Senior ML Engineer Salary in Dresden (2026)
Senior ML engineers in Dresden earn €82,000–€110,000 per year, with a median of €92,000. At senior level, Dresden's semiconductor AI applications create some of the most challenging and best-compensated ML engineering work in Germany. When your computer vision model inspects wafers at nanometer precision or your optimization algorithm improves fab yield by millions of euros annually, compensation reflects that impact. Adjusted for cost of living, €92K in Dresden competes with €125K+ in Munich.
Key Facts
- Senior ML engineers earn €82K–€110K with median of €92K
- Staff/Principal roles reach €95K–€110K at semiconductor companies
- Head of ML/AI roles approach €105K–€130K+
- Semiconductor AI (defect detection, yield optimization) is the premium niche
- Purchasing power at €92K matches €125K+ in Munich
Salary by Sub-Level
- Senior (5–8 years): €82,000–€95,000
- Staff/Principal (8–12 years): €95,000–€110,000
- Head of ML/AI (12+ years): €105,000–€130,000+
Industrial AI Leadership
Senior ML engineers in Dresden lead production AI systems with direct financial impact measured in millions. Infineon's defect detection systems use deep learning computer vision operating at sub-micron precision. GlobalFoundries' yield prediction models optimize fabrication parameters across hundreds of process steps. Bosch's IoT fab leverages predictive maintenance ML to prevent equipment failures. These are models whose performance is measured in euros, not accuracy metrics.
The Production ML Premium
At senior level, Dresden rewards engineers who own the full ML lifecycle in manufacturing contexts: problem framing with process engineers, data pipeline design for sensor streams, model development with manufacturing constraints, production deployment in fab environments, monitoring at 99.99% uptime, and continuous iteration. Pure research backgrounds without production deployment experience are less valued.
Global Scarcity of Semiconductor ML
Senior ML engineers with semiconductor manufacturing expertise are among the scarcest tech professionals globally. Intel, Samsung, TSMC, ASML, Applied Materials, and Lam Research all need this skill set. Dresden is one of the few places in the world where you can develop it organically — creating genuine global career portability.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
At senior level, Dresden offers the most technically challenging applied ML work in Germany with exceptional purchasing power. Build expertise in computer vision for semiconductor inspection and ML for process optimization — these are globally scarce specializations. Infineon and GlobalFoundries offer the strongest combination of technical challenge and compensation. The ESMC fab will bring TSMC's AI-first approach to Europe. Senior ML engineers in Dresden's ecosystem have genuine global career optionality — Intel, Samsung, TSMC, and ASML all recruit from this talent pool.
Senior ML Engineer Insights — Dresden
Senior ML Engineer salaries in Dresden range from €82,000 to €110,000, a relatively tight 30% range suggesting standardized compensation for this role. The median of €92,000 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
Dresden's cost of living index of 66/100 represents moderate living costs. At a median salary of €92,000, senior ml engineer professionals here enjoy solid purchasing power relative to higher-cost tech hubs.
The hiring landscape for senior ml engineer in Dresden is anchored by employers like Infineon, GlobalFoundries, and Bosch, along with 2 other notable employers. These employers offer competitive packages that generally align with market rates, with differentiation coming through benefits, growth opportunities, and work flexibility.
Demand for senior ml engineer in Dresden centers around expertise in Deep Learning, MLOps, Computer Vision, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the €110,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like ML Engineer or Head of ML.
Related Roles in Dresden
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Data Scientist | Dresden | €75,000 - €98,000 | €83,000 |
| Senior Data Engineer | Dresden | €78,000 - €102,000 | €85,000 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Dresden | €78,000 - €100,000 | €86,000 |
| Senior DevOps Engineer | Dresden | €78,000 - €105,000 | €88,000 |
| Senior Product Manager | Dresden | €72,000 - €95,000 | €80,000 |
Senior ML Engineer Salaries by City
Compare senior ml engineer compensation across different locations
More Tech Salaries in Dresden
Explore other tech roles and their compensation in Dresden
📚 Related Articles
ML Engineer Salary in 2026: 7 Cities Compared
What machine learning engineers earn in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Berlin, London, Toronto, and remote — with real 2026 data.
The 14 Highest Paying Tech Jobs in 2026
Which tech roles pay the most? We ranked all 14 major tech positions by salary data from 113 cities worldwide.
7 Signs You're Underpaid (And What to Do)
How to figure out your real market value — and close the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a senior ML engineer earn in Dresden?
Senior ML engineers earn €82,000–€110,000 base with a median of €92,000. Staff/Principal roles at Infineon or GlobalFoundries reach €95,000–€110,000. Head of ML/AI positions approach €105,000–€130,000+. Dresden's low cost of living means €92K here delivers purchasing power equivalent to €125,000+ in Munich.
What distinguishes Dresden senior ML from Berlin senior ML?
Dresden: semiconductor manufacturing AI (computer vision at nanometer scale, yield prediction, process optimization), production ML emphasis, globally scarce skill set. Berlin: broader applications (fintech, adtech, SaaS), higher nominal pay (median €99K), larger market. Dresden builds differentiated industrial AI expertise with global portability; Berlin offers breadth and highest compensation ceiling.
How important are academic credentials for senior ML roles in Dresden?
Less than you might expect. Senior roles prioritize production ML track records in manufacturing contexts over publications. A Master's is typical; PhDs are appreciated but not required. What matters most: demonstrated ability to deploy ML systems that work reliably in semiconductor manufacturing. Exception: research-adjacent roles at cfaed or Fraunhofer prefer research backgrounds.
Can I reach €110K+ as an ML engineer in Dresden?
Yes, at Staff/Principal or Head level. Infineon and GlobalFoundries senior AI roles can reach €110K. Head of ML/AI positions approach €130K+. ESMC (TSMC) is expected to offer competitive packages benchmarked globally. Contracting (€90–€120/hour) is another route to high effective compensation.
Is semiconductor ML expertise globally portable?
Exceptionally so. Intel, Samsung, TSMC (Taiwan), ASML (Netherlands), Applied Materials, Lam Research, and dozens of automotive companies actively recruit senior ML engineers with semiconductor manufacturing experience. This is one of the scarcest ML specializations globally. Dresden is one of the few places where you can develop it — making it a strategic career investment.
Now you know the salary. Can you actually land it?
Paste a Senior ML Engineer in Dresden job posting. See exactly where you match, where you don't, and how to address gaps in your application.
Free to start. No credit card.