Research Engineer Salary in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average Research Engineer salary lies between USD 140,000 and USD 230,000 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. 24, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Research Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Research Engineer job listings are Research, Engineering and Python. 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:

Research | 383 jobs Engineering | 301 jobs Python | 230 jobs Machine Learning | 229 jobs Computer Science | 183 jobs PhD | 130 jobs PyTorch | 107 jobs Deep Learning | 96 jobs TensorFlow | 89 jobs Testing | 81 jobs R | 78 jobs Statistics | 74 jobs Architecture | 69 jobs Security | 64 jobs Mathematics | 62 jobs R&D | 58 jobs Privacy | 58 jobs Spark | 56 jobs NLP | 55 jobs LLMs | 53 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Research Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Research Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care 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 | 260 jobs Health care | 136 jobs Flex hours | 102 jobs Equity / stock options | 99 jobs Startup environment | 86 jobs Flex vacation | 76 jobs Team events | 74 jobs Competitive pay | 73 jobs Conferences | 70 jobs Insurance | 69 jobs Salary bonus | 62 jobs Parental leave | 50 jobs Medical leave | 44 jobs Wellness | 35 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 32 jobs 401(k) matching | 29 jobs Relocation support | 23 jobs Fitness / gym | 13 jobs Transparency | 13 jobs Home office stipend | 12 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Research Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is the fixed component and usually constitutes the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's success and individual performance, often ranging from 10% to 20% of the base salary. Additional remuneration, like stock options, is more common in larger tech companies or startups and can be a significant part of the total compensation, especially in high-growth industries or regions like Silicon Valley. In smaller companies or less tech-centric regions, the base salary might be a larger proportion of the total compensation, with fewer bonuses or stock options.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from the position of a Research Engineer, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML that is in high demand, such as deep learning, natural language processing, or computer vision.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into roles with more responsibility, such as leading a team or managing projects, which often come with higher pay.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML through courses, workshops, and conferences.
• Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher pay during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most Research Engineer positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a master's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, mathematics, or engineering. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles focused on cutting-edge research and development. The educational background should include a strong foundation in algorithms, statistics, and programming languages like Python or R.

Helpful Certificates

While not always mandatory, certain certificates 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

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

Experience Requirements

Typically, a Research Engineer role requires 3-5 years of experience in AI/ML or data science. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in research, either in academia or industry, is highly valued, as it demonstrates the ability to conduct experiments, analyze results, and contribute to scientific knowledge.

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