AI Engineer Salary Guide 2026
Fastest growing role in Southeast as logistics digitize.
National Median: $179,000
Range: $131K – $328K
Avg Total Comp
$204,000
Experience Level
Experienced roles hit $180k+ nationally; AI-first companies pay 20% premium.
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High Demand Track
Market demand for AI Engineer is at an all-time high. Join the Vetta Marketplace to access verified offers from employers hiring at these benchmarks.
Metro Area Breakdown
20 MarketsSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CA
CalculatedMedian: $241,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley CA
CalculatedMedian: $238,070
New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ-PA
CalculatedMedian: $221,960
Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH
CalculatedMedian: $218,380
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA
CalculatedMedian: $214,800
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV
CalculatedMedian: $214,800
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA
CalculatedMedian: $214,800
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad CA
CalculatedMedian: $205,850
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI
CalculatedMedian: $196,900
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood CO
CalculatedMedian: $193,320
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown TX
CalculatedMedian: $187,950
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
CalculatedMedian: $187,950
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta GA
Median: $184,757
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
CalculatedMedian: $182,580
Raleigh-Durham-Cary NC
CalculatedMedian: $179,000
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI
CalculatedMedian: $175,420
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC
CalculatedMedian: $175,420
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ
CalculatedMedian: $173,630
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MI
CalculatedMedian: $171,840
Salt Lake City UT
CalculatedMedian: $170,050
Benchmarks marked "Calculated" are derived from the national median using verified geographic cost-of-living multipliers. Direct survey data is used where available.