Austin has emerged as a significant ML engineering H1B market with 3,200 FY2024 filings -- up 245% since FY2020 as Apple, Google, and Amazon expanded Austin engineering. The median H1B MLE wage is $178,000 -- 48% above national. Texas has no state income tax, giving Austin MLEs a meaningful advantage over California-based roles.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| MLE L4 | $158,000 |
| Senior MLE L5 | $195,000 |
| Staff MLE L6 | $238,000 |
| Principal MLE L7 | $285,000 |
| Research Scientist | $215,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Apple Austin AI | $215,000 |
| Google Austin | $222,000 |
| Amazon Austin MLE | $208,000 |
| Tesla AI | $188,000 |
| Oracle AI/Cloud | $172,000 |
| Indeed AI | $182,000 |