Core answer:
AI engineer salaries vary widely by country, experience, and company. In the U.S., typical ranges for many roles cluster around six-figure totals with senior levels exceeding $200k–$500k total compensation including stock, while in other markets like Singapore or Europe, salaries tend to be lower but still competitive for tech roles. Overview

• United States
  • Median base salaries for AI/ML engineers commonly fall in the $120k–$160k range for mid-level roles, with senior levels often higher and total compensation (including stock and bonuses) frequently surpassing $200k and reaching into $500k+ at top tech companies. This pattern aligns with recent market guides and company salary disclosures. [Sources indicate US median base around $134k for AI engineers and total packages at major firms can be substantially higher, especially with stock/bonus components.]
• Europe
  • Northern and Western Europe (e.g., UK, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden) offer competitive salaries often in the $100k–$180k range (base, before tax) for mid-to-senior AI engineers, with total compensation higher at major tech employers or in-demand specializations.
• Asia-Pacific
  • Singapore generally shows wide ranges depending on experience, with mid-career AI/ML engineers commonly in the low-to-mid six figures SGD (roughly $60k–$140k USD equivalent) in base pay, with total compensation varying by firm and equity.
  • Other APAC markets also show strong demand but different salary scales based on local cost of living and market maturity.

Key factors that influence salary

• Experience and seniority (junior, mid-level, senior, principal/lead)
• Specialization (NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, ML infrastructure)
• Industry and company size (startups vs. large tech firms vs. finance/healthcare)
• Geography (cost of living and market demand)
• Stock/options and bonuses that often comprise a large part of total compensation in major tech companies

What would help you best

• If you share your country or region, years of experience, and target role (e.g., AI Engineer, ML Engineer, Senior AI Scientist), I can give a more precise salary range and discuss typical compensation breakdowns (base vs. equity vs. bonus) for that market.
• If you’re planning a job search, I can outline a negotiation strategy tailored to your situation and provide sample prompts for salary discussions.