AI Engineer Salary in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average AI Engineer salary lies between USD 136,800 and USD 220,000 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 17, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for AI Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with AI Engineer job listings are Machine Learning, Python and Engineering. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Machine Learning | 160 jobs Python | 140 jobs Engineering | 117 jobs Computer Science | 92 jobs Research | 88 jobs TensorFlow | 78 jobs PyTorch | 78 jobs Deep Learning | 70 jobs ML models | 60 jobs Generative AI | 58 jobs AWS | 57 jobs Statistics | 56 jobs NLP | 54 jobs LLMs | 54 jobs Architecture | 49 jobs Azure | 42 jobs Mathematics | 42 jobs R | 40 jobs Java | 38 jobs Keras | 37 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for AI Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with AI Engineer job listings are Career development, Startup environment and Flex hours. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 134 jobs Startup environment | 69 jobs Flex hours | 66 jobs Health care | 57 jobs Team events | 47 jobs Salary bonus | 45 jobs Competitive pay | 40 jobs Flex vacation | 33 jobs Equity / stock options | 30 jobs Parental leave | 21 jobs Medical leave | 20 jobs Wellness | 17 jobs Yoga | 16 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 15 jobs Conferences | 13 jobs 401(k) matching | 12 jobs Insurance | 12 jobs Home office stipend | 11 jobs Gear | 6 jobs Transparency | 6 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for an AI Engineer in the United States typically comprises a base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually forms the largest part of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's performance, individual performance, and industry standards. In tech hubs like Silicon Valley, stock options or equity can be a substantial part of the compensation, especially in startups or large tech companies. In contrast, companies in other regions or industries might offer more in terms of cash bonuses or benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development allowances. Larger companies often have more structured compensation packages, while smaller companies might offer more flexibility or equity to attract talent.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from the AI Engineer position, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning. Specialized skills can command higher salaries.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as AI Team Lead or AI Project Manager, which typically offer higher compensation.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML. Pursuing advanced certifications or a master's degree can also enhance your qualifications.
• Networking: Engage with professional networks and communities. Opportunities often arise through connections, and being active in the community can lead to higher-paying roles.
• Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher pay during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most AI Engineer positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, mathematics, or a related field. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles involving complex research or development tasks. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of AI/ML concepts and open doors to higher-level positions.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your expertise:

• Certified Machine Learning Professional (CMLP)
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer

These certifications can validate your skills in specific tools and platforms, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, AI Engineer roles require 2-5 years of experience in related fields such as software development, data analysis, or machine learning. Experience with programming languages like Python, R, or Java, and familiarity with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn, are often expected. Experience in deploying machine learning models and working with large datasets is also highly valued.

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