What are the main factors that influence a Lead AI Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Lead AI Engineer's salary?

A Lead AI Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $170,545 for beginners, reaching about $172,818 at mid-level, and approach $178,047 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Lead AI Engineer?

Lead AI Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead AI Engineer roles are District of Columbia $195,133, California $194,393, Massachusetts $191,803. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead AI Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Lead AI Engineer level roles vary by specialization: AI Engineer V: $176,226; AI Engineer IV: $158,354; Principal AI Engineer: $158,344; AI Lead: $139,236; ai ml engineer: $136,742.

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Lead AI Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Lead AI Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead AI Engineer in Delaware is $178,483 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $86.

However, a Lead AI Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $197,855
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $163,253 to $188,623
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,387

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Lead AI Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$188,623	$15,719	$3,627	$91
Average	$178,483	$14,874	$3,432	$86
25th Percentile	$163,253	$13,604	$3,139	$78

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Key Factors That Influence Lead AI Engineer Salaries

A Lead AI Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead AI Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead AI Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $170,545
Early Career (1-2 years): $171,682
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $172,818
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $175,092
Expert (over 8 years): $178,047

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Lead AI Engineer	$170,545
Intermediate Level Lead AI Engineer	$171,682
Senior Level Lead AI Engineer	$172,818
Specialist Level Lead AI Engineer	$175,092
Expert Level Lead AI Engineer	$178,047

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead AI Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead AI Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $195,133.
California: $194,393.
Massachusetts: $191,803.

District of Columbia $195,133 California $194,393 Massachusetts $191,803 Washington $191,103 New Jersey $191,033 Alaska $190,783 Connecticut $188,353 New York $187,363

Hawaii $184,213 Rhode Island $182,733 Maryland $181,723 Minnesota $180,353 Colorado $179,823 Illinois $179,643 Oregon $178,973 Delaware $178,483

New Hampshire $178,173 Virginia $177,473 Pennsylvania $175,453 Nevada $174,433 North Dakota $174,093 Michigan $173,563 Wisconsin $173,373 Vermont $172,983

Texas $171,913 Maine $171,843 Arizona $171,733 Ohio $171,613 Georgia $169,983 Indiana $169,173 Wyoming $169,023 Utah $168,773

Iowa $168,663 Kansas $167,823 Louisiana $167,573 North Carolina $167,483 Missouri $167,453 Florida $166,763 Montana $166,393 Nebraska $166,043

Kentucky $165,843 South Carolina $165,143 Tennessee $164,703 Idaho $164,523 New Mexico $163,243 Oklahoma $162,953 Alabama $161,913 South Dakota $160,173

Arkansas $159,223 West Virginia $158,713 Mississippi $157,173

Top Paying Cities for Lead AI Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $184,723
Little Creek: $183,013
Magnolia: $183,773

Lincoln, DE $184,723 Little Creek, DE $183,013 Magnolia, DE $183,773 Milford, DE $184,723 Marydel, DE $182,323 Millsboro, DE $184,723 Millville, DE $185,953 Milton, DE $184,723

Nassau, DE $184,723 Ocean View, DE $185,953 Rehoboth Beach, DE $185,953 Seaford, DE $182,783 Selbyville, DE $185,953 Smyrna, DE $182,113 Viola, DE $183,773 Woodside, DE $183,243

Bear, DE $180,773 Newark, DE $180,843 Claymont, DE $180,983 Delaware City, DE $180,843 Hockessin, DE $180,983 Kirkwood, DE $180,843 Middletown, DE $181,743 Montchanin, DE $180,983

New Castle, DE $180,983 Odessa, DE $181,993 Port Penn, DE $180,353 Rockland, DE $180,983 Saint Georges, DE $180,843 Townsend, DE $181,723 Winterthur, DE $180,983 Lewes, DE $184,723

Wilmington, DE $180,983 Dover, DE $182,923 Dover Afb, DE $183,343 Bethany Beach, DE $185,953 Bethel, DE $182,783 Bridgeville, DE $184,723 Camden Wyoming, DE $183,113 Cheswold, DE $182,503

Clayton, DE $182,043 Dagsboro, DE $185,953 Delmar, DE $182,783 Ellendale, DE $184,723 Felton, DE $184,723 Fenwick Island, DE $185,953 Frankford, DE $185,953 Frederica, DE $184,723

Georgetown, DE $184,723 Greenwood, DE $184,723 Harbeson, DE $184,723 Harrington, DE $184,723 Hartly, DE $181,953 Houston, DE $184,723 Kenton, DE $182,043 Laurel, DE $182,783

Yorklyn, DE $180,983

Lead AI Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead AI Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$163,253

Average $178,483/year

$188,623

$13,604

Average $14,874/month

$15,719

$3,139

Average $3,432/week

$3,627

$78

Average $86/hour

$91

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$188,623	$15,719	$3,627	$91
Average	$178,483	$14,874	$3,432	$86
25th Percentile	$163,253	$13,604	$3,139	$78

Lead AI Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Lead AI Engineer

Algorithm Engineering Manager

Algorithm Engineering Senior Manager

For a Lead AI Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Algorithm Engineering Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $179,200 - a projected growth of 0% over your current level.

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