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Artificial Intelligence Scientist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Artificial Intelligence Scientist in the United States is $122,818 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $141,170
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $111,504 to $132,424
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101,203
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Artificial Intelligence Scientist Salaries

An Artificial Intelligence Scientist'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 Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Artificial Intelligence Scientist'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): $78,513
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $99,212
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,175
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $155,481
  • Expert (over 8 years): $103,105
Levels Salary
Account M... Level Artificial Intelligence Scientist$78,513
Account M... Level Artificial Intelligence Scientist$99,212
Artificia... Level Artificial Intelligence Scientist$125,175
Account M... Level Artificial Intelligence Scientist$155,481
Account M... Level Artificial Intelligence Scientist$103,105
View as Graph

How Do Artificial Intelligence Scientist 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 Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $135,984.
  • California: $135,468.
  • Massachusetts: $133,663.

Top Paying Cities for Artificial Intelligence Scientists

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: $154,910
  • San Francisco: $153,214
  • Oakland: $149,985

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.42% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Client Service (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Client services are the processes and interactions organizations and members of their staff have with their clients.
  • B2B (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): B2B (business-to-business), a type of electronic commerce (e-commerce), is the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, rather than between businesses and consumers (B2C).
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.42%
Client Service 2.2%
B2B 1.49%
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 Scientist's salary.

  • Advertising: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Advertising $135,100
10%
Negotiating $135,100
10%
Relationship Management $131,415
7%
Get Latest Data

Artificial Intelligence Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Artificial Intelligence Scientist 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 Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Artificial Intelligence Scientist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Artificial Intelligence Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Artificial Intelligence Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$184,227$89.050%

How Education impacts an Artificial Intelligence Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Artificial Intelligence Scientists enter the field with a Associate'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 Scientist with a Associate's Degree is between $126,762 and $137,115).

Artificial Intelligence Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Artificial Intelligence Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 6.3%
Associates 6.2%
Bachelors 62.8%
Masters 22.5%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Artificial Intelligence Scientist'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
$111,504
Average $122,818/year
$132,424
$9,292
Average $10,235/month
$11,035
$2,144
Average $2,362/week
$2,547
$54
Average $59/hour
$64
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $132,424 $11,035 $2,547 $64
Average $122,818 $10,235 $2,362 $59
25th Percentile $111,504 $9,292 $2,144 $54

Most common benefits for Artificial Intelligence Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Artificial Intelligence Scientist

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

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FAQ about Artificial Intelligence Scientist

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Artificial Intelligence Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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