Salary for Senior-level / Expert AI Developer in United States during 2024

💰 The median Salary for Senior-level / Expert AI Developer in United States during 2024 is USD 185,000

✏️ This salary info is based on 30 individual salaries reported during 2024

Submit your salary Download the data

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert AI Developer salary lies between USD 168,000 and USD 252,000 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.

Job title
AI Developer
Experience
Senior-level / Expert
Region
United States
Salary year
2024
Sample size
30
Top 10%
$ 316,900
Top 25%
$ 252,000
Median
$ 185,000
Bottom 25%
$ 168,000
Bottom 10%
$ 158,550

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:

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert AI Developer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Developer job listings are Python, Generative AI and Engineering. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Python | 147 jobs Generative AI | 103 jobs Engineering | 90 jobs Machine Learning | 89 jobs Computer Science | 73 jobs Azure | 66 jobs AWS | 61 jobs JavaScript | 59 jobs NLP | 57 jobs Research | 56 jobs LLMs | 53 jobs TensorFlow | 45 jobs Testing | 45 jobs Prompt engineering | 45 jobs LangChain | 45 jobs Java | 45 jobs GCP | 44 jobs APIs | 44 jobs PyTorch | 40 jobs Agile | 39 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert AI Developer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Developer job listings are Career development, Flex hours and Team events. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 134 jobs Flex hours | 80 jobs Team events | 34 jobs Health care | 32 jobs Startup environment | 26 jobs Equity / stock options | 25 jobs Salary bonus | 22 jobs Parental leave | 18 jobs Flex vacation | 18 jobs Competitive pay | 17 jobs Medical leave | 15 jobs Insurance | 13 jobs 401(k) matching | 11 jobs Wellness | 8 jobs Conferences | 6 jobs Gear | 5 jobs Fitness / gym | 4 jobs Transparency | 3 jobs Home office stipend | 3 jobs Relocation support | 2 jobs

Salary Composition for Senior-Level AI Developer Roles

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert AI Developer typically includes a combination of a fixed base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary often constitutes the largest portion, ranging from 70% to 85% of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's performance and individual contributions, usually accounting for 10% to 20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, is more common in larger tech firms and startups, potentially making up 5% to 15% of the total package.

Regional differences also play a role; for instance, salaries in tech hubs like San Francisco or New York City tend to be higher due to the cost of living and competitive job markets. Industry-wise, sectors like finance, healthcare, and technology often offer higher compensation compared to academia or non-profit organizations. Company size can also influence salary composition, with larger companies typically offering more comprehensive benefits and stock options.

Steps to Increase Salary from a Senior-Level Position

To increase your salary beyond the Senior-level AI Developer position, consider the following strategies:

  • Specialize Further: Develop expertise in niche areas of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which are in high demand.
  • Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as AI Team Lead or Director of AI, which often come with higher compensation.
  • Consulting or Freelancing: Explore opportunities in consulting or freelancing, where you can leverage your expertise for multiple clients, potentially increasing your income.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML through courses, workshops, and conferences, which can make you more valuable to employers.
  • Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about high-paying opportunities and negotiate better compensation packages.

Educational Requirements for Senior-Level AI Developer Roles

Most Senior-level AI Developer positions require at least a master's degree in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, or a related field. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research and development of new AI technologies. These educational qualifications provide a strong foundation in algorithms, machine learning, and data analysis, which are crucial for the role.

Helpful Certifications for AI Developers

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise to potential employers. Some valuable certifications include:

  • Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP)
  • 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 AI/ML tools and platforms, making you a more attractive candidate.

Experience Required for Senior-Level AI Developer Roles

Typically, a Senior-level AI Developer is expected to have at least 5 to 10 years of experience in the field. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in leading projects or teams, as well as a proven track record of successful AI implementations, is highly valued. Additionally, experience in a specific industry, such as finance, healthcare, or technology, can be advantageous.

Related salaries

AI Developer @ $ 85,150 (global) - Entry-level / Junior Details
AI Developer @ $ 135,000 (global) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
AI Developer @ $ 182,550 (global) - Senior-level / Expert Details
AI Developer @ $ 155,000 (global) Details
AI Developer @ $ 140,700 (United States) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
AI Developer @ $ 85,150 (United States) - Entry-level / Junior Details
AI Developer @ $ 162,575 (United States) Details

Want to contribute?

📝 Submit your salary info

Enter your own salary data for the current or past work year. It's quite simple and doesn't take more than a minute to fill out.

Go to salary survey

📢 Share our salary survey

Share our "in-less-than-a-minute survey" with others working in the field of AI, ML, Data Science. The more data we have the better for everyone.

💾 Download the data

All collected information will be updated into a public dataset regularly and provided as a download free for anyone to use.

Go to download page

🚀 Search for jobs & talent

If you're thinking about a career change or want to hire fresh talent quickly check out the jobs page.

Go to frontpage

About this project

We collect salary information anonymously from professionals and employers all over the world and make it publicly available for anyone to use, share and play around with.

Our goal is to have open salary data for everyone. So newbies, experienced pros, hiring managers, recruiters and also startup founders or people wanting to switch careers can make better decisions.