Technology70% remote-eligible+10.2% YoY growth
NLP Engineer Salary
by City (2026)
Develop natural language processing systems for text analysis, chatbots, and translation. National median: $168K/year. See how your city compares.
National median
$168K
Top 10% earn
$272K
Entry level
$125K
Salary growth
+10.2%/yr
NLP Engineer salary by city
Sorted by median salary| City | Entry | Median | Senior | COL | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $234K | $314K | $402K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Cambridge, MA | $231K | $311K | $398K | 185 | 5% |
| Pearl City, HI | $231K | $311K | $398K | 185 | 11% |
| Bellevue, WA | $219K | $294K | $376K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Irvine, CA | $215K | $289K | $370K | 172 | 9.3% |
| San Francisco, CA | $206K | $277K | $355K | 224 | 9.3% |
| Yonkers, NY | $206K | $277K | $355K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Bethesda, MD | $206K | $277K | $355K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Kirkland, WA | $203K | $272K | $348K | 162 | None ✓ |
| San Jose, CA | $198K | $265K | $340K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Stamford, CT | $198K | $265K | $340K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Hilo, HI | $194K | $260K | $333K | 155 | 11% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $188K | $252K | $323K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Oakland, CA | $185K | $249K | $318K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $185K | $249K | $318K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Rockville, MD | $185K | $249K | $318K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Alexandria, VA | $181K | $244K | $312K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $181K | $244K | $312K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Seattle, WA | $178K | $239K | $305K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Washington, DC | $175K | $235K | $301K | 152 | 8.5% |
| Paterson, NJ | $175K | $235K | $301K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $173K | $232K | $297K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Boston, MA | $173K | $232K | $297K | 162 | 5% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $173K | $232K | $297K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Edison, NJ | $173K | $232K | $297K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $173K | $232K | $297K | 138 | None ✓ |
| Los Angeles, CA | $169K | $227K | $290K | 163 | 9.3% |
| Arlington, VA | $169K | $227K | $290K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Newark, NJ | $165K | $222K | $284K | 155 | 10.75% |
| San Diego, CA | $163K | $218K | $280K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $160K | $215K | $275K | 155 | 9.3% |
| Austin, TX | $153K | $205K | $262K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Portland, OR | $153K | $205K | $262K | 130 | 9.9% |
| New Haven, CT | $153K | $205K | $262K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Nashua, NH | $150K | $202K | $258K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Sacramento, CA | $148K | $198K | $254K | 128 | 9.3% |
| Riverside, CA | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Naperville, IL | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Tacoma, WA | $148K | $198K | $254K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Vancouver, WA | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Denver, CO | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 4.55% |
| Lowell, MA | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 5% |
| Gresham, OR | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Manchester, NH | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $148K | $198K | $254K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Plano, TX | $144K | $193K | $247K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Hialeah, FL | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Chicago, IL | $144K | $193K | $247K | 107 | 4.95% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | $144K | $193K | $247K | 118 | 2.5% |
| Lakewood, CO | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Worcester, MA | $144K | $193K | $247K | 120 | 5% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $144K | $193K | $247K | 105 | 4.85% |
| Baltimore, MD | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Frederick, MD | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Portland, ME | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Concord, NH | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Warwick, RI | $144K | $193K | $247K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Honolulu, HI | $144K | $193K | $247K | 192 | 11% |
| Dallas, TX | $140K | $188K | $241K | 96 | None ✓ |
| McKinney, TX | $140K | $188K | $241K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Miami, FL | $140K | $188K | $241K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $140K | $188K | $241K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Fort Collins, CO | $140K | $188K | $241K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Durham, NC | $140K | $188K | $241K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Cary, NC | $140K | $188K | $241K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $140K | $188K | $241K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $140K | $188K | $241K | 106 | 6.8% |
| Aurora, CO | $138K | $185K | $237K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Atlanta, GA | $138K | $185K | $237K | 99 | 5.75% |
| Raleigh, NC | $138K | $185K | $237K | 102 | 4.75% |
| Eugene, OR | $138K | $185K | $237K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Provo, UT | $138K | $185K | $237K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Hartford, CT | $138K | $185K | $237K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Anchorage, AK | $138K | $185K | $237K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $135K | $181K | $232K | 97 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $135K | $181K | $232K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Chandler, AZ | $135K | $181K | $232K | 105 | 2.5% |
| Gilbert, AZ | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Thornton, CO | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | 4.55% |
| St. Paul, MN | $135K | $181K | $232K | 104 | 6.8% |
| Boise, ID | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Wilmington, DE | $135K | $181K | $232K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Houston, TX | $131K | $176K | $226K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Fort Worth, TX | $131K | $176K | $226K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Stockton, CA | $131K | $176K | $226K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Tampa, FL | $131K | $176K | $226K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Phoenix, AZ | $131K | $176K | $226K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Springfield, MA | $131K | $176K | $226K | 105 | 5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $131K | $176K | $226K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Nashville, TN | $131K | $176K | $226K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $131K | $176K | $226K | 90 | 3.07% |
| Salem, OR | $131K | $176K | $226K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $131K | $176K | $226K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Reno, NV | $131K | $176K | $226K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Meridian, ID | $131K | $176K | $226K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Arlington, TX | $128K | $171K | $219K | 94 | None ✓ |
| Garland, TX | $128K | $171K | $219K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $128K | $171K | $219K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Orlando, FL | $128K | $171K | $219K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Huntsville, AL | $128K | $171K | $219K | 88 | 5% |
| Missoula, MT | $128K | $171K | $219K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Denton, TX | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | None ✓ |
| San Bernardino, CA | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 9.3% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $125K | $168K | $215K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Cape Coral, FL | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $125K | $168K | $215K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Richmond, VA | $125K | $168K | $215K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Columbus, OH | $125K | $168K | $215K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Madison, WI | $125K | $168K | $215K | 102 | 5.3% |
| Rochester, MN | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 6.8% |
| West Jordan, UT | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Charleston, SC | $125K | $168K | $215K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Overland Park, KS | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Dover, DE | $125K | $168K | $215K | 100 | 6.6% |
| Albany, NY | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $123K | $165K | $211K | 102 | 4.55% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Kansas City, MO | $123K | $165K | $211K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $123K | $165K | $211K | 102 | None ✓ |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Nampa, ID | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Lewiston, ME | $123K | $165K | $211K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $120K | $161K | $206K | 88 | 3.99% |
| St. Louis, MO | $120K | $161K | $206K | 86 | 5.3% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $120K | $161K | $206K | 88 | 3.23% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $120K | $161K | $206K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Fresno, CA | $119K | $160K | $204K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Rochester, NY | $119K | $160K | $204K | 90 | 6.85% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $119K | $160K | $204K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Glendale, AZ | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Norfolk, VA | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Detroit, MI | $119K | $160K | $204K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 3.07% |
| North Charleston, SC | $119K | $160K | $204K | 95 | 6.5% |
| San Antonio, TX | $115K | $155K | $198K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Midland, TX | $115K | $155K | $198K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Buffalo, NY | $115K | $155K | $198K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Spokane, WA | $115K | $155K | $198K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Athens, GA | $115K | $155K | $198K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Duluth, MN | $115K | $155K | $198K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Louisville, KY | $115K | $155K | $198K | 85 | 5% |
| Greenville, SC | $115K | $155K | $198K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $115K | $155K | $198K | 88 | 4.82% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $115K | $155K | $198K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Joliet, IL | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Cleveland, OH | $113K | $151K | $194K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Kenosha, WI | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | 5.3% |
| New Orleans, LA | $113K | $151K | $194K | 92 | 6% |
| Omaha, NE | $113K | $151K | $194K | 88 | 5.84% |
| Fargo, ND | $113K | $151K | $194K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Pasadena, TX | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Syracuse, NY | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Gainesville, FL | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $110K | $148K | $189K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Savannah, GA | $110K | $148K | $189K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Greensboro, NC | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Memphis, TN | $110K | $148K | $189K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Knoxville, TN | $110K | $148K | $189K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Chattanooga, TN | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Green Bay, WI | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Lexington, KY | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 5% |
| Birmingham, AL | $110K | $148K | $189K | 82 | 5% |
| Columbia, SC | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 6.5% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $110K | $148K | $189K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 6% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 5.9% |
| Great Falls, MT | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Casper, WY | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Bismarck, ND | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $110K | $148K | $189K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $106K | $143K | $183K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Warren, MI | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Independence, MO | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Tulsa, OK | $106K | $143K | $183K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Lafayette, LA | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Wichita, KS | $106K | $143K | $183K | 82 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $106K | $143K | $183K | 85 | 4.9% |
| El Paso, TX | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pueblo, CO | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Clarksville, TN | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | None ✓ |
| South Bend, IN | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Mobile, AL | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 5% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Davenport, IA | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Little Rock, AR | $103K | $138K | $176K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Lubbock, TX | $100K | $134K | $172K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Killeen, TX | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Rockford, IL | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Macon, GA | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Akron, OH | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Erie, PA | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5% |
| Norman, OK | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Gulfport, MS | $100K | $134K | $172K | 80 | 5% |
| Abilene, TX | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Evansville, IN | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | 3.23% |
| Shreveport, LA | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | 5% |
| Charleston, WV | $98K | $131K | $168K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Laredo, TX | $94K | $126K | $161K | 76 | None ✓ |
| Brownsville, TX | $94K | $126K | $161K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Fort Smith, AR | $94K | $126K | $161K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Huntington, WV | $94K | $126K | $161K | 75 | 6.5% |
COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?
A $168K NLP Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.
Try COL Calculator →NLP Engineer Salary Guide (2026)
The national median salary for a NLP Engineer is $168,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $125,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $215,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of NLP Engineers nationally earn $272,000+.
Education and requirements
Master's or PhD in CS or Linguistics. This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.
Salary growth outlook
NLP Engineer compensation is growing at 10.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified NLP Engineers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.