What is the average pay rate for a AI Engineer in United States?

The median salary for a AI Engineer in United States is $149,328 per year as of May 2026.

What skills are most in demand for AI Engineer roles?

The top skills required for AI Engineer positions include various technical skills.

AI Engineer Salary & Pay Rates in United States

Market analysis based on live job data.

Professional PDF • Instant Access

$149,328 Median Salary

Salary range based on experience level

Entry Level Median Senior / Expert

$91,177 $149,328 $207,215

Verified as of May 01, 2026

The median salary and typical pay rates for a AI Engineer in United States is $149,328 per year as of May 2026, based on 155 active job listings. Entry-level roles typically start at $91,177, while senior specialists can earn up to $207,215. Equivalent contract day rates are approximately $1,130 per day.

Salary Trend

Salary distribution trend for jobs in United States citing AI Engineer.

📊 Salary Histogram

Salary distribution for jobs citing AI Engineer over the last 6 months in United States.

📊 Market Demand

Number of live job vacancies over time for AI Engineer in United States.

Historical Market Data

Metric	2026	Same Period 2025	Same Period 2024
Rank	55	-	-
Rank change year-on-year	-	-	-
Permanent jobs citing AI Engineer	155	0	0
As % of all permanent jobs in United States	0.12%	0.11%	0.10%
Number of salaries quoted	145	0	0
Entry Level	$91,177
Junior	$107,235
Median Salary	$149,328
Median salary change vs last year	-	-	-
Senior	$174,857
Expert / Top Earners	$207,215

How ready are you for this role?

Free 30-second skills check — see which skills you're missing for AI Engineer positions.

Take Quick Check

Top Skills in Demand

Skill Name	Frequency %	Action
SQL	4%	Learn This
Python	4%	Learn This
Java	3%	Learn This
NoSQL	3%	Learn This
MLOps	3%	Learn This
Spring Boot	4%	Learn This
pcf	4%	Learn This
Docker	3%	Learn This
Kubernetes	3%	Learn This
Linux	4%	Learn This