Strong 12% annual wage growth
This role's national salaries are growing at 12% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Rochester median reaches $308,410 in five years.
TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026
AI Engineer Salary
in Rochester, MN
Develop and deploy artificial intelligence systems and applications. Median salary in Rochester: $175K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Median salary
$175K
per year
Take-home: $111K
Salary range in Rochester
Entry level (25th)$130,000
Median (50th)$175,000
Senior (75th)$225,000
Top earner (90th)$290,000
Data freshness
- BLS OEWS · May 2025 release · pulled August 2025
- DOL H-1B LCA Disclosures · FY2026 Q1 · pulled February 2026
- C2ER Cost of Living Index · 2026 Q1 · pulled April 2026
Figures represent annual base salary in Rochester, Minnesota. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Help build this dataset. Add your own AI Engineer salary so other workers in Rochester have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours →What the numbers say for Rochester
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
72% remote-eligible
This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Rochester-based AI Engineers. Many Rochester professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Rochester's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Key facts for Rochester
Median salary
$175K
annual
Take-home pay
$111K
after fed/state tax
COL index
100
100 = US avg
State income tax
6.8%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,350
per month
YoY growth
+12%
salary trend
Salary forecast: Rochester AI Engineer to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $175K by 2030.
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AI Engineer Salary in Rochester, Minnesota: Complete Guide (2026)
The median AI Engineer salary in Rochester, MN is $175,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Rochester–MN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Salary range for AI Engineer in Rochester
Entry-level AI Engineers in Rochester with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $130,000 and $175,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $175,000 to $225,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $225,000 to $290,000 or more.
Cost of living in Rochester for AI Engineers
Rochester has a cost of living index of 100 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Rochester are close to the national average. Minnesota has a 6.8% state income tax rate.
Education requirements for AI Engineer
Master's or PhD in CS or AI. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Rochester-based professionals.