AI Knowledge Engineer Salary.
Across 83 U.S. cities.
$138,000
national median salary
$105,000 to $175,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$198,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$144,000
Honolulu, HI
Lowest Paying
$109,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average AI Knowledge Engineer salary in the United States is $138,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $105,000 at the 25th percentile to $175,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $198,000, while Honolulu offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation reflects expertise in designing knowledge representation systems that enhance AI reasoning.
AI Knowledge Engineer salary by city
Skills that increase AI Knowledge Engineer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Knowledge Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $19,320 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$19,320 per year
≈ +$17,940 per year
≈ +$16,560 per year
≈ +$15,180 per year
≈ +$13,800 per year
≈ +$13,800 per year
≈ +$13,800 per year
≈ +$12,420 per year
What you should know
Compensation reflects expertise in designing knowledge representation systems that enhance AI reasoning. Engineers who can build ontologies, knowledge graphs, and structured data pipelines that improve LLM accuracy earn premiums. Experience combining symbolic AI approaches with neural methods is a rare and valued skill. Domain expertise in specific knowledge domains adds 10% to 15%.
Junior knowledge engineers start at $90,000 to $110,000. Mid-level engineers building production knowledge graph systems reach $130,000 to $155,000. Senior engineers designing enterprise knowledge architectures earn $165,000 to $200,000. Directors of AI knowledge systems can reach $220,000 to $270,000 in total compensation.
Equity at enterprise AI companies adds $15,000 to $55,000 annually. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Benefits include conference attendance at knowledge management and AI events, and research collaboration opportunities with academic partners.