Salary Comparison

Machine Learning Engineer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Melbourne

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Austin, TX
$189,852
/ year
+89%
difference
Melbourne
$100,346
/ year
Bottom line: Austin wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Austin
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$189,852โœ“ higher
$100,346
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$122,776โœ“ higher
$66,579
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$293,573โœ“ higher
$151,239
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$126,921โœ“ higher
$68,235
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$169,511โœ“ higher
$80,277
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12ร—โœ“ lower
1.25ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$122,776โœ“ higher
$101,200
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$293,573โœ“ higher
$229,883

What if you move from Austin to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$89,506
89% decrease
Take-home change
$58,686
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$89,234
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$189,852
P10: $122,776Median: $189,852P90: $293,573
Melbourne$100,346
P10: $101,200Median: $100,346P90: $229,883

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Machine Learning Engineer earn more in Austin or Melbourne?

The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $189,852/yr compared to A$152,526/yr in Melbourne. Austin pays 89% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Machine Learning Engineer salary worth more in Austin or Melbourne after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $169,511/yr in a median-cost city, vs $80,277/yr for Melbourne. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in Austin vs Melbourne?

After estimated taxes, a Machine Learning Engineer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $126,921/yr, vs $68,235/yr in Melbourne. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.