AI Data Governance Manager.
Nashville.
$175,000
median salary, at the national average
$130,000 to $225,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a AI Data Governance Manager offer in Nashville, TN, here is the reality: $130,000 to $225,000, with $175,000 as the midpoint. Right at the national average. Expertise in managing data quality, lineage, and compliance specifically for AI training and inference pipelines drives compensation. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $157,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$114,000
to $140,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$149,000
to $184,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$193,000
to $228,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$219,000
to $271,000
Salary trend
+8% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $76,000 to the total package.
Base
$175,000
Equity
$46,000
Bonus
$19,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $251,000
How Nashville compares
Nashville, TN
$175,000
Cost of living: at average
National Average
$175,000
Same as local rate
AI Data Governance Manager salary by city
Salary by role in Nashville
What you should know
The AI Data Governance Manager landscape in Nashville is not what most salary sites will tell you. Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. The city is home to HCA Healthcare and a growing corridor of health tech startups. Nashville's moderate cost of living, combined with Tennessee's lack of state income tax on wages, makes it increasingly popular for corporate relocations and remote workers. Expertise in managing data quality, lineage, and compliance specifically for AI training and inference pipelines drives compensation. Managers who can implement governance frameworks spanning data collection, labeling, storage, and model deployment are highly valued. Experience with privacy regulations affecting AI data use and cross border data transfer rules adds premiums.
Junior data governance analysts start at $95,000 to $130,000. Mid level managers with AI data pipeline experience earn $155,000 to $195,000. Senior managers reach $195,000 to $245,000. Directors of AI data governance at large enterprises can exceed $300,000 in total compensation. In Nashville, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard at enterprise technology companies. Equity grants add 10 to 25% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $15,000 to $40,000 are common. Benefits often include compliance certification funding and professional conference attendance. And on the tax side: tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. This gives Nashville workers a meaningful take home advantage over peers in states with 5 to 10% income tax rates. When someone quotes you $175,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the healthcare industry concentration as leverage. Nashville healthcare employers are accustomed to national pay scales and will often match or beat coastal health sector offers. The range for AI Data Governance Managers in Nashville runs from $130,000 to $225,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A LLMOps Engineer in Nashville earns $176,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Nashville is Chief AI Officer at $298,000
Common questions.
AI Data Governance Manager salary in other cities
Other salaries in Nashville
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