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AI Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does an AI Engineer III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an AI Engineer III in the United States is $121,907 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,745
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $114,495 to $131,244
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $107,747
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence AI Engineer III Salaries

An AI Engineer III'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 AI Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an AI Engineer III'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:

  • AI Engineer I (0-2 years): $92,674
  • AI Engineer II (2-4 years): $108,472
  • AI Engineer III (4-7 years): $121,907
  • AI Engineer IV (7+ years): $158,360
  • AI Engineer V (7-10 years): $176,128
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
AI Engineer I0-2 years$92,674
AI Engineer II2-4 years$108,472
AI Engineer III4-7 years$121,907
AI Engineer IV7+ years$158,360
AI Engineer V7-10 years$176,128
View as Graph

How Do AI Engineer IIIs 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 AI Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $134,975.
  • California: $134,463.
  • Massachusetts: $132,671.

Top Paying Cities for AI Engineer III

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: $153,761
  • San Francisco: $152,078
  • Oakland: $148,873

What Skills Can Increase an AI Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Science (Mentioned in 4.67% Job Postings): Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. Data science is the same concept as data mining and big data: "use the most powerful hardware, the most powerful programming systems, and the most efficient algorithms to solve problems". Data science is a "concept to unify statistics, data analysis, machine learning and their related methods" in order to "understand and analyze actual phenomena" with data. It employs techniques and theories drawn from many fields within the context of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and information science. Turing award winner Jim Gray imagined data science as a "fourth paradigm" of science (empirical, theoretical, computational and now data-driven) and asserted that "everything about science is changing because of the impact of information technology" and the data deluge. In 2015, the American Statistical Association identified database management, statistics and machine learning, and distributed and parallel systems as the three emerging foundational professional communities.
  • Artificial Intelligence (Mentioned in 1.5% Job Postings): Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. Specific applications of AI include expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition and machine vision.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.97%
Data Science 4.67%
Artificial Intelligence 1.5%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an AI Engineer III's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Active Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $126,783
4%
Team Building $126,783
4%
Active Learning $126,783
4%
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AI Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

AI Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $136,468. While startup companies pay approximate $115,449.

AI Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $115,449
Growth Stage 51~500 $122,101
Established 501~5000 $131,784
Enterprise 5000+ $136,468

AI Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For AI Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, AI Engineer positions in Transportation or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view AI Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an AI Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$170,670$82.040%
Biotechnology$152,384$73.025%
Financial Services$152,384$73.025%
Insurance$140,193$67.015%
Energy & Utilities$134,098$64.010%

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

Understanding how an AI Engineer III'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 August 01, 2026
$114,495
Average $121,907/year
$131,244
$9,541
Average $10,159/month
$10,937
$2,202
Average $2,344/week
$2,524
$55
Average $59/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $131,244 $10,937 $2,524 $63
Average $121,907 $10,159 $2,344 $59
25th Percentile $114,495 $9,541 $2,202 $55

AI Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

AI Engineer III

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Advancement

For an AI Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the AI Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $158,360 - a projected growth of 30% over your current level.

Most common benefits for AI Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for AI Engineer III

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

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FAQ about AI Engineer III

1. Where can an AI Engineer III earn the most?

An AI Engineer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an AI Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an AI Engineer III is $153,761.

2. What is the highest pay for AI Engineer III?

The highest pay for AI Engineer III is $139,745.

3. What is the lowest pay for AI Engineer III?

The lowest pay for AI Engineer III is $107,747.

4. What are the responsibilities of AI Engineer III?

Ensures the scalability, reliability, and performance of AI systems. Develops and executes performance tests on AI systems to measure their efficiency in handling large amounts of data, complex algorithms, and processing speeds to ensure optimal performance. Performs research and testing to develop machine learning algorithms and predictive models. Utilizes big data computation and storage tools to create prototypes and datasets. Proficient in big data tools, cloud platforms, and machine learning. Requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or related degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for AI Engineer III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for AI Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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