New York is the #2 MLE market, driven by finance AI and Bloomberg/Two Sigma demand. Finance MLEs earn 15-25% more than tech MLEs at equivalent levels. New York's high income tax (14.7% combined) reduces real MLE earnings. Finance-sector ML roles often pay more than tech but have different sponsorship dynamics.
Key fact: New York's high income tax (14.7% combined) reduces real MLE earnings. Finance-sector ML roles often pay more than tech but have different sponsorship dynamics.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| MLE L3 | $168,000 |
| Senior MLE L4 | $210,000 |
| Staff MLE L5 | $262,000 |
| Quant ML Researcher | $312,000 |
| Principal MLE | $295,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Two Sigma | $312,000 |
| Bloomberg | $228,000 |
| Google NYC | $235,000 |
| Meta NYC | $248,000 |
| JPMorgan AI Research | $258,000 |
| Amazon NYC | $205,000 |