Technology72% remote-eligible+12% YoY growth

AI Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Develop and deploy artificial intelligence systems and applications. National median: $175K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$175K

Top 10% earn

$290K

Entry level

$130K

Salary growth

+12%/yr

AI Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$215K	$289K	$371K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$205K	$277K	$356K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$193K	$260K	$335K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$192K	$259K	$333K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$192K	$258K	$332K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$192K	$258K	$332K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$185K	$249K	$320K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$185K	$249K	$320K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$183K	$246K	$317K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$182K	$245K	$315K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$179K	$241K	$311K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$179K	$241K	$311K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$178K	$240K	$308K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$178K	$240K	$308K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$176K	$237K	$304K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$176K	$236K	$304K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$176K	$236K	$304K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$173K	$233K	$299K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$172K	$231K	$297K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$171K	$230K	$296K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$169K	$228K	$293K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$167K	$225K	$290K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$166K	$224K	$288K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$166K	$223K	$287K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$166K	$223K	$287K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$164K	$221K	$284K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$164K	$221K	$284K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$160K	$216K	$277K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$159K	$214K	$275K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$159K	$214K	$275K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$159K	$214K	$275K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$159K	$214K	$275K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$159K	$214K	$275K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$153K	$207K	$266K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$153K	$207K	$266K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$153K	$207K	$266K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$150K	$201K	$259K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$150K	$201K	$259K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$150K	$201K	$259K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$150K	$201K	$259K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$150K	$201K	$259K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$150K	$201K	$259K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$150K	$201K	$259K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$148K	$199K	$256K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$146K	$197K	$253K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$146K	$196K	$252K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$146K	$196K	$252K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$146K	$196K	$252K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$146K	$196K	$252K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$146K	$196K	$252K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$146K	$196K	$252K	106	6.8%
Frisco, TX	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$145K	$195K	$251K	118	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$143K	$193K	$248K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$143K	$193K	$248K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$143K	$193K	$248K	102	4.75%
Provo, UT	$143K	$193K	$248K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$143K	$193K	$248K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$143K	$193K	$248K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$143K	$192K	$247K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$140K	$189K	$243K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$140K	$189K	$243K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$141K	$189K	$243K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$140K	$189K	$243K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$141K	$189K	$243K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$141K	$189K	$243K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$140K	$189K	$243K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$139K	$187K	$241K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$138K	$186K	$239K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$137K	$184K	$236K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$137K	$184K	$236K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$137K	$184K	$236K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$137K	$184K	$236K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$137K	$184K	$236K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$137K	$184K	$236K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$137K	$184K	$236K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$137K	$184K	$236K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$136K	$183K	$235K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$136K	$183K	$235K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$136K	$183K	$235K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$136K	$183K	$235K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$136K	$183K	$235K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$134K	$180K	$231K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$134K	$180K	$231K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$133K	$179K	$230K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$133K	$179K	$230K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$133K	$179K	$230K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$133K	$179K	$230K	88	5%
Denton, TX	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$132K	$178K	$229K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$131K	$176K	$226K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$130K	$175K	$225K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$130K	$175K	$225K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$130K	$175K	$225K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$130K	$175K	$225K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$130K	$175K	$225K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$130K	$175K	$225K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$129K	$173K	$223K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$127K	$172K	$221K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$127K	$172K	$221K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$127K	$172K	$221K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$127K	$172K	$221K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$126K	$170K	$219K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$126K	$170K	$219K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$126K	$170K	$219K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$126K	$170K	$219K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$126K	$170K	$219K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$125K	$168K	$216K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$125K	$168K	$216K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$125K	$168K	$216K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$125K	$168K	$216K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$124K	$166K	$214K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$124K	$166K	$214K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$124K	$166K	$214K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$124K	$166K	$214K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$124K	$166K	$214K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$122K	$164K	$210K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$120K	$161K	$207K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$120K	$161K	$207K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$120K	$161K	$207K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$120K	$161K	$207K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$120K	$161K	$207K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$119K	$161K	$207K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$118K	$159K	$204K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$117K	$158K	$203K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$117K	$158K	$203K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$117K	$158K	$203K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$117K	$158K	$203K	88	5.84%
Abilene, TX	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$117K	$157K	$202K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$115K	$154K	$198K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$114K	$154K	$198K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$114K	$154K	$198K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$114K	$154K	$198K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$114K	$154K	$198K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$114K	$154K	$198K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$114K	$154K	$198K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$114K	$154K	$198K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$114K	$154K	$198K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$114K	$154K	$198K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$115K	$154K	$198K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$115K	$154K	$198K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$111K	$149K	$191K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$111K	$149K	$191K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$111K	$149K	$191K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$107K	$144K	$185K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$107K	$144K	$185K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$104K	$140K	$180K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$98K	$131K	$169K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $175K AI Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

AI Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a AI Engineer is $175,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $130,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $225,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of AI Engineers nationally earn $290,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's or PhD in CS or AI. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

AI Engineer compensation is growing at 12% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified AI Engineers significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

AI Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a AI Engineer make?

The median AI Engineer salary in the US is $175,000 per year — about $84/hour. Most earn between $130,000 (25th percentile) and $225,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a AI Engineer?

Entry-level AI Engineer positions typically start around $130,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid AI Engineers earn?

The top 10% of AI Engineers earn $290,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays AI Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median AI Engineer salary at $289K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are AI Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — AI Engineer pay is growing about 12% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

AI Engineer Salaryby City (2026)