Salary for Senior-level / Expert Engineer during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Engineer salary lies between USD 131,000 and USD 225,000 globally. 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.

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Jan. 19, 2025

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Engineer roles

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

Engineering | 27440 jobs Python | 26630 jobs Machine Learning | 20078 jobs Computer Science | 17275 jobs Architecture | 15466 jobs Pipelines | 15096 jobs SQL | 14681 jobs AWS | 14573 jobs Security | 11357 jobs Testing | 10558 jobs Azure | 10019 jobs Java | 9531 jobs Spark | 9151 jobs Agile | 8973 jobs Data pipelines | 8815 jobs Research | 8511 jobs GCP | 8261 jobs ETL | 7943 jobs Big Data | 7686 jobs Kubernetes | 7475 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. 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 | 25058 jobs Health care | 13789 jobs Equity / stock options | 10939 jobs Flex hours | 9321 jobs Startup environment | 8180 jobs Competitive pay | 7933 jobs Salary bonus | 6987 jobs Flex vacation | 6901 jobs Team events | 6411 jobs Insurance | 6184 jobs Medical leave | 6111 jobs Parental leave | 5878 jobs 401(k) matching | 3676 jobs Wellness | 3427 jobs Conferences | 1785 jobs Relocation support | 1719 jobs Home office stipend | 1669 jobs Transparency | 1425 jobs Flexible spending account | 1284 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 1258 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level or Expert Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science 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 company-wide, usually make up 10-20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies, which can vary significantly based on the company's size and success. In regions like Silicon Valley, stock options can be a substantial part of the compensation. Benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks also contribute to the overall package but are not typically included in the salary index figures.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 175,000, 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 managerial or leadership positions, such as a team lead or director of AI/ML, which often come with higher pay.
• Consulting: Offer your expertise as a consultant, which can provide higher hourly rates and the flexibility to work with multiple clients.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML to remain competitive and justify salary increases.

Educational Requirements

Most senior-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a master's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, statistics, or mathematics. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research and development of new algorithms or technologies. The educational background should include a strong foundation in programming, data structures, algorithms, and machine learning principles.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your commitment to the field:

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

These certifications can validate your skills and knowledge, making you a more attractive candidate for senior roles.

Required Experience

Typically, a senior-level position in AI/ML/Data Science requires at least 5-10 years of relevant experience. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in leading projects, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams is also highly valued. Demonstrated success in deploying AI/ML solutions in real-world applications is crucial.

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