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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead AI Engineer in Kentucky is $165,753 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.
However, a Lead AI Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Lead AI Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $175,043 | $14,587 | $3,366 | $84 |
| Average | $165,753 | $13,813 | $3,188 | $80 |
| 25th Percentile | $151,563 | $12,630 | $2,915 | $73 |
Cayenta - Edmonton, KY
Hawkins HR Consulting, LLC - Calvert City, KY
GPD Group - Louisville, KY
Molina Healthcare Careers - Owensboro, KY
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.
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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Algorithm Engineer | 4-7 years | $114,714 |
| Principal Algorithm Engineer | 7+ years | $149,017 |
| Lead AI Engineer | 7-10 years | $165,736 |
| Algorithm Engineering Manager | 10+ years | $166,495 |
| Algorithm Engineering Senior Manager | 10+ years | $187,228 |
What Am I Worth?
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:
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:
Lead AI Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $185,551. While startup companies pay approximate $156,972.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $156,972 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $166,016 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $179,182 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $185,551 |
For Lead AI Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Lead AI Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead AI Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | $198,904 | $96.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $190,616 | $92.0 | 15% |
| Internet | $185,643 | $89.0 | 12% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $182,328 | $88.0 | 10% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $182,328 | $88.0 | 10% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $175,043 | $14,587 | $3,366 | $84 |
| Average | $165,753 | $13,813 | $3,188 | $80 |
| 25th Percentile | $151,563 | $12,630 | $2,915 | $73 |
For a Lead AI Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Artificial Intelligence Engineer VI role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $185,500 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead AI Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY
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