When you consider artificial intelligence (AI), what springs to mind? Autonomous vehicles? Humanoid robots? What about robot pets? While the name “AI” may conjure up images of the future, we are already dealing with AI breakthroughs daily. Consider chatbots and virtual travel agents.
And the AI industry will only expand more – the worldwide artificial intelligence market is predicted to reach $641.3 billion over the next six years. What’s the good news?
It indicates that there will be increasing possibilities for AI engineers across sectors. AI engineers may work on various tasks, from disease mapping to cybersecurity, gaming, conversions & linguistics.
The good news? AI Engineers are among the highest-paid engineers since they deal with cutting-edge technology and have a lot of responsibility. Of course, these entry-level AI engineer salaries fluctuate depending on many things.
So, in this blog, we will shed light on the factors that determine the entry-level AI engineer salary and how you can look for a job as a fresher! So, let’s get started!
The Fundamentals of the AI Engineer Role
An AI engineer is a designer who builds, tests, and deploys AI models using machine learning, deep learning, and data science. AI engineers often work with data scientists and stakeholders to translate data-driven strategies into production-level AI applications.
Their tasks include remaining current on industry developments to improve existing models and processes. With recent tremendous advances in large language models (LLMs), the role of AI in today’s industrial environment is apparent. Many firms have been hurrying to leverage these LLMs for their own AI products after the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
As a result, AI engineers with specific expertise in designing and implementing these models are in high demand, making it a highly sought-after and profitable career path. According to a recent PwC report, the impact of AI on the global economy will be $15.7 trillion by 2030.
This exponential expansion in the AI business will enhance employment prospects and entry-level AI engineer salaries. AI is used in various products, including chatbots, virtual assistants, content production, and music generation. It’s no wonder that firms are eager to pay high prices for experienced engineers in this discipline, given the potential for AI to transform numerous industries.
What is the Average Entry-Level AI Engineer’s Salary?
Now, look at some of the real entry-level AI engineer salaries. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical annual pay for AI engineers in the US is around $136,620. These findings are consistent with Glassdoor’s assertion that the average annual entry-level AI engineer salary in the United States is $110K – $175K/yr.
These are competitive earnings when compared to the national average. However, it’s important to note that these data are based on self-reported employee incomes and may not represent the whole population of AI engineers.
Compared to the mean annual pay across all jobs in the United States, which is $61,900 annually, AI engineer roles are highly compensated. It demonstrates the increased demand for AI engineers and the importance that firms place on these positions.
Furthermore, according to Zippia, the typical entry-level AI Engineers salary in the United States is $71,831 annually. Salary ranges for AI Engineers range from $46,000 in the lowest 10% to $111,000 in the highest 90%. On average, AI Engineers earn $34.53 per hour.
AI Engineer wages differ according to the departments. AI Engineers in the retail department earn an average of $84,741 annually, while engineers earn an average of $77,540 annually.
💡You can check AI jobs in the USA for free here.
What Factors Affect An Entry-Level AI Engineer’s Salary?
According to recent ZipRecruiter statistics, the average yearly salary of entry-level AI engineers in the United States is $164,769. However, most of their research wages ranged from $142,500 (25th percentile) to $173,000 (75th percentile).
In addition, the lowest yearly salary was $90,000, while the highest was $304,500. This range is huge – more than $200,000! But why is this so? Location, talents, experience, and who you work for impact how much you can earn as an entry-level AI Engineer.
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By Location
The United States is the most sought-after place to work as an AI engineer. As per ZipRecruiter, the typical yearly income range for an AI engineer in the United States is roughly $156,648, with annual earnings ranging from $79,500 to $266,500.
Green River, Wyoming, Atkinson, Nebraska, California, and Santa Clara are the highest-paying localities in the United States for AI engineers. San Francisco pays $195,425 annually, while Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. are two other big cities among the top ten highest-paying cities in the United States for AI Engineer positions.
If you prefer to live on the shore, AI Engineers in Bridgeport, Connecticut, earn an average of $185,610 a year, making it the ninth highest-paying city in the United States. According to Glassdoor, AI engineers in the United Kingdom may make an annual base salary of £52,260. London, Manchester, and Cambridge are the finest places in the United Kingdom for AI engineer jobs.
💡Explore AI jobs in the UK here.
Almost every European nation is experiencing a skills shortage, notably among AI engineers. They are highly sought after in big cities such as Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. AI engineers in Germany may expect to earn an annual base salary of €64,000 on average.
On average, entry-level AI engineers in Canada can make more than CAD102,973 per year. Salaries range from CAD 73,000 to 140,000. The top cities for AI developers are Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
The average base pay for AI engineers in Australia is AUD 111,000. Melbourne and Sydney have the highest pay rates for AI engineers. The average yearly entry-level salary of AI engineers in Singapore is SG $5,000, varying from SG $3,740 to $6,470.
💡Get your hands on AI opportunities in Canada and Singapore now!
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Experience
Experience is the most important aspect in determining an AI engineer’s wage range. As with most employment, the more experience you have, the better your income.
Glassdoor reports that entry-level AI engineers can make roughly $118,166 annually, continuously rising as they acquire expertise. Mid-level AI engineers with 3-5 years of experience generally make an annual salary of $147,880.
Senior AI engineer jobs are uncommon, but they pay an average of $163,037 per year, with some paying up to $200,000 annually.
Working expertise in data science can indicate a thorough knowledge of how machine learning models and more complex neural networks function. As a result, AI engineers might begin their careers as data specialists, such as data scientists.
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By Education & Skills
Academic research is the source of many thoughts and works in artificial intelligence. As a result, obtaining a formal degree in a relevant discipline would influence your salary range and prospects of finding a job in AI.
However, getting an AI job if you don’t have or plan to earn a college degree is not out of the question, especially with tech businesses reducing degree requirements. Just be aware that it may take longer to locate the appropriate match.
In addition to a formal degree, you can look at online courses and professional development to help you increase your entry-level AI engineer salary. Both alternatives are excellent if you want to acquire a new tool or broaden your skill set to gain additional opportunities to work on different projects while increasing your income potential.
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By Industry and Companies
An entry-level AI engineer’s salary, like any other cross-functional profession, varies depending on the industry in which they work. According to Glassdoor, the highest-paying industries for AI engineers include information technology ($194,962), media and communication ($190,272), and government and public administration ($112,123).
Because of the strong demand for AI engineers in these disciplines and their potential influence on corporate operations, industries such as technology tend to pay higher wages. Employee salaries are considerably greater in finance organizations in the technology field.
Also, the entry-level AI engineer’s salary varies by the companies as well. The top firms in the United States provide abnormally high artificial intelligence salaries.
- Google – Engineers with artificial intelligence experience are in great demand at Google, one of the world’s largest multinational technology businesses. The annual compensation for AI developers at Google in the United States is $236,388.
- Twitter (Meta) – Facebook is a popular social networking platform for hiring qualified artificial intelligence and machine learning workers. Facebook (Meta) pays roughly $257,846 per year for AI jobs.
- Apple – Apple is the world’s largest technological firm. This business focuses on advanced software & online digital services. They hire for roles such as machine learning engineer, artificial intelligence team leader, etc. Entry-level AI engineers will earn an annual salary of $227,094 in this company.
Apart from these, AI is especially widespread in the financial, healthcare, and life sciences industries, and some of the biggest corporations recruiting in these areas include CVS Health, Pfizer and Fidelity Investments, and many other large US-based and worldwide banks. However, it is also expanding in retail, sports, and manufacturing, with firms like McDonald’s, the NFL, and John Deere investing in AI.
Wrapping Up
While AI engineers are in great demand and pay well, how do they compare to non-AI engineers? Glassdoor states a software engineer’s average yearly income is $134,145, while a data scientist’s compensation is $127,330. In comparison, the average annual entry-level AI engineer salary is $147,880.
The job market for AI engineers is now quite competitive, with numerous firms searching for qualified candidates to fill available roles. As a result, entry-level AI engineer salaries are projected to stay high and continue to rise as the area of artificial intelligence advances.
Whether you’re starting or seeking to progress, a career in AI engineering may provide substantial income in addition to ongoing chances for growth and development. With the right skills, experience, and networking, you can position yourself to earn competitive earnings while also advancing your career as an AI developer.
Building a career as an AI engineer requires years of experience, but if you start now, you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of future chances. To get started, look at some AI tutorials, which will offer additional technical information about AI.
A basic understanding of Artificial Intelligence course is a wonderful place to start if you’re new to AI. So, gear up and start applying for jobs in AI at AI Careers!
