AI Data Quality Engineer.
Lexington.
$123,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$92,000 to $162,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A AI Data Quality Engineer in Lexington earns a median of $123,000 in 2026. That is 12% below the national average. The range runs from $92,000 to $162,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. AI data quality engineers ensure training and serving data meets standards for ML model reliability.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $111,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$80,000
to $98,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$105,000
to $129,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$135,000
to $160,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$154,000
to $191,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $56,000 to the total package.
Base
$123,000
Equity
$34,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$7,000
Estimated total: $179,000
How Lexington compares
Lexington, KY
$123,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$140,000
Lexington is $17,000 below
AI Data Quality Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Lexington
What you should know
The AI Data Quality Engineer landscape in Lexington is not what most salary sites will tell you. Lexington is Kentucky's second largest city with an economy driven by the University of Kentucky, healthcare, and the equine industry. A growing tech startup scene and affordable cost of living are attracting remote workers. The bourbon and manufacturing sectors also contribute to the local economy. AI data quality engineers ensure training and serving data meets standards for ML model reliability. Salary is driven by experience with data validation frameworks, drift detection systems, and automated quality monitoring at scale. Engineers working in regulated industries like healthcare and finance earn 12 to 20% premiums due to compliance requirements.
Junior AI data quality engineers earn $105,000 to $125,000. Engineers with 3 to 5 years of ML data quality experience reach $140,000 to $185,000. Senior engineers and quality team leads earn $190,000 to $248,000, while directors of data quality at enterprise AI companies can command $255,000 to $330,000. In Lexington, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Tech companies provide equity grants of 12 to 22% of base salary. Bonuses range from 10 to 15% annually. Some firms offer additional compensation for maintaining critical data quality SLAs, adding $5,000 to $12,000 for on-call responsibilities. And on the tax side: kentucky has a flat 4% state income tax. Lexington has an occupational tax of about 2.25%. The combined rate is moderate and the very affordable housing stretches salaries further. When someone quotes you $123,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UK Health and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries in Lexington. The range for AI Data Quality Engineers in Lexington runs from $92,000 to $162,000. 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 Product Manager in Lexington earns $122,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Lexington is Distinguished Engineer at $275,000
Common questions.
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