AI Fintech Engineer.
Richmond.
$190,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$141,000 to $250,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A AI Fintech Engineer in Richmond earns a median of $190,000 in 2026. That is 1% above the national average. The range runs from $141,000 to $250,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Pay scales with the revenue impact of models deployed.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $171,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$124,000
to $152,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$162,000
to $200,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$209,000
to $247,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$238,000
to $295,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $93,000 to the total package.
Base
$190,000
Equity
$57,000
Bonus
$25,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $283,000
How Richmond compares
Richmond, VA
$190,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$188,000
Richmond is $2,000 above
AI Fintech Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Richmond
What you should know
The AI Fintech Engineer landscape in Richmond is not what most salary sites will tell you. Richmond combines a strong government and defense sector with growing technology and financial services industries. Capital One's headquarters drives significant fintech employment. The city's proximity to Washington DC creates spillover demand for federal contractors and tech workers seeking lower living costs. Pay scales with the revenue impact of models deployed. Engineers building real-time fraud detection, algorithmic trading, or credit risk systems at major banks and hedge funds earn significantly more. Regulatory knowledge around SOX and Basel III compliance adds further premium.
Junior ML engineers in finance start around $120,000. Senior AI fintech engineers earn $180,000 to $220,000. Quant research leads and heads of AI at financial institutions reach $300,000 to $450,000 including bonuses. In Richmond, 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. Finance sector bonuses often reach 25% to 50% of base salary. Hedge fund and prop trading roles may include profit-sharing. RSUs at public fintech firms add substantial long-term value. And on the tax side: virginia's top income tax rate is 5.75%. Richmond has no city income tax. The moderate rate and reasonable cost of living create solid net compensation. When someone quotes you $190,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage DC corridor salary benchmarks. Richmond employers compete with Northern Virginia and DC for talent, especially in fintech and government contracting. The range for AI Fintech Engineers in Richmond runs from $141,000 to $250,000. 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 AI Safety Researcher in Richmond earns $191,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Richmond is Chief AI Officer at $316,000
Common questions.
AI Fintech Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Richmond
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