Important points
AI professionals can expect to earn well above the average annual salary in the U.S., and compensation varies based on role, experience, and location.
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According to Glassdoor, artificial intelligence salaries vary widely depending on the job title, with median base salaries ranging from $99,578 for AI researchers to $134,188 for AI engineers.
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You can increase your earning potential by building new skills, enhancing existing skills, and earning certifications that demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers.
Your ability to capture the potential in artificial intelligence will depend on whether you pursue an AI-specific role or upskill in a position where AI skills are increasingly valuable. Read below for a complete breakdown of AI salaries by role, experience level, and city, as well as steps you can take to increase your earning potential throughout your career. If you’re ready to start building your AI skills right away, consider enrolling in the Google AI Professional Certification Program. In just 8 hours, learn how to apply AI to essential and transferable skills such as data analysis, communication, and research.
Artificial Intelligence Salary Summary
Professionals working in the field of artificial intelligence can expect to earn a higher than average salary for their in-demand skill set. The exact amount you earn will vary by job, but in general, you can expect to earn more than the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median annual salary of $49,500 as of May 2024. [1].
To give you a better idea of how much you can earn, here are the median total base salaries for various AI jobs, according to Glassdoor.
The exact amount you earn may vary depending on common factors such as previous work experience and geographic location. We discuss these factors in more detail below.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all salary data is from Glassdoor as of February 2025. Salary does not include additional compensation such as bonuses, tips, profit sharing, or commissions.
job outlook
Professionals with a high level of control over AI skills are likely to be in high demand over the next few years. According to the BLS, the number of jobs for “computer and information research scientists” (a position that includes many AI-related jobs) is expected to increase by 26% between 2023 and 2033. [8]. This is significantly higher than the overall employment growth rate (BLS) of only 4% for all occupations in the country over the same period.
The global market for artificial intelligence is predicted to reach nearly $2 trillion by 2030 [9]. These numbers suggest that the demand for AI jobs will increase in the near future.
Salary based on experience in artificial intelligence
As with most jobs, your experience level can have a big impact on your income. Typically, the more experience you have in a position, the higher the salary an employer will demand.
According to Glassdoor, here’s how much you can expect to earn over the years from the aforementioned AI positions.
| 0-1 years old | 1-3 years | 4-6 years | 7-9 years | 10-14 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI engineer [2] | $103,140 | $121,641 | $138,301 | $155,132 | $172,468 |
| AI researcher [3] | $94,972 | $104,517 | $114,931 | $122,207 | $142,511 |
| machine learning engineer [4] | $98,798 | $112,105 | $122,505 | $133,130 | $153,286 |
| robot engineer [5] | $93,386 | $106,135 | $122,499 | $132,938 | $148,216 |
| software engineer [6] | $99,438 | $110,591 | $121,118 | $131,967 | $144,306 |
| data scientist [7] | $110,720 | $119,207 | $127,098 | $133,301 | $145,724 |
Artificial Intelligence Salary by Location
Where you live and work can have a big impact on the income you can expect to earn as an AI professional. Common geographic factors that affect salary include the local job market, such as the cost of living where you work and whether there is significant competition for your skill set among employers.
To give you a better idea of the base salary you can expect nationwide, here are the average salaries for the aforementioned AI jobs in five U.S. cities, according to Glassdoor.
| San Francisco, California | houston texas | New York City, New York | Chicago, Illinois | columbus ohio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI engineer | $164,499 | $129,169 | $141,539 | $106,031 | $103,974 |
| AI researcher | $132,937 | $82,435 | $101,796 | $102,341 | $87,463 |
| machine learning engineer | $149,795 | $121,462 | $124,920 | $110,268 | $109,636 |
| robot engineer | $152,051 | $99,160 | $111,587 | $100,779 | $90,445 |
| software engineer | $144,333 | $104,565 | $130,868 | $110,626 | $104,533 |
| data scientist | $149,378 | $107,848 | $126,859 | $118,081 | $108,847 |
How to increase your salary as an AI professional
Earning potential is not fixed. In fact, there are many ways to increase your salary as an AI professional. Here are some steps you can take to increase your take-home pay throughout your career.
1. Develop your skills.
To stay competitive in the market as an AI professional, you need to make sure you have the most up-to-date knowledge possible in this field. This means you need to build new skills and strengthen existing ones at the same time. Ways to sharpen your skill set include taking courses online or in-person, connecting with knowledgeable peers in your network, and attending professional workshops.
2. Get certified.
Certifications demonstrate your commitment to the field and demonstrate that you have mastered job-related skills. There are a variety of certifications you can consider earning to prove your abilities to potential employers, such as IBM’s AI Developer Professional certificate or the Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist (CAIS) from the American Institute for Artificial Intelligence (USAII). If you would like more information about the exact certification or certificate you are considering, please reach out to others in your professional network.
3. Consider your degree.
A degree is a great way to showcase your knowledge in a field. In fact, some of the most competitive AI positions require applicants to have a PhD to qualify for the role. So, if you want to land one of the highest-paying research jobs in this field, you should consider earning a PhD in computer science, machine learning, electrical engineering, or a related field.
Improve your AI skills with Coursera
Ready to improve your AI skills? Consider earning one of your next job-related professional certifications or specializations on Coursera.
To build work-ready skills in AI technology, Enroll in IBM’s AI Developer Professional Certificate. Learn how to build chatbots, apply computer vision techniques using Python, and even develop custom image classification models today.
To develop practical machine learning skills, Try the Machine Learning Specialization from Stanford University and DeepLearning.AI. This entry-level program allows you to build machine learning models, apply best practices to machine learning development, and even train your own neural networks.
To prepare for a career as a data scientist, Consider the IBM Data Science Professional certificate. Learn the tools, languages, and libraries used by professional data scientists, including Python and SQL.
