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

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert AI Researcher salary lies between USD 129,700 and USD 198,000 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. 3, 2024

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

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Researcher job listings are Research, Machine Learning and Python. 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:

Research | 60 jobs Machine Learning | 55 jobs Python | 49 jobs Engineering | 39 jobs Computer Science | 38 jobs NLP | 36 jobs PyTorch | 34 jobs LLMs | 33 jobs Deep Learning | 30 jobs TensorFlow | 30 jobs PhD | 27 jobs Generative AI | 23 jobs Generative modeling | 22 jobs R | 18 jobs NeurIPS | 18 jobs ICML | 18 jobs Computer Vision | 16 jobs ICLR | 16 jobs Security | 15 jobs Privacy | 15 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Researcher job listings are Career development, Conferences and Startup environment. 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 | 53 jobs Conferences | 33 jobs Startup environment | 20 jobs Medical leave | 15 jobs Equity / stock options | 13 jobs Flex hours | 12 jobs Parental leave | 10 jobs Health care | 10 jobs Salary bonus | 10 jobs Flex vacation | 9 jobs Insurance | 8 jobs Competitive pay | 6 jobs Wellness | 5 jobs Team events | 5 jobs Signing bonus | 2 jobs Relocation support | 2 jobs 401(k) matching | 1 jobs Transparency | 1 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 1 jobs Paid sabbatical | 1 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert AI Researcher 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 ranging from 10% to 20%, 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 packages.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 158,500, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML that is in high demand, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as leading a research team or becoming a head of AI/ML department, which often come with higher compensation.
• 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 in the AI/ML community, which can lead to opportunities in higher-paying roles or companies.
• Consulting: Consider offering consulting services or working on freelance projects, which can supplement your income and increase your market value.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level or Expert AI Researcher positions require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, data science, mathematics, or engineering. However, a Ph.D. is often preferred or required, especially for roles focused on cutting-edge research and development. The educational background should include a strong foundation in machine learning, statistics, and programming.

Helpful Certificates

While formal education is crucial, certain certificates can enhance your profile:

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

These certificates demonstrate proficiency in specific tools and platforms, which can be advantageous in certain roles or industries.

Experience Requirements

Typically, a Senior-level or Expert AI Researcher is expected to have at least 5 to 10 years of experience in AI/ML or related fields. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in leading projects or teams, publishing research papers, and contributing to open-source projects can also be highly beneficial.

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