AI Developer Salary Report 2026
Real salary data from 3665 job listings across 323 AI companies
Last updated: July 13, 2026 · Source: aidevboard.com job listings
What do AI engineers earn in 2026?
Which AI specializations pay the most?
| Specialization | Avg Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| alignment | $362k | 254 |
| pre-training | $327k | 64 |
| rust | $303k | 41 |
| transformers | $289k | 6 |
| kubernetes | $287k | 4 |
| jax | $286k | 18 |
| reinforcement-learning | $283k | 237 |
| research | $283k | 296 |
| search | $277k | 281 |
| inference | $264k | 30 |
| cuda | $263k | 3 |
| distributed-systems | $260k | 602 |
| go | $258k | 4 |
| software-engineering | $256k | 22 |
| fine-tuning | $253k | 412 |
Do remote AI jobs pay less than onsite?
| Workplace | Avg Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $267k | 716 |
| Remote | $225k | 692 |
| On-site | $219k | 2257 |
AI Engineer Salary by Experience Level
| Level | Avg Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Principal | $338k | 248 |
| Lead | $263k | 1209 |
| Senior | $216k | 1539 |
| Junior | $172k | 200 |
| Mid-Level | $157k | 469 |
AI Salary by Job Type
| Type | Avg Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time | $230k | 3661 |
| Freelance | $100k | 1 |
| Contract | $93k | 3 |
Which companies pay AI engineers the most?
| Company | Avg Salary | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | $528k | 3 |
| Inflection AI | $425k | 5 |
| Thinking Machines | $407k | 26 |
| MatX | $396k | 26 |
| METR | $394k | 1 |
| Anthropic | $390k | 214 |
| Magic | $375k | 10 |
| OpenArt | $350k | 2 |
| Inworld AI | $335k | 5 |
| Cognition AI | $327k | 2 |
AI Engineer Salary by City
| City | Avg Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $268k | 1040 |
| New York | $228k | 398 |
| Mountain View | $250k | 226 |
| Seattle | $196k | 94 |
| Boston | $203k | 146 |
| Austin | $211k | 72 |
| Washington DC | $221k | 35 |
| London | $250k | 17 |
| Toronto | $210k | 49 |
| Ann Arbor | $166k | 36 |
AI Engineer Salary Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average AI engineer salary in 2026?
Based on 3665 real job listings from companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Cursor, the average AI engineer salary in 2026 is $230k. The median is $215k, with the middle 50% earning between $180k and $266k.
Which AI specializations pay the most?
The highest-paying AI specializations are: alignment (~$362k), pre-training (~$327k), rust (~$303k), transformers (~$289k), kubernetes (~$287k).
Do remote AI jobs pay less than onsite?
Hybrid roles average $267k. Remote AI roles average $225k. Onsite roles average $219k.
How much do senior AI engineers make?
AI engineer salaries by experience level: Principal: ~$338k (248 roles), Lead: ~$263k (1209 roles), Senior: ~$216k (1539 roles), Junior: ~$172k (200 roles), Mid-Level: ~$157k (469 roles). Based on real job listings with published compensation.
Which companies pay AI engineers the most?
Top-paying companies: Motion ($528k avg, 3 roles), Inflection AI ($425k avg, 5 roles), Thinking Machines ($407k avg, 26 roles), MatX ($396k avg, 26 roles), METR ($394k avg, 1 roles). Figures reflect base salary.
What are AI engineer salaries by city?
AI engineer salaries by city: San Francisco ($268k avg, 1040 roles), New York ($228k avg, 398 roles), Mountain View ($250k avg, 226 roles), Seattle ($196k avg, 94 roles), Boston ($203k avg, 146 roles). Based on active job listings with published compensation.
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Methodology
This report analyzes 3665 job listings with published salary data out of 9287 total active AI/ML positions on AI Dev Board. Salary data is extracted from structured fields and job descriptions. All figures represent base salary in USD. Data is refreshed daily from company career pages via Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever, and Workable APIs. Companies represented: 323.
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