Okay, let’s tackle this. So Michael Straka has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, which is a top-tier institution. He has experience in machine learning, NLP, and data engineering, which are highly sought after skills. Data scientists with his level of education and experience can expect to earn higher rates. According to Glassdoor, data scientists in the Bay Area (where Stanford is located) can earn an average hourly rate of $100–$200. However, top data scientists with expertise in AI and machine learning can earn upwards of $250–$400 per hour. Considering his location, education, and experience, I estimate Michael could charge around $125 per hour.