AI Engineer Salary & Pay Rates in United States

Market analysis based on live job data.

$179,955 Median Salary

Salary range based on experience level

Entry Level Median Senior / Expert
$40,167 $179,955 $228,728
Verified September 2026 High Confidence (136 postings) πŸ“Š Multi-Source Blend

The median salary and typical pay rates for a AI Engineer in United States is $179,955 per year as of September 2026, based on 209 active job listings. Entry-level roles typically start at $40,167, while senior specialists can earn up to $228,728. Equivalent contract day rates are approximately $1,250 per day.

Salary Trend

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

πŸ“Š Salary Histogram

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

πŸ“Š 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 34 - -
Rank change year-on-year - - -
Permanent jobs citing AI Engineer 209 0 0
Number of salaries quoted 136 0 0
Entry Level $40,167
Junior $104,716
Median Salary $179,955
Median salary change vs last year - - -
Senior $174,075
Expert / Top Earners $228,728

Top Skills in Demand

Skill Name Frequency % 30-Day Trend Action
Python
20%
Stable Learn This
Kubernetes
16%
Stable Learn This
SQL
16%
Stable Learn This

Skill Market Composition

Breakdown of skills demanded for AI Engineer roles grouped by domain taxonomy.

Technical
2 skills 66.7%
Languages
1 skills 33.3%

🌎 Compare Salaries by Location

See how much AI Engineer roles pay in other regions and markets.

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