Salary for Senior-level / Expert Technical Lead in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Technical Lead salary lies between USD 158,000 and USD 272,000 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

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Technical Lead roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Technical Lead job listings are Python, Engineering 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:

Python | 234 jobs Engineering | 216 jobs Machine Learning | 200 jobs Computer Science | 173 jobs Architecture | 165 jobs SQL | 140 jobs AWS | 117 jobs Security | 115 jobs Pipelines | 110 jobs Azure | 103 jobs Testing | 92 jobs Research | 88 jobs Agile | 82 jobs ETL | 78 jobs Java | 78 jobs APIs | 70 jobs Generative AI | 65 jobs Data pipelines | 63 jobs DevOps | 61 jobs Spark | 60 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Technical Lead 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 | 217 jobs Health care | 107 jobs Equity / stock options | 85 jobs Salary bonus | 72 jobs Startup environment | 63 jobs Flex hours | 59 jobs Competitive pay | 55 jobs Team events | 54 jobs Insurance | 45 jobs Parental leave | 31 jobs Flex vacation | 31 jobs Conferences | 23 jobs Medical leave | 22 jobs 401(k) matching | 19 jobs Wellness | 16 jobs Relocation support | 10 jobs Transparency | 9 jobs Gear | 4 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 4 jobs Fitness / gym | 3 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level/Expert Technical Lead in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a combination of base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity. The base salary often constitutes the largest portion, ranging from 60% to 80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or company-wide, usually account for 10% to 20%. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, equity, or profit-sharing, can make up the remaining 10% to 20%. The exact composition can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech companies in Silicon Valley might offer higher equity components, while companies in other regions might focus more on cash bonuses.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 203,500, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas of AI/ML, such as deep learning, natural language processing, or computer vision, which are in high demand.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into higher leadership roles, such as Director of AI/ML or Chief Data Scientist, which come with increased responsibilities and compensation.
• Consulting: Offer consulting services or start your own consultancy, leveraging your expertise to command higher fees.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML to remain competitive and justify salary increases.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and negotiate better offers.

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. Candidates with a strong academic background in these areas are typically favored, as they possess the theoretical knowledge necessary to tackle complex problems.

Helpful Certifications

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

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• 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, making you a more attractive candidate for senior roles.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level/Expert Technical Lead in AI/ML/Data Science is expected to have at least 8-10 years of experience in the field. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience leading teams, managing projects, and delivering successful AI/ML solutions is also crucial. Candidates should have a proven track record of driving innovation and achieving results in previous roles.

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