Salary for Senior-level / Expert Machine Learning Engineer in United Kingdom during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Machine Learning Engineer salary lies between USD 108,625 and USD 181,360 in the United Kingdom. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 15, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Machine Learning Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Machine Learning Engineer job listings are Machine Learning, Python and Engineering. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Machine Learning | 3798 jobs Python | 2845 jobs Engineering | 2766 jobs Computer Science | 2210 jobs ML models | 2052 jobs PyTorch | 1907 jobs TensorFlow | 1759 jobs Deep Learning | 1536 jobs Pipelines | 1530 jobs Research | 1511 jobs AWS | 1358 jobs LLMs | 1329 jobs NLP | 1308 jobs Architecture | 1184 jobs Statistics | 1158 jobs Testing | 1030 jobs Spark | 916 jobs GCP | 848 jobs SQL | 832 jobs PhD | 829 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Machine Learning Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Machine Learning Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 3364 jobs Health care | 1880 jobs Equity / stock options | 1623 jobs Flex vacation | 1124 jobs Flex hours | 1111 jobs Salary bonus | 1091 jobs Startup environment | 967 jobs Parental leave | 940 jobs Competitive pay | 936 jobs Insurance | 850 jobs Medical leave | 839 jobs Team events | 623 jobs 401(k) matching | 583 jobs Conferences | 462 jobs Wellness | 408 jobs Flexible spending account | 401 jobs Home office stipend | 357 jobs Transparency | 196 jobs Relocation support | 180 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 125 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United Kingdom, the salary for a Senior-level or Expert Machine Learning Engineer typically comprises a fixed base salary, performance-based bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies or startups. The base salary often constitutes the majority of the total compensation package, ranging from 70% to 85%. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's performance and individual achievements, usually accounting for 10% to 20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, is more common in larger tech firms or startups and can make up 5% to 15% of the total compensation. The exact composition can vary based on the region, with London-based roles often offering higher salaries due to the cost of living, and the industry, with finance and tech sectors typically offering more competitive packages.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median level, consider pursuing leadership roles such as a Machine Learning Team Lead or Head of AI/ML. These positions often come with higher compensation due to increased responsibilities. Additionally, specializing in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or AI ethics can make you more valuable. Networking within industry circles and attending conferences can also open up opportunities for higher-paying roles. Another strategy is to transition into consulting, where you can leverage your expertise to command higher fees. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML can also position you for salary negotiations or promotions.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level Machine Learning Engineer positions require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or Mathematics. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research and development of new algorithms or models. The educational background should provide a strong foundation in machine learning principles, data analysis, and programming skills. Additionally, coursework or experience in software engineering, data structures, and algorithms is highly beneficial.

Helpful Certificates

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Certifications such as the Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, and Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate are well-regarded in the industry. These certifications validate your skills in deploying machine learning models on cloud platforms, which is a valuable asset for many companies. Additionally, completing courses from platforms like Coursera or edX in specialized areas of AI/ML can also be advantageous.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level Machine Learning Engineer is expected to have at least 5 to 10 years of experience in the field. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in leading projects or teams is often required, as these roles involve significant collaboration and leadership responsibilities. Familiarity with industry-standard tools and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn is essential. Experience in deploying machine learning models in production environments and working with large datasets is also highly valued.

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