To uncover how much AI professionals earn in 2026, we analyzed salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed, and Built In, covering a selection of AI and AI-related roles.
Our analysis found that every role assessed commands a six-figure salary. However, earnings vary considerably depending on the role, experience level, industry, and location.
Contents
- Top Median Annual Salary Stats for AI Roles
- Annual AI Salary Statistics
- Salaries for AI Roles Compared
- AI Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- AI Prompt Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers
- Computer & Information Research Scientist
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Information Security Analyst
Top Median Annual Salary Stats for AI Roles
- On average, the median salary for an AI-related role is $135,754 per year.
- All assessed AI-related roles within the report have a median salary of over $100,000.
- AI engineers have the highest median salary at $180,000 per year.
- Of the assessed roles, software quality assurance analysts and testers have the lowest median annual salary ($102,610).
- San Francisco offers the highest average salary in the US for both AI engineers ($246,250) and ML engineers ($207,474).
Annual AI Salary Statistics
According to the latest 2026 data, the median salary for an AI-related role is $135,754 per year.
To calculate the mean salary for AI jobs, we first collected annual salary data for the following jobs:
AI Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
Data Scientist
Software Developers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer & Information Research Scientist
Computer Systems Analyst
Information Security Analyst
After collecting median salary figures for each of the above, we calculated the average across all AI-related job roles.
Notably, each of the assessed AI-related roles within this report has a median salary of over $100,000.
In general, AI roles command high salaries largely due to a significant skills gap in the workforce. Expertise in AI is increasingly in demand, even outside traditional tech companies. When compared to the median annual salary in the US (approximately $65,052), it’s clear that businesses are prepared to pay a premium for AI proficiency.
According to our data, the bottom 10% of earners in AI roles have salaries under $69,613. By comparison, the top 10% earn over $192,898 on average. The reason for this large gap? Experience, specialization, industry, and even location can dramatically impact AI salaries.
Sources: BLS, Indeed, Built In
Salaries for AI Roles Compared
At $180,000 per year, AI engineers have the highest median salary among the roles assessed. This is followed by another specialized AI role, ML engineering ($155,000 per year).
At the other end of the scale, you’ll find broader technology occupations. Software quality assurance analysts and testers have the lowest median salary of $102,610 per year.
All median salaries for AI-related roles in this report are over $100,000.
Here’s a breakdown of select AI-related roles by annual median salary (unless otherwise stated):
| Job Title | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| AI Engineer | $180,000 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $155,000 |
| Computer & Information Research Scientist | $140,910 |
| Software Developers | $133,080 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,910 |
| AI Prompt Engineer | $113,979* |
| Data Scientist | $112,590 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,790 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $102,610 |
| *Average annual salary. |
Sources: BLS, Indeed, Built In
AI Engineer
The median base salary for an AI engineer in the US is $180,000 (with the average being $184,757). An average of $26,486 in bonuses pushes the total average to approximately $211,243.
The rapid corporate adoption of AI has created a huge demand for AI engineers. And given that advanced software engineering plus extensive AI/ML knowledge is required, the pool of experienced professionals remains relatively limited.
Competition for AI engineering is particularly intense among major tech companies, which are prepared to pay a premium for professionals capable of producing commercially valuable AI products. This combination of high demand and scarce expertise helps explain why AI engineers command some of the highest salaries in the technology sector.
According to Built In, AI engineering wages vary dramatically, with a range starting at around $80,000 and reaching somewhere in the region of $338,000.
San Francisco ($246,250) and New York City ($223,464) stand as the top two cities for high AI engineering salaries. Remote workers are the next highest-paid AI engineers, averaging $180,173 per year.
The concentration of major AI companies and startups in the Bay Area is likely playing a large part in these high salaries. In fact, over half of the world’s leading generative AI companies are based in San Francisco. In 2024, 76% of all US AI funding went to Bay Area companies.
Here’s a full breakdown of the top 10 best-paying locations in the US for AI engineers:
| Location | Average AI Engineer Salary |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $246,250 |
| New York City, NY | $223,464 |
| Remote | $180,173 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $180,000 |
| Baltimore, MD | $180,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,000 |
| Greater Denver Area, CO | $180,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $177,300 |
| Boston, MA | $172,500 |
| Greater Boulder Area, CO | $162,500 |
AI engineers with over 7 years of experience ($194,413) earn almost 2.5x as much as those with less than 1 year ($80,000). For those looking to enter this high-paying field, earning a master’s in artificial intelligence can provide an excellent platform.
Sources: Built In, Bay Area Council
Machine Learning Engineer
Despite being closely related roles, ML engineers earn around 13.9% less than AI engineers. While ML engineers typically specialize in building and deploying ML models, AI engineers can work across a broader range of AI technologies, including generative AI.
Machine learning engineers have a median salary of $155,000 and an average base salary of $162,080 in the US. With $49,942 in bonuses, the total annual earnings for an ML engineer exceed $200,000 on average.
As with AI engineers, salaries can range considerably from $70,000 for entry-level positions to $318K for senior-level positions.
Again, San Francisco is the top city for ML engineering salaries in the US, averaging $207,474 per year.
Here are the top 10 places for ML engineer wages in the US:
| Location | Average Machine Learning Engineer Salary |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $207,474 |
| Austin, TX | $201,340 |
| Remote | $195,475 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $194,960 |
| Seattle, WA | $182,182 |
| Colorado, CO | $180,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $172,500 |
| New York City, NY | $166,201 |
| Boston, MA | $163,364 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | $161,571 |
Senior engineers are often responsible for deploying models at scale and building the infrastructure needed to keep them reliable in real-world applications. The average salary for an ML engineer with over 7 years of experience is $194,702. That’s 61.5% more than the average salary for under 1 year of experience ($120,571).
Students interested in pursuing this career can consider an online master’s in artificial intelligence.
Source: Built In
AI Prompt Engineer
On average, an AI prompt engineer has a base salary of $113,979 per year in the US.
That figure is taken from a relatively small sample of 53 job postings on Indeed between 2023 and 2026. The lowest-paying of those jobs came in at $72,335, while the highest was more than double that at $179,600.
Prompt engineering is considerably newer than most roles assessed in this report, which explains the limited salary data available. In fact, a 2025 analysis found just 72 dedicated AI prompt engineering jobs from a sample of 20,662 job postings on LinkedIn.
But that doesn’t mean the skill isn’t in demand. The number of job postings citing prompt engineering as a skill increased by around 350% between 2023 and 2024. Among AI-related skills, only generative AI (66,635) and large language modelling (19,562) were mentioned more often than prompt engineering (6,263).
LA ($141,784) and New York ($141,404) are the two highest-paying US cities for AI prompt engineers.
This is how the top-paying cities for AI prompt engineers stack up:
| City | Average AI Prompt Engineer Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $141,784 |
| New York, NY | $141,404 |
| McLean, VA | $133,502 |
| Long Island City, NY | $129,744 |
| San Francisco, CA | $114,889 |
| Austin, TX | $111,031 |
| Dallas, TX | $100,558 |
Sources: Indeed, arXiv, Stanford HAI
Data Scientist
Annually, data scientists earn a median wage of $112,590. That equates to $54.13 per hour.
Salary does vary significantly for the role, with the bottom 10% bringing in under $63,650, while the top 10% earn north of $194,410.
Demand for this increasingly important role in AI and ML is predicted to grow by 34% between 2024 and 2034, markedly faster than average, according to the BLS. This would represent an additional 82,500 new jobs, adding to the existing pool of 245,900.
As companies integrate AI into their operations, data scientists are needed to analyze large datasets and generate insights that inform decision-making. In fact, those working in computer systems design earn around 17.5% more than those employed by insurance carriers.
Here’s a breakdown of median data science earnings by industry:
- Computer systems design – $128,020
- Management of companies/enterprises – $126,940
- Scientific research and development services – $120,090
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services – $110,240
- Insurance carriers – $108,920
Source: BLS
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers
AI is deeply integrated into modern software-related roles, and software developers can have a median salary of $133,080 per year. That’s notably more than the median wage for a software quality assurance analyst and tester ($102,610).
Software developers are responsible for designing and building applications and systems, while QA analysts and testers primarily focus on identifying defects. As a result, developers typically require broader programming and software design expertise, which explains the 29.7% gap in median salaries.
There are similar disparities when looking at the salary extremes for each role. The lowest-paid software developers earn under $79,850, compared to $60,690 for software quality assurance analysts and testers – a 31.6% difference.
At the other end of the spectrum, the top 10% of software developers take home over $211,450. For software quality assurance analysts and testers, it’s upwards of $166,960, representing a 26.6% difference.
The number of jobs in the software industry is set to grow 15% from 2024’s figure of around 1.9 million to nearly 2.2 million by 2034.
AI is also changing how software developers work. In 2025, 84% of developers reported using or planning to use AI tools in their development process, up from 76% a year earlier. However, just 33% trust the accuracy of AI-generated output, highlighting the continued importance of human oversight and technical expertise.
Here’s a look at the median annual wages for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers by industry:
| Industry | Software Developer | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software publishers | $149,990 | $99,050 | 33.96% |
| Manufacturing | $134,910 | $125,990 | 6.61% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $133,650 | – | – |
| Finance and insurance | $132,880 | $101,920 | 23.3% |
| Computer systems design and related services | $129,890 | $99,720 | 23.23% |
| Administrative and support services | – | $102,620 | – |
Sources: BLS, Stack Overflow
Computer & Information Research Scientist
At $140,910 per year, computer & information research scientists earn a relatively high median salary. That figure translates to approximately $67.74 per hour.
Nonetheless, there is significant variation in pay between entry-level positions and senior roles. The bottom 10% earn under $80,670 compared to the top 10%, who bring in at least $232,120 each year.
The current crop of around 40,300 computer & information research scientists is expected to increase by 20% to 48,200 by 2034.
Industry has a notable impact on median annual wages within this profession:
Software publishers – $237,990
Computer systems design – $166,620
Research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences – $153,430
Federal government (excluding postal service) – $123,340
Colleges, universities, and professional schools (state) – $85,290
Computer and information research scientists working for software publishers earn almost 2.8x the median salary of those working at state colleges and universities. Private companies can offer substantially higher compensation for specialist expertise, particularly when research can contribute directly to commercially valuable AI products.
Source: BLS
Computer Systems Analyst
The median pay for a computer systems analyst is $103,790 per year. That translates to
$49.90 per hour.
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,160, almost a third as much as the top 10% at over $166,030.
The computer system analyst job market is set to grow by approximately 9% from 521,100 jobs to 566,600 between 2024 and 2034.
Unlike many other AI careers, the industry in which computer system analysts operate has little effect on median wages:
- Management of companies and enterprises – $109,210
- Information – $107,630
- Finance and insurance – $104,910
- Computer systems design and related services – $104,370
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals – $97,430
Unlike many other AI-related roles, the industry appears to have a relatively limited impact on computer systems analyst salaries. Roles in management of companies and enterprises pay around 12% more than government-based positions.
Source: BLS
Information Security Analyst
The median salary for an information security analyst role is $124,910 per year, or $60.05 per hour.
However, the lowest-paid 10% make around half as much, at under $69,660. By contrast, 1 in 10 information security analysts make upwards of $186,420 each year.
Demand for information security analysts is expected to grow by 29% by 2034, fueled by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. That equates to 234,900 jobs, up 52,100 from 182,800 in 2024. The growing adoption of cloud computing and AI is also creating new security risks, driving demand for skilled information security professionals.
Here’s a look at how industry affects median wages for information security analysts:
- Information – $136,390
- Management of companies and enterprises – $127,840
- Finance and insurance – $126,970
- Computer systems design and related services – $126,690
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services – $120,050
Source: BLS
Conclusion
AI careers offer strong earning potential, with every role assessed in this report commanding a median annual salary above $100,000.
While AI engineers and machine learning engineers top the charts, established roles such as data scientists and software developers also offer highly competitive pay.
Overall, the largest salary premiums are concentrated in highly specialized AI roles. However, job title is only part of the picture, with experience, location, and industry all playing a significant role in earning potential.
Our salary information is primarily gathered from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with emerging AI-specific roles supplemented by Indeed and Built In. The BLS does not yet classify AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, or AI Prompt Engineer as standalone occupations.