AI Programmer Salary in the United States

How much does an AI Programmer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an AI Programmer in the United States is $126,258 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $145,045
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,661 to $136,092
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,744
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View as table View as graph 25% $118,661 10% $111,744 90% $145,045 75% $136,092 $126,258 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

AI Programmer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,092 $11,341 $2,617 $65
Average $126,258 $10,522 $2,428 $61
25th Percentile $118,661 $9,888 $2,282 $57
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Key Factors That Influence AI Programmer Salaries

An AI Programmer'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 Programmer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an AI Programmer'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): $122,154
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $122,718
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,845
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,270
  • Expert (over 8 years): $130,596
Levels Salary
Entry Level AI Programmer$122,154
Intermediate Level AI Programmer$122,718
Senior Level AI Programmer$123,845
Specialist Level AI Programmer$127,270
Expert Level AI Programmer$130,596
$122,154 0 yr
$122,718 < 2 yrs
$123,845 2-4 yrs
$127,270 5-8 yrs
$130,596 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for AI Programmers

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: $159,249
  • San Francisco: $157,684
  • Oakland: $154,186

What Skills Can Increase an AI Programmer'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.97%
Data Science 4.67%
Artificial Intelligence 1.5%
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 Programmer'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
$131,308
4%
Team Building
$131,308
4%
Active Learning
$131,308
4%
Presentation
$131,308
4%
Continuous Learning
$130,046
3%
Data Structure
$128,783
2%
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AI Programmer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an AI Programmer'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for AI Programmer

Salaries for an AI Programmer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $139,470 in 2023 to around $136,214 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of AI Programmer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of AI Programmer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$139,470
2024
$138,010
2025
$136,214
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $139,470
2024 $138,010
2025 $136,214
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for AI Programmer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for AI Programmer

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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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