Recommendation Systems Engineer Salary
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Technology Headhunters uses BLS OEWS data to answer this pay question. The median pay for Recommendation Systems Engineer in the United States is $120,230 a year, and the middle half of workers earned between $85,660 and $158,880 (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 15-2051).
Broader occupation
BLS does not report this exact title. The figures shown are for SOC 15-2051, Data Scientists. BLS reports Data Scientists as a broader occupation. It does not separate Recommendation Systems Engineer, technology stack, seniority, certifications or employer sector. These figures are not a title-specific offer range.
BLS publishes one set of figures for SOC 15-2051. Other titles in our taxonomy map to it and show the same numbers. Percentiles describe all workers in the occupation. They are not experience levels.
| Measure | Per year |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,240 |
| 25th percentile | $85,660 |
| Median | $120,230 |
| 75th percentile | $158,880 |
| 90th percentile | $199,130 |
| Mean | $126,800 |
| Measure | Per hour |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32.33 |
| 25th percentile | $41.18 |
| Median | $57.80 |
| 75th percentile | $76.39 |
| 90th percentile | $95.74 |
| Mean | $60.96 |
A figure shown as "or more" is top-coded. BLS does not publish exact wages at or above $239,200 a year or $115.00 an hour.
BLS estimates 262,440 people work in this occupation nationally.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $127,450 | $85,840 to $154,890 | 3,040 | 0.64 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $109,990 | $85,410 to $136,120 | 1,730 | 0.71 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $106,590 | $82,440 to $135,290 | 1,440 | 0.61 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $120,710 | $85,220 to $145,500 | 1,990 | 1.59 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,980 | $101,320 to $173,160 | 23,160 | 1.45 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,980 | $101,320 to $173,160 | 23,160 | 1.45 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $127,750 | $90,510 to $146,750 | 10,120 | 1.48 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $107,640 | $84,600 to $138,210 | 7,940 | 1.04 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 15-2051 Data Scientists, the United States. Released 2026-05-15. Methodology and mapping notes.
These are BLS survey-based wage estimates, not observed individual offers or a modeled technology-title range. A broader occupation or proxy is not separate pay data for your job title.
Recruiter's read
Qualitative view from the search team. Not BLS data.
This title is broader than the BLS occupation, so the published range is a starting point. The skills you need may sit above or below it, so compare with live offers before you commit. Talk to us if your search needs more than a published range can tell you.
Questions answered by BLS data
What is the median pay for Recommendation Systems Engineer?
BLS reports a median of $120,230 a year for SOC 15-2051, Data Scientists, in the United States (May 2025). Half of workers earned less and half earned more.
What is the pay range for Recommendation Systems Engineer?
10% of workers in this occupation earned less than $67,240. 10% earned more than $199,130.
How many Recommendation Systems Engineer jobs are there?
BLS estimates 262,440 workers in SOC 15-2051 nationally in May 2025.
Does BLS publish this exact job title?
Not exactly. Recommendation Systems Engineer is shown using SOC 15-2051, Data Scientists, a broader occupation. BLS reports Data Scientists as a broader occupation. It does not separate Recommendation Systems Engineer, technology stack, seniority, certifications or employer sector. These figures are not a title-specific offer range.
Which of our target metros reports the highest median for Recommendation Systems Engineer?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ , at $135,980 a year (May 2025).
Are percentiles the same as experience levels?
No. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than that amount. BLS does not report pay by experience.
Related roles
Download the source data for this role (CSV) · Methodology
What changed between the published releases?
These are BLS survey estimates for SOC 15-2051, Data Scientists. They are not a projection or a comparison of the same individual workers.
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $112,590 |
| May 2025 | $120,230 |
How do published wages differ by industry?
These national rows describe private establishments in BLS four-digit industry groups. Industry names are shown as BLS publishes them. They do not include government establishments. An industry figure is still an occupation estimate, not a quote for this exact title.
View the published industry table
| Industry | NAICS | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 211100 | $104,980 | $133,230 | $168,580 | $136,120 | 370 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 212200 | $80,820 | $80,820 | $95,250 | $96,290 | 60 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 213100 | $68,280 | $107,780 | $140,260 | $109,290 | 110 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $89,130 | $116,440 | $140,970 | $121,520 | 1060 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $98,400 | $110,030 | $147,730 | $123,040 | 400 |
| Residential Building Construction | 236100 | $53,790 | $66,130 | $97,610 | $75,010 | 80 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $86,540 | $103,770 | $134,600 | $115,410 | 180 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $64,990 | $91,430 | $111,990 | $96,200 | 160 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $68,040 | $95,300 | $163,730 | $117,260 | 40 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $67,480 | $100,800 | $133,860 | $100,320 | 270 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 311100 | $70,050 | $73,820 | $104,190 | $87,400 | 40 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $80,230 | $89,760 | $125,970 | $98,650 | 30 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 311400 | $70,130 | $82,490 | $100,440 | $85,690 | 50 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $76,580 | $83,190 | $105,340 | $97,220 | 60 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $77,570 | $100,590 | $109,590 | $109,300 | 40 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 311800 | $76,590 | $90,030 | $104,980 | $93,820 | 30 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 311900 | $81,820 | $97,950 | $116,890 | $103,060 | 140 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 312100 | $76,040 | $79,870 | $96,200 | $87,730 | 420 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 315200 | $103,940 | $123,920 | $136,630 | $120,810 | 40 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $102,830 | $127,990 | $135,800 | $118,950 | 50 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $78,910 | $96,590 | $131,970 | $103,040 | 90 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323100 | $63,350 | $81,710 | $105,080 | $88,980 | 220 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $92,710 | $122,780 | $144,930 | $120,380 | 130 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $83,040 | $106,250 | $127,070 | $110,270 | 430 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $74,350 | $91,850 | $104,340 | $93,440 | 110 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $103,620 | $137,570 | $216,480 | $156,080 | 1320 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $64,720 | $80,380 | $106,200 | $92,680 | Not published by BLS |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $77,290 | $97,590 | $112,390 | $99,830 | 160 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $73,580 | $86,930 | $109,910 | $89,600 | 80 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $79,310 | $103,280 | $133,540 | $112,930 | 550 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $99,920 | $121,370 | $142,540 | $120,390 | 100 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $71,000 | $88,670 | $98,830 | $92,000 | 40 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $105,750 | $135,640 | $154,070 | $131,010 | 110 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | $122,170 | $150,330 | $182,930 | $154,130 | 640 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334200 | $83,310 | $114,680 | $146,310 | $122,250 | 90 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $106,440 | $134,890 | $171,220 | $150,580 | 1190 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $106,190 | $133,560 | $161,090 | $135,400 | 900 |
| Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 334600 | $77,220 | $92,810 | $132,320 | $107,840 | 160 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $93,920 | $98,590 | $102,690 | $103,150 | 50 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $78,850 | $112,530 | $146,570 | $118,950 | 160 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $86,760 | $117,680 | $155,680 | $122,620 | 300 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $77,320 | $94,480 | $112,040 | $93,460 | 210 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $104,320 | $130,540 | $160,090 | $130,270 | 1060 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $66,530 | $86,280 | $101,840 | $92,050 | Not published by BLS |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $62,620 | $76,010 | $85,180 | $75,550 | 70 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $99,590 | $124,700 | $158,140 | $133,260 | 520 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $74,440 | $98,780 | $123,730 | $106,430 | 120 |
| Automobile Dealers | 441100 | $93,300 | $139,980 | $166,980 | $134,670 | 100 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | 441300 | $50,960 | $82,820 | $138,570 | $95,640 | 80 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | 444100 | $86,420 | $107,770 | $189,050 | $128,670 | 60 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | 4450A1 | $47,330 | $51,640 | $66,430 | $66,820 | 110 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | 445300 | $63,910 | $66,990 | $66,990 | $65,010 | Not published by BLS |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | 449100 | $81,300 | $107,420 | $138,720 | $109,170 | 60 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | 456100 | $89,330 | $111,330 | $154,040 | $120,670 | 350 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | 458100 | $110,000 | $128,270 | $131,700 | $134,140 | 230 |
| Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | 458300 | $103,460 | $135,230 | $149,780 | $128,010 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | 4590A1 | $89,990 | $120,590 | $149,290 | $118,610 | 80 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | 459100 | $71,870 | $97,950 | $112,000 | $94,470 | 90 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | 459900 | $88,650 | $123,850 | $167,710 | $126,360 | 250 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | 481100 | $66,610 | $95,200 | $164,620 | $105,900 | 160 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | 481200 | $87,990 | $184,600 | $189,450 | $144,100 | 70 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $83,990 | $132,130 | $157,210 | $116,290 | 70 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | 483100 | $95,590 | $114,100 | $153,430 | $128,370 | 60 |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | 485300 | $155,200 | $171,590 | $173,760 | $174,660 | 2000 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 486100 | $55,070 | $83,100 | $98,610 | $84,030 | 70 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 486200 | $80,950 | $126,600 | $140,940 | $115,360 | 80 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $90,510 | $107,540 | $132,650 | $117,600 | 220 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 488200 | $85,490 | $123,270 | $125,640 | $110,160 | 30 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | 488500 | $63,680 | $83,510 | $104,540 | $91,440 | 530 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 492100 | $83,450 | $90,300 | $115,780 | $100,010 | 120 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $74,440 | $97,690 | $125,330 | $99,160 | 650 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | 512100 | $83,420 | $130,040 | $153,900 | $123,720 | 440 |
| Sound Recording Industries | 512200 | $82,750 | $98,040 | $106,250 | $99,670 | 50 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 513100 | $99,730 | $127,310 | $159,190 | $129,920 | 1280 |
| Software Publishers | 513200 | $105,420 | $156,220 | $205,900 | $154,430 | 10950 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | 516100 | $90,000 | $134,040 | $161,940 | $130,510 | 90 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | 516200 | $129,680 | $169,080 | $216,770 | $177,450 | 3660 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | 518200 | $81,500 | $129,590 | $172,770 | $139,910 | 11320 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | 519200 | $99,790 | $164,670 | $204,360 | $158,990 | 2420 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | 521100 | $102,470 | $127,740 | $158,070 | $129,130 | 290 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | 5220A1 | $98,290 | $130,300 | $163,630 | $133,220 | 12450 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | 522200 | $96,290 | $126,650 | $166,900 | $133,850 | 4050 |
| Insurance Carriers | 524100 | $88,910 | $107,680 | $134,210 | $116,460 | 15090 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | 524200 | $81,520 | $110,880 | $144,050 | $118,260 | 7420 |
| Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds | 525100 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 110 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | 525900 | $58,060 | $71,410 | $113,520 | $87,940 | 100 |
| Legal Services | 541100 | $60,500 | $98,620 | $134,130 | $107,090 | 830 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | 541200 | $91,430 | $128,120 | $169,110 | $134,130 | 3320 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $81,130 | $105,400 | $136,270 | $115,550 | 4040 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | $100,400 | $132,380 | $164,160 | $135,770 | 27590 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $86,100 | $112,520 | $161,100 | $126,100 | 15060 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $99,700 | $131,420 | $168,470 | $138,020 | 11480 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 541800 | $81,380 | $106,910 | $147,530 | $118,730 | 2760 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $81,450 | $103,210 | $157,350 | $122,410 | 4610 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 551100 | $97,560 | $128,050 | $161,610 | $135,910 | 28620 |
| Office Administrative Services | 561100 | $79,870 | $99,790 | $127,540 | $108,800 | 3570 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | $84,500 | $88,750 | $114,790 | $104,840 | 90 |
| Employment Services | 561300 | $76,440 | $102,560 | $136,910 | $114,510 | 8050 |
| Business Support Services | 561400 | $73,650 | $103,390 | $134,520 | $107,300 | 2600 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 561500 | $82,420 | $122,350 | $161,770 | $126,890 | 530 |
| Investigation and Security Services | 561600 | $49,970 | $68,720 | $110,820 | $89,340 | 300 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 561700 | $69,790 | $82,990 | $123,770 | $96,930 | 110 |
| Other Support Services | 561900 | $69,880 | $78,890 | $83,960 | $78,620 | 220 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $74,980 | $122,250 | $142,940 | $111,940 | 60 |
| Offices of Physicians | 621100 | $68,850 | $90,790 | $117,250 | $96,100 | 1830 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 621300 | $66,680 | $95,280 | $141,100 | $111,730 | 230 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 621400 | $71,080 | $90,750 | $119,980 | $96,260 | 1410 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 621500 | $80,620 | $108,440 | $136,130 | $116,340 | 820 |
| Home Health Care Services | 621600 | $77,080 | $108,060 | $127,610 | $106,390 | 540 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 621900 | $82,480 | $121,510 | $141,940 | $118,280 | 650 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 623100 | $67,980 | $80,460 | $103,210 | $92,740 | 40 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 623200 | $54,440 | $70,040 | $83,990 | $73,720 | 130 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | 623900 | $64,540 | $100,830 | $113,030 | $98,180 | 40 |
| Individual and Family Services | 624100 | $60,450 | $78,480 | $103,440 | $83,670 | 1500 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 624200 | $57,990 | $71,380 | $94,990 | $79,890 | 300 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | 624300 | $59,270 | $71,890 | $87,930 | $74,550 | 110 |
| Child Care Services | 624400 | $49,880 | $55,370 | $72,520 | $62,680 | Not published by BLS |
What should you check outside the wage figure?
For this technology hire, compare the cash work covered by the occupation before judging an offer. Keep discretionary bonuses separate. BLS does not list equity or RSUs in its wage definition. We do not assign stock awards a cash value or add them to these wages.
Remote pay bands are an employer decision. These figures have no remote-work or cost-of-living adjustment. The published metro and state rows describe the BLS area, not a remote candidate's personal pay expectations.
Compare all published metro medians for this occupation · Read the mapping and data method
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 15-2051 Data Scientists, the United States. Released 2026-05-15. Methodology and mapping notes.
These are BLS survey-based wage estimates, not observed individual offers or a modeled technology-title range. A broader occupation or proxy is not separate pay data for your job title.