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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
For AI Research Scientists weighing a relocation, this page is the starting point. The national median salary for AI Research Scientists in 2026 is $197,861, with entry-level positions averaging $142,460 and senior roles reaching $280,963. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $360,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
AI Research Scientist falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves PhD in CS/ML. The career outlook? Very high demand. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$219,300 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A AI Research Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $360,400 — $219,300 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,100). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level AI Research Scientists average $142,460, the median sits at $197,861, and senior earners pull in $280,963. That $138,503 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $117,494 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $336,600, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $142,233. The $194,367 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A AI Research Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $360,400 — $219,300 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,100). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for AI Research Scientist is $142,460, while senior-level (P90) earners average $280,963. That $138,503 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for AI Research Scientists at $238,808 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $209,950) is $28,858.
At the 90th percentile, AI Research Scientists pull in an average of $280,963. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $142,460 | $197,861 | $280,963 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £85,420 | £118,640 | £168,468 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$110,726 | CA$153,786 | CA$218,377 |
| Australia | 13 | A$128,343 | A$178,255 | A$253,122 |
| Sweden | 24 | 808,438 kr | 1,122,831 kr | 1,594,420 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $171,942 | $238,808 | $339,108 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $166,158 | $230,775 | $327,701 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $165,240 | $229,500 | $325,890 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $153,000 | $212,500 | $301,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $151,164 | $209,950 | $298,129 |
| Washington | 8 | $148,257 | $205,913 | $292,396 |
| New York | 5 | $139,536 | $193,800 | $275,196 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $139,536 | $193,800 | $275,196 |
| Florida | 22 | $138,479 | $192,332 | $273,111 |
| Colorado | 11 | $136,087 | $189,009 | $268,393 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $135,864 | $188,700 | $267,954 |
| Nevada | 5 | $135,619 | $188,360 | $267,471 |
| Arizona | 12 | $134,946 | $187,425 | $266,144 |
| Oregon | 5 | $134,640 | $187,000 | $265,540 |
| Idaho | 3 | $134,232 | $186,433 | $264,735 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $133,171 | $184,960 | $262,643 |
| Utah | 4 | $132,804 | $184,450 | $261,919 |
| Virginia | 7 | $130,618 | $181,414 | $257,608 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $128,928 | $179,067 | $254,275 |
| Alaska | 1 | $128,520 | $178,500 | $253,470 |
| Illinois | 5 | $127,051 | $176,460 | $250,573 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $123,896 | $172,078 | $244,350 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $122,400 | $170,000 | $241,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $122,400 | $170,000 | $241,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $121,992 | $169,433 | $240,595 |
| Texas | 40 | $121,390 | $168,598 | $239,408 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $121,176 | $168,300 | $238,986 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $120,564 | $167,450 | $237,779 |
| Georgia | 6 | $120,156 | $166,883 | $236,974 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $119,952 | $166,600 | $236,572 |
| Kansas | 4 | $119,340 | $165,750 | $235,365 |
| Michigan | 6 | $118,932 | $165,183 | $234,560 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $117,504 | $163,200 | $231,744 |
| Maryland | 1 | $117,504 | $163,200 | $231,744 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $116,280 | $161,500 | $229,330 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $116,280 | $161,500 | $229,330 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $113,220 | $157,250 | $223,295 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $112,608 | $156,400 | $222,088 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $111,078 | $154,275 | $219,071 |
| Missouri | 4 | $111,078 | $154,275 | $219,071 |
| Alabama | 5 | $110,650 | $153,680 | $218,226 |
| Indiana | 3 | $108,936 | $151,300 | $214,846 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $108,936 | $151,300 | $214,846 |
| Iowa | 2 | $107,712 | $149,600 | $212,432 |
| Ohio | 6 | $107,508 | $149,317 | $212,030 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $102,816 | $142,800 | $202,776 |
The state salary map for AI Research Scientists: California at $238,808, Massachusetts at $230,775, Hawaii at $229,500 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($142,800), Ohio ($149,317), Iowa ($149,600) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $96,008.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($360,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $170,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $360,400 | 212 | $170,000 | $188,381 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $336,600 | 198 | $170,000 | $177,898 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $312,800 | 184 | $170,000 | $167,414 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $307,700 | 181 | $170,000 | $165,167 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $302,600 | 178 | $170,000 | $162,921 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $300,900 | 177 | $170,000 | $162,172 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $300,900 | 177 | $170,000 | $162,172 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $294,100 | 173 | $170,000 | $159,176 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $294,100 | 173 | $170,000 | $159,176 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $287,300 | 169 | $170,000 | $156,181 |
From a career planning perspective, AI Research Scientist offers a $138,503 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires PhD in CS/ML. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for AI Research Scientists is $197,861 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $142,460, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $280,963.
The highest-paying city for AI Research Scientists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $360,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($360,400), Santa Clara ($336,600), Irvine ($312,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median AI Research Scientist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $141,100. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level AI Research Scientists (10th percentile) average $142,460 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $259,488. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), AI Research Scientists average $280,963 nationally — $138,503 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior AI Research Scientists can earn up to $511,768.
The top-paying states for AI Research Scientists are California ($238,808 median), Massachusetts ($230,775 median), Hawaii ($229,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a AI Research Scientist involves PhD in CS/ML. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $197,861 and representation across 288 metro areas, AI Research Scientist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $138,503 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.