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

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert AI Engineer salary lies between USD 139,000 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: Dec. 22, 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 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Machine Learning | 666 jobs Python | 660 jobs Engineering | 638 jobs Computer Science | 461 jobs LLMs | 417 jobs Generative AI | 367 jobs Research | 355 jobs AWS | 349 jobs Architecture | 330 jobs PyTorch | 327 jobs Azure | 314 jobs NLP | 308 jobs TensorFlow | 287 jobs Pipelines | 277 jobs Deep Learning | 265 jobs Security | 262 jobs ML models | 232 jobs GCP | 211 jobs APIs | 190 jobs Agile | 186 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, Health care and Flex hours. 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 | 631 jobs Health care | 286 jobs Flex hours | 229 jobs Startup environment | 201 jobs Equity / stock options | 166 jobs Competitive pay | 161 jobs Team events | 112 jobs Salary bonus | 107 jobs Flex vacation | 100 jobs Parental leave | 95 jobs Insurance | 88 jobs Medical leave | 84 jobs 401(k) matching | 79 jobs Wellness | 76 jobs Conferences | 45 jobs Transparency | 35 jobs Relocation support | 28 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 28 jobs Gear | 25 jobs Fitness / gym | 24 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert AI Engineer 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. Performance bonuses can vary significantly, often comprising 10% to 20% of the total salary, depending on individual and company performance. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, can be a significant part of the package, particularly in startups or large tech firms, and may account for 5% to 15% of the total compensation. The exact composition can vary based on the region, with tech hubs like Silicon Valley offering higher equity components, and the industry, with finance and healthcare sectors sometimes offering higher bonuses. Company size also plays a role, with larger companies often providing more structured bonus and equity plans.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 180,000, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: 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 head of AI, which typically offer higher compensation.
• Consulting: Offer consulting services or freelance work on the side, leveraging your expertise to command higher rates.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML and acquire new skills or certifications that can justify a salary increase.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and negotiate better offers.

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, mathematics, or engineering. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research and development of new AI algorithms or technologies. The educational background should include a strong foundation in machine learning, statistics, and programming.

Helpful Certifications

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

• 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 and knowledge in specific AI/ML tools and platforms, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level AI Engineer 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. Experience in a specific industry, such as finance, healthcare, or technology, can also be beneficial.

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