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Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Artificial Intelligence Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Artificial Intelligence Engineer in the United States is $113,344 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,478
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,552 to $122,836
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,906
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salaries

An Artificial Intelligence 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Artificial Intelligence 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): $117,059
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,841
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,009
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $143,686
  • Expert (over 8 years): $155,294
Levels Salary
HRIS Anal... Level Artificial Intelligence Engineer$117,059
HRIS Supe... Level Artificial Intelligence Engineer$105,841
Artificia... Level Artificial Intelligence Engineer$116,009
HRIS Mana... Level Artificial Intelligence Engineer$143,686
HRIS Dire... Level Artificial Intelligence Engineer$155,294
View as Graph

How Do Artificial Intelligence 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 Artificial Intelligence Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $125,494.
  • California: $125,018.
  • Massachusetts: $123,352.

Top Paying Cities for Artificial Intelligence 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: $142,961
  • San Francisco: $141,396
  • Oakland: $138,416

What Skills Can Increase an Artificial Intelligence Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Business Analytics (Mentioned in 4.08% Job Postings): Business analytics (BA) refers to the skills, technologies, practices for continuous iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning. Business analytics focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business performance based on data and statistical methods. In contrast, business intelligence traditionally focuses on using a consistent set of metrics to both measure past performance and guide business planning, which is also based on data and statistical methods.[citation needed] Business analytics makes extensive use of statistical analysis, including explanatory and predictive modeling, and fact-based management to drive decision making. It is therefore closely related to management science. Analytics may be used as input for human decisions or may drive fully automated decisions. Business intelligence is querying, reporting, online analytical processing (OLAP), and "alerts."
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • ERP Implementation (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): A software that is used to manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management and compliance, and supply chain operations, increasing the flexibility of operation and improving productivity.
Skills Demand Percentage
Business Analytics 4.08%
Data Entry 2.04%
ERP Implementation 2.04%
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 Artificial Intelligence Engineer's salary.

  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis $145,080
28%
PowerPoint $126,945
12%
Project Management $126,945
12%
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Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Artificial Intelligence 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 Internet and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Artificial Intelligence Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Artificial Intelligence Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$136,013$65.020%
Healthcare$130,346$63.015%
Pharmaceuticals$130,346$63.015%
Aerospace & Defense$124,678$60.010%
Energy & Utilities$124,678$60.010%

How Education impacts an Artificial Intelligence Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Artificial Intelligence Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Artificial Intelligence Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $116,559 and $126,767).

Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Artificial Intelligence Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.3%
High School 14.3%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 64.3%
Masters 7.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Artificial Intelligence 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 September 01, 2026
$100,552
Average $113,344/year
$122,836
$8,379
Average $9,445/month
$10,236
$1,934
Average $2,180/week
$2,362
$48
Average $54/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,836 $10,236 $2,362 $59
Average $113,344 $9,445 $2,180 $54
25th Percentile $100,552 $8,379 $1,934 $48

Most common benefits for Artificial Intelligence Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Artificial Intelligence Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Artificial Intelligence Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Artificial Intelligence Engineer?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Artificial Intelligence Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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