Lead AI Engineer Salary & Pay Rates in United States
Market analysis based on live job data.
Salary range based on experience level
The median salary and typical pay rates for a Lead AI Engineer in United States is $175,149 per year as of May 2026, based on 192 active job listings. Entry-level roles typically start at $147,237, while senior specialists can earn up to $238,750. Equivalent contract day rates are approximately $1,300 per day.
Salary Trend
Salary distribution trend for jobs in United States citing Lead AI Engineer.
📊 Salary Histogram
Salary distribution for jobs citing Lead AI Engineer over the last 6 months in United States.
📊 Market Demand
Number of live job vacancies over time for Lead AI Engineer in United States.
Historical Market Data
| Metric | 2026 | Same Period 2025 | Same Period 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 15 | - | - |
| Rank change year-on-year | - | - | - |
| Permanent jobs citing Lead AI Engineer | 192 | 0 | 0 |
| As % of all permanent jobs in United States | 0.12% | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| Number of salaries quoted | 149 | 0 | 0 |
| Entry Level | $147,237 | ||
| Junior | $135,833 | ||
| Median Salary | $175,149 | ||
| Median salary change vs last year | - | - | - |
| Senior | $169,969 | ||
| Expert / Top Earners | $238,750 |
How ready are you for this role?
Free 30-second skills check — see which skills you're missing for Lead AI Engineer positions.
Top Skills in Demand
| Skill Name | Frequency % | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure |
3%
|
Learn This |
| AWS |
3%
|
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| Python |
3%
|
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| Kubernetes |
2%
|
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| SQL |
2%
|
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| TypeScript |
3%
|
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| RAG |
2%
|
Learn This |
| JavaScript |
3%
|
Learn This |
| Java |
3%
|
Learn This |
| Terraform |
2%
|
Learn This |
| Apache Kafka |
2%
|
Learn This |
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