Salary for Senior-level / Expert AI Engineer in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert AI Engineer salary lies between USD 129,700 and USD 223,000 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 Senior-level / Expert AI Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert 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 | 107 jobs Python | 89 jobs Engineering | 73 jobs Computer Science | 58 jobs Research | 56 jobs Deep Learning | 47 jobs ML models | 47 jobs PyTorch | 44 jobs TensorFlow | 43 jobs Statistics | 40 jobs Architecture | 39 jobs LLMs | 36 jobs Generative AI | 36 jobs AWS | 34 jobs NLP | 30 jobs Security | 27 jobs Azure | 25 jobs R | 24 jobs Testing | 23 jobs Mathematics | 23 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Engineer job listings are Career development, Flex hours and Startup environment. 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 | 89 jobs Flex hours | 52 jobs Startup environment | 46 jobs Salary bonus | 38 jobs Health care | 34 jobs Team events | 29 jobs Flex vacation | 24 jobs Competitive pay | 23 jobs Equity / stock options | 21 jobs Parental leave | 16 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 15 jobs Yoga | 14 jobs Wellness | 13 jobs Medical leave | 13 jobs Home office stipend | 9 jobs 401(k) matching | 8 jobs Conferences | 8 jobs Insurance | 8 jobs Transparency | 5 jobs Fertility benefits | 5 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level or Expert AI Engineer in the United States typically comprises several components. The fixed base salary is the largest portion, often accounting for 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or tied to company profits, usually make up 10-20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration may include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and other benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. The composition can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City might offer higher base salaries and more lucrative stock options, while companies in the finance or healthcare sectors might provide more substantial bonuses.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary further from a Senior-level AI Engineer position, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which can make you more valuable to employers.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into managerial or leadership roles, such as AI team lead or director of AI, which typically come with higher compensation.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest AI technologies and methodologies through courses, workshops, and conferences, demonstrating your commitment to growth.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
• Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher pay during job offers or performance reviews.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level AI Engineer positions require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, data science, or electrical engineering. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research and development of new AI technologies. The educational background should include a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and programming.

Helpful Certificates

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

These certifications can validate your skills in specific AI tools and platforms, making you more competitive in the job market.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level AI Engineer is expected to have at least 5-10 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 is also highly valued, as it demonstrates your ability to manage complex AI initiatives and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Related salaries

Want to contribute?