Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Artificial Intelligence Researcher in the United States is $111,599 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $133,197
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,102 to $122,904
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,724
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View as table View as graph 25% $99,102 10% $87,724 90% $133,197 75% $122,904 $111,599 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $122,904 $10,242 $2,364 $59
Average $111,599 $9,300 $2,146 $54
25th Percentile $99,102 $8,259 $1,906 $48
Check out Artificial Intelligence Researcher Job Openings in the United States
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President of Artificial Intelligence&amp Machine Learning

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Macalogic - Dayton, OH

LEAD ANALYST

Southwest Research Institute - Dayton, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salaries

An Artificial Intelligence Researcher'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 Researcher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Artificial Intelligence Researcher'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): $110,384
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $110,731
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,988
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,642
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,418
Levels Salary
Entry Level Artificial Intelligence Researcher$110,384
Intermediate Level Artificial Intelligence Researcher$110,731
Senior Level Artificial Intelligence Researcher$112,988
Specialist Level Artificial Intelligence Researcher$118,642
Expert Level Artificial Intelligence Researcher$120,418
$110,384 0 yr
$110,731 < 2 yrs
$112,988 2-4 yrs
$118,642 5-8 yrs
$120,418 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Artificial Intelligence Researchers

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: $140,760
  • San Francisco: $139,219
  • Oakland: $136,285

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • IT Support (Mentioned in 2.24% Job Postings): Assisting with managing, maintaining, and repairing business technology to ensure all IT functions work seamlessly.
  • Help Desk (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): The activities involved in handling and resolving customer grievances and issues faster and efficient by a ticketing system.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.68%
IT Support 2.24%
Help Desk 1.65%
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 Researcher's salary.
  • Help Desk: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Asset Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Help Desk
 $126,107
13%
Asset Management
 $126,107
13%
Financial Services
 $123,875
11%
Risk Management
 $122,759
10%
Economics
 $121,643
9%
Leadership
 $119,411
7%
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Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Artificial Intelligence Researcher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Artificial Intelligence Researcher positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Artificial Intelligence Researcher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$167,398$80.050%

How Education impacts an Artificial Intelligence Researcher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Artificial Intelligence Researchers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Researcher with a Bachelor's Degree is between $110,036 and $119,635).

Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Artificial Intelligence Researcher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.7%
High School 4.7%
Associates 2.8%
Bachelors 32.7%
Masters 43.9%
Doctorate 15.9%
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Artificial Intelligence Researcher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Artificial Intelligence Researcher'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$99,102
Average $111,599/year
$122,904
$8,259
Average $9,300/month
$10,242
$1,906
Average $2,146/week
$2,364
$48
Average $54/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,904 $10,242 $2,364 $59
Average $111,599 $9,300 $2,146 $54
25th Percentile $99,102 $8,259 $1,906 $48

Salaries of jobs related to Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Salary Trends for Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Salaries for an Artificial Intelligence Researcher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $87,266 in 2023 to around $86,856 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Artificial Intelligence Researcher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Artificial Intelligence Researcher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$87,266
2024
$87,342
2025
$86,856
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $87,266
2024 $87,342
2025 $86,856
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Artificial Intelligence Researcher

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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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