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

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert AI Scientist salary lies between USD 157,200 and USD 250,000 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. 15, 2024

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

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Scientist 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 | 75 jobs Python | 69 jobs Engineering | 61 jobs Research | 55 jobs Computer Science | 46 jobs PyTorch | 43 jobs LLMs | 43 jobs Generative AI | 41 jobs Deep Learning | 40 jobs NLP | 36 jobs Statistics | 35 jobs PhD | 34 jobs Mathematics | 31 jobs ML models | 27 jobs TensorFlow | 26 jobs AWS | 26 jobs Architecture | 25 jobs Computer Vision | 23 jobs Spark | 20 jobs Security | 18 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert AI Scientist job listings are Career development, Conferences 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 | 63 jobs Conferences | 21 jobs Flex hours | 18 jobs Startup environment | 18 jobs Team events | 18 jobs Health care | 16 jobs Competitive pay | 13 jobs Equity / stock options | 9 jobs Salary bonus | 9 jobs Transparency | 8 jobs Flex vacation | 6 jobs Insurance | 6 jobs Relocation support | 5 jobs Wellness | 4 jobs 401(k) matching | 2 jobs Parental leave | 2 jobs Medical leave | 2 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 2 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert AI Scientist typically includes a combination of a fixed base salary, performance-based 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, can be a significant part of the package, particularly in startups or large tech firms, and may range from 5% to 15% or more. The exact composition can vary based on the region, with tech hubs like Silicon Valley offering higher equity components, and 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 185,000, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which can command higher salaries.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as AI Director or Chief AI Officer, which typically offer higher compensation.
• Consulting: Offer consulting services or start your own AI consultancy, leveraging your expertise to command premium rates.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML and acquire new skills, which can make you more valuable to employers.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about high-paying opportunities and negotiate better offers.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level or Expert AI Scientist positions require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, or Statistics. 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, data analysis, and programming.

Helpful Certificates

While not always mandatory, certain certifications 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
• Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS) Certification

These certifications can validate your skills and knowledge, making you more competitive in the job market.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level or Expert AI Scientist role requires 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, mentoring junior team members, and contributing to significant AI/ML initiatives is also highly valued.

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