83c\udfc6 Winner: Software Engineer \u2013 Specific niches and leadership roles remain highly competitive.\";\n        }\n      }\n    }, 100);\n  });\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, do ML engineers make more than software engineers? For 2025, the data says yes, most of the time. Whether it\u2019s a machine learning engineer entry level role or a senior position like ML infrastructure engineer, the average pay is significantly higher than typical software engineer jobs. The driving factors? Scarcity of talent, the direct business value of AI, and competitive bidding wars from tech giants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this isn\u2019t the full story. In certain cases, especially at the senior level, in leadership positions, or in companies with generous equity, software engineer machine learning hybrid roles, or even pure SWE positions can surpass ML pay. The deciding factor is often not the job title itself, but the mix of skills, the scale of the company, and the strategic importance of your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.faq-container {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  background-color: #000;\n  color: #fff;\n  padding: 20px;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.faq-container h3 {\n  color: #FFA500;\n  margin-bottom: 15px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.faq-item {\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #FFA500;\n  padding: 10px 0;\n}\n.faq-question {\n  cursor: pointer;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  position: relative;\n  padding-right: 20px;\n}\n.faq-question::after {\n  content: \"+\";\n  position: absolute;\n  right: 0;\n  color: #FFA500;\n  font-size: 18px;\n}\n.faq-question.active::after {\n  content: \"-\";\n}\n.faq-answer {\n  display: none;\n  margin-top: 8px;\n  line-height: 1.5;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"faq-container\">\n  <h3>FAQs<\/h3>\n\n  <div class=\"faq-item\">\n    <div class=\"faq-question\">Is it harder to become an ML engineer?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n      Generally, yes. While software engineer jobs require strong programming and problem\u2011solving skills, ML engineers also need deep knowledge of algorithms, statistics, data processing, and AI frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch. That\u2019s why many start as software engineers before moving into machine learning jobs. Specialized fields such as MLOps salary or ML Swe meta also demand familiarity with deployment, scaling, and model optimization.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"faq-item\">\n    <div class=\"faq-question\">Can a software engineer transition to ML?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n      Absolutely. Many ML engineers started as software developers. The transition typically involves:\n      <ul>\n        <li>Strengthening math and statistics foundations.<\/li>\n        <li>Gaining hands\u2011on experience with ML libraries.<\/li>\n        <li>Working on real projects, either personal or in\u2011house, related to machine learning and software engineering.<\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n      Large companies (like Meta) often hire internally for meta machine learning engineer or machine learning engineer meta positions, making it easier for in\u2011house SWEs to pivot into ML.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"faq-item\">\n    <div class=\"faq-question\">Which role is better for remote work?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n      Both roles can be remote-friendly, but the edge often goes to software engineering. Software engineer jobs in Minnesota, for example, can be done remotely for companies headquartered elsewhere. That said, machine learning jobs near me searches in 2025 show many companies now hire ML engineers remotely as cloud\u2011based infrastructure and ML infrastructure engineer roles become the norm. If you value maximum flexibility, SWE roles have a longer track record of remote setups, but ML is catching up fast.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n  const questions = document.querySelectorAll('.faq-question');\n  questions.forEach(q => {\n    q.addEventListener('click', () => {\n      q.classList.toggle('active');\n      const answer = q.nextElementSibling;\n      if (answer.style.display === 'block') {\n        answer.style.display = 'none';\n      } else {\n        answer.style.display = 'block';\n      }\n    });\n  });\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons text-center is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/candidates.vettio.com\/ai-ml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Job Hunt? We\u2019ve Cracked It.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover if ML engineers make more than software engineers in 2025. Compare salaries, growth trends, and career tips backed by fresh data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[51,53],"class_list":["post-4682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-growth-planning","tag-ml-engineer","tag-software-engineer"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":29,"label":"Career Growth &amp; Planning"}],"post_tag":[{"value":51,"label":"ML Engineer"},{"value":53,"label":"Software Engineer"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/snabup-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06131659\/Do-ML-Engineers-Make-More-Than-Software-Engineers-Heres-What-the-2025-Data-Says.jpg",800,400,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Bisma Naeem","author_link":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/author\/bisma-naeem\/"},"comment_info":5,"category_info":[{"term_id":29,"name":"Career Growth &amp; Planning","slug":"career-growth-planning","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":29,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":84,"count":26,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":29,"category_count":26,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Career Growth &amp; Planning","category_nicename":"career-growth-planning","category_parent":84}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":51,"name":"ML Engineer","slug":"ml-engineer","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":51,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":53,"name":"Software Engineer","slug":"software-engineer","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":53,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4682"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8296,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682\/revisions\/8296"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vettio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}