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

A Sr. Lead AI Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $224,475 for beginners, reaching about $226,397 at mid-level, and approach $230,517 for experts.

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

Sr. Lead AI Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Sr. Lead AI Engineer roles are District of Columbia $256,690, California $255,790, Massachusetts $252,390. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

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

Salaries for Sr. Lead AI Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Sr. Lead Algorithm Engineer: $231,853; AI Engineer VI: $231,832; Sr. Lead Machine Learning Engineer: $231,822; Lead AI Engineer: $193,393; AI Engineer V: $193,374.

How do different companies affect a Sr. Lead AI Engineer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Sr. Lead AI Engineer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Sr. Lead AI Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sr. Lead AI Engineer in the United States is $231,890 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $111.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $258,445
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $213,490 to $245,790
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $196,738

10% $196,738

50% (Median) $231,890

90% $258,445

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$245,790	$20,483	$4,727	$118
Average	$231,890	$19,324	$4,459	$111
25th Percentile	$213,490	$17,791	$4,106	$103

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Key Factors That Influence Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries

A Sr. 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 Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sr. 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): $224,475
Early Career (1-2 years): $225,848
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $226,397
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $228,594
Expert (over 8 years): $230,517

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Sr. Lead AI Engineer	$224,475
Intermediate Level Sr. Lead AI Engineer	$225,848
Senior Level Sr. Lead AI Engineer	$226,397
Specialist Level Sr. Lead AI Engineer	$228,594
Expert Level Sr. Lead AI Engineer	$230,517

View as Graph

How Do Sr. 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 Sr. Lead AI Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $256,690.
California: $255,790.
Massachusetts: $252,390.

District of Columbia $256,690 California $255,790 Massachusetts $252,390 Washington $251,390 New Jersey $251,290 Alaska $250,990 Connecticut $247,790 New York $246,490

Hawaii $242,390 Rhode Island $240,390 Maryland $239,090 Minnesota $237,290 Colorado $236,590 Illinois $236,390 Oregon $235,490 Delaware $234,790

New Hampshire $234,390 Virginia $233,490 Pennsylvania $230,790 Nevada $229,490 North Dakota $229,090 Michigan $228,390 Wisconsin $228,090 Vermont $227,590

Texas $226,190 Maine $226,090 Arizona $225,890 Ohio $225,790 Georgia $223,690 Indiana $222,590 Wyoming $222,390 Utah $222,090

Iowa $221,890 Kansas $220,790 Louisiana $220,490 North Carolina $220,390 Missouri $220,290 Florida $219,390 Montana $218,890 Nebraska $218,490

Kentucky $218,190 South Carolina $217,290 Tennessee $216,690 Idaho $216,490 New Mexico $214,790 Oklahoma $214,390 Alabama $212,990 South Dakota $210,690

Arkansas $209,490 West Virginia $208,790 Mississippi $206,790

Top Paying Cities for Sr. 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:

San Jose: $292,490
San Francisco: $289,290
Oakland: $283,190

San Jose, CA $292,490

San Francisco, CA $289,290

Oakland, CA $283,190

New York, NY $266,990

Paramus, NJ $263,690

Queens Village, NY $263,690

Passaic, NJ $263,490

Bergenfield, NJ $263,490

Stamford, CT $262,990

Huntington, NY $262,890

Newark, NJ $261,190

Bridgeport, CT $260,690

Vallejo, CA $260,190

New Brunswick, NJ $260,090

Petaluma, CA $259,990

Middlesex, NJ $259,490

Somerset, NJ $259,390

Santa Cruz, CA $259,090

Boston, MA $257,690

Monterey, CA $256,790

Seattle, WA $256,290

Santa Rosa, CA $256,290

Los Angeles, CA $256,190

Juneau, AK $255,590

Washington, DC $255,290

Orange, CA $254,490

Santa Ana, CA $253,890

Long Beach, CA $253,690

Anaheim, CA $253,590

Anchorage, AK $253,490

Santa Maria, CA $252,790

Everett, WA $252,790

Danbury, CT $251,990

Bremerton, WA $251,590

Tacoma, WA $250,790

New Suffolk, NY $250,790

Sacramento, CA $250,690

Santa Barbara, CA $250,490

Trenton, NJ $250,190

San Diego, CA $250,190

Brockton, MA $249,990

Fairbanks, AK $249,390

Lompoc, CA $248,790

Lowell, MA $248,590

Ventura, CA $248,590

Nashua, NH $248,490

Stockton, CA $248,490

Modesto, CA $246,790

Poughkeepsie, NY $246,290

Kennewick, WA $245,890

Olympia, WA $245,890

New Haven, CT $245,790

Lawrence, MA $244,890

Hartford, CT $244,690

Riverside, CA $244,690

New Bedford, MA $244,390

Richland, WA $244,390

Bakersfield, CA $244,090

Atlantic City, NJ $243,990

San Bernardino, CA $243,990

New Britain, CT $243,990

New London, CT $243,890

Norwich, CT $243,790

Portsmouth, NH $243,790

Boulder, CO $243,290

Portland, OR $242,990

Worcester, MA $242,890

Minneapolis, MN $242,190

Philadelphia, PA $241,890

Honolulu, HI $241,090

Saint Paul, MN $240,990

Vineland, NJ $240,990

Providence, RI $240,290

Chicago, IL $239,590

Bellingham, WA $239,290

Springfield, MA $239,190

Baltimore, MD $239,090

Chico, CA $238,490

Pittsfield, MA $237,890

Manchester, NH $237,390

Spokane, WA $236,390

Denver, CO $236,390

Albany, NY $235,290

Troy, NY $235,190

Nassau, NY $234,990

Schenectady, NY $234,690

Wilmington, DE $234,490

Burlington, VT $234,190

Salem, OR $234,090

Portland, ME $233,390

Yakima, WA $233,190

Rochester, MN $232,490

Reno, NV $232,290

Fresno, CA $232,290

Milwaukee, WI $232,090

Detroit, MI $231,890

Ann Arbor, MI $231,890

Allentown, PA $231,790

Colorado Springs, CO $231,390

Syracuse, NY $231,290

Carson City, NV $231,290

Houston, TX $230,990

Eugene, OR $230,890

Gary, IN $230,590

Springfield, OR $230,390

Bismarck, ND $230,390

Galveston, TX $230,190

Medford, OR $229,890

Fort Collins, CO $229,790

Concord, NH $229,690

Austin, TX $229,590

Mesa, AZ $229,090

Reading, PA $229,090

Phoenix, AZ $229,090

Dallas, TX $228,990

Saint Cloud, MN $228,790

Madison, WI $228,490

Utica, NY $227,790

Rochester, NY $227,490

Des Moines, IA $227,390

Raleigh, NC $227,390

Atlanta, GA $227,090

Battle Creek, MI $226,990

Salt Lake City, UT $226,890

Lancaster, PA $226,590

Harrisburg, PA $226,190

Champaign, IL $225,990

Kansas City, MO $225,990

Kansas City, KS $225,990

Fort Worth, TX $225,890

Columbus, OH $225,890

Boca Raton, FL $225,890

Pittsburgh, PA $225,790

Richmond, VA $225,690

Indianapolis, IN $225,590

Cleveland, OH $225,590

Cincinnati, OH $225,290

Las Vegas, NV $225,290

Petersburg, VA $224,990

Huntsville, AL $224,590

Lansing, MI $224,490

Lebanon, PA $224,390

Pueblo, CO $224,390

Appleton, WI $224,290

Buffalo, NY $224,290

Dayton, OH $224,190

Charlotte, NC $224,090

Racine, WI $224,090

Saint Louis, MO $223,990

York, PA $223,890

Elkhart, IN $223,890

Gastonia, NC $223,890

Billings, MT $223,790

Lorain, OH $223,690

Benton Harbor, MI $223,690

Beaumont, TX $223,690

Toledo, OH $223,590

Rock Hill, SC $223,490

Binghamton, NY $223,490

Rockford, IL $223,390

Springfield, IL $223,290

Elyria, OH $223,190

Fargo, ND $223,190

Flagstaff, AZ $223,090

Fort Lauderdale, FL $222,890

Duluth, MN $222,790

Miami, FL $222,790

Cheyenne, WY $222,590

Grand Forks, ND $222,590

Bangor, ME $222,090

Cedar Rapids, IA $221,890

Durham, NC $221,790

Louisville, KY $221,790

Grand Rapids, MI $221,690

Hialeah, FL $221,690

Casper, WY $221,390

Scranton, PA $221,090

Virginia Beach, VA $220,990

New Orleans, LA $220,990

Akron, OH $220,890

Peoria, IL $220,590

Sarasota, FL $220,490

Nashville, TN $220,390

Omaha, NE $220,390

Green Bay, WI $220,390

Baton Rouge, LA $220,190

Charleston, SC $220,190

Jamestown, NY $220,090

Davenport, IA $220,090

Tucson, AZ $219,990

Saint Petersburg, FL $219,790

Tampa, FL $219,790

Evansville, IN $219,590

Port Arthur, TX $219,590

Bradenton, FL $219,490

Santa Fe, NM $219,090

Orlando, FL $218,690

Clearwater, FL $218,590

La Crosse, WI $218,190

Canton, OH $218,190

Albuquerque, NM $217,990

Newport News, VA $217,990

High Point, NC $217,890

Ogden, UT $217,790

Corpus Christi, TX $217,590

Norfolk, VA $217,490

Laramie, WY $217,490

Rock Island, IL $217,390

Saginaw, MI $217,290

Jacksonville, FL $217,290

Salisbury, NC $217,290

Boise, ID $217,190

Moline, IL $217,090

Fort Myers, FL $216,990

Memphis, TN $216,990

Tulsa, OK $216,890

Waterloo, IA $216,690

Spartanburg, SC $216,490

Lincoln, NE $216,390

Fort Wayne, IN $216,290

Provo, UT $216,290

Cedar Falls, IA $215,990

San Antonio, TX $215,890

Greensboro, NC $215,790

South Bend, IN $215,790

Savannah, GA $215,590

Muskegon, MI $215,490

Birmingham, AL $215,390

Winston Salem, NC $215,290

Lake Charles, LA $214,790

Anderson, IN $214,690

Lexington, KY $214,690

Augusta, GA $214,590

Greenville, SC $214,590

Lima, OH $214,390

Wichita, KS $214,390

Tuscaloosa, AL $214,390

Columbia, SC $214,190

Springfield, OH $214,090

Asheville, NC $213,790

Bloomington, IN $213,590

Knoxville, TN $212,790

Shreveport, LA $212,690

Wilmington, NC $212,390

Roanoke, VA $212,390

Topeka, KS $211,990

Frankfort, KY $211,990

Oklahoma City, OK $211,790

Chillicothe, OH $211,690

Longview, TX $211,690

Melbourne, FL $211,690

Sioux Falls, SD $211,290

Mobile, AL $211,290

Terre Haute, IN $211,190

Altoona, PA $211,090

Amarillo, TX $210,890

Killeen, TX $210,790

Chattanooga, TN $210,590

Fayetteville, AR $210,590

Sioux City, IA $210,390

Idaho Falls, ID $210,290

Lynchburg, VA $210,090

Gainesville, FL $209,790

Portsmouth, OH $209,690

Little Rock, AR $209,690

Lafayette, LA $209,590

Youngstown, OH $209,590

Temple, TX $209,390

Pensacola, FL $209,390

Daytona Beach, FL $209,390

Clarksville, TN $209,390

Hopkinsville, KY $208,690

Erie, PA $208,690

Florence, SC $208,590

Charleston, WV $208,190

Great Falls, MT $208,090

Fayetteville, NC $207,690

Macon, GA $207,690

Tallahassee, FL $207,690

Waco, TX $207,590

Helena, MT $207,490

Pine Bluff, AR $207,390

Vincennes, IN $207,090

Lubbock, TX $206,990

Alamogordo, NM $206,890

Twin Falls, ID $206,690

Rapid City, SD $206,590

Jackson, MS $206,190

Huntington, WV $206,190

Greenville, MS $206,090

Parkersburg, WV $205,890

Montgomery, AL $205,890

Wichita Falls, TX $205,590

Springfield, MO $205,590

Biloxi, MS $205,490

Monroe, LA $205,290

Johnstown, PA $205,090

Sumter, SC $204,990

Columbus, GA $204,990

Pascagoula, MS $204,590

Abilene, TX $204,590

Kingsport, TN $203,990

Albany, GA $203,990

Gulfport, MS $203,890

Alexandria, LA $203,090

Fort Smith, AR $202,590

El Paso, TX $201,890

Las Cruces, NM $200,890

Harlingen, TX $200,290

Pocatello, ID $200,290

Florence, AL $199,990

Brownsville, TX $199,890

Mcallen, TX $199,390

Dothan, AL $199,090

Columbus, MS $197,690

Altus, OK $196,590

Lawton, OK $196,190

Pierre, SD $195,390

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Sr. 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 $259,147. While startup companies pay approximate $219,212.

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$219,212
Growth Stage	51~500	$231,838
Established	501~5000	$250,239
Enterprise	5000+	$259,147

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sr. Lead AI Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 47% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Sr. Lead AI Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Sr. Lead AI Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$289,862	$139.0	25%
Financial Services	$278,268	$134.0	20%
Biotechnology	$266,674	$128.0	15%
Internet	$266,674	$128.0	15%
Pharmaceuticals	$266,674	$128.0	15%

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

Understanding how a Sr. 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.

$213,490

Average $231,890/year

$245,790

$17,791

Average $19,324/month

$20,483

$4,106

Average $4,459/week

$4,727

$103

Average $111/hour

$118

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$245,790	$20,483	$4,727	$118
Average	$231,890	$19,324	$4,459	$111
25th Percentile	$213,490	$17,791	$4,106	$103

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Next Role

Advancement

Algorithm Engineering Manager Algorithm Engineering Senior Manager

For a Sr. 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 $177,000 - a projected growth of -24% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Sr. Lead AI Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Sr. Lead AI Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Sr. Lead AI Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Sr. Lead AI Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Sr. Lead AI Engineer make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries?

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

Top Paying Cities for Sr. Lead AI Engineers

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Sr. Lead AI Engineer

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

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Common company salaries for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Find Your Next Sr. Lead AI Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Sr. Lead AI Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Sr. Lead AI Engineer?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Sr. Lead AI Engineer make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salaries?

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

Top Paying Cities for Sr. Lead AI Engineers

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Company Size

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Sr. Lead AI Engineer

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

Sr. Lead AI Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Most common benefits for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Common company salaries for Sr. Lead AI Engineer

Find Your Next Sr. Lead AI Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Sr. Lead AI Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Sr. Lead AI Engineer?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?