AI Knowledge Engineer.
Tulsa.
$115,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$87,000 to $145,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Knowledge Engineers actually make in Tulsa: $87,000 at the 25th percentile, $115,000 at the median, and $145,000 at the 75th. That is 17% below the national average. Tulsa has diversified beyond energy into aerospace, healthcare, and a growing tech remote work community. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $103,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$75,000
to $92,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$98,000
to $121,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$127,000
to $150,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$144,000
to $178,000
Salary trend
+8% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $54,000 to the total package.
Base
$115,000
Equity
$33,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$7,000
Estimated total: $169,000
How Tulsa compares
Tulsa, OK
$115,000
Cost of living: 17% below average
National Average
$138,000
Tulsa is $23,000 below
AI Knowledge Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Tulsa
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Knowledge Engineer offer in Tulsa, understand the terrain. Tulsa has diversified beyond energy into aerospace, healthcare, and a growing tech remote work community. The Tulsa Remote program has attracted thousands of remote workers with financial incentives. The extremely affordable cost of living means salaries stretch further here than almost anywhere. 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. In Tulsa, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 17% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. 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. And on the tax side: oklahoma's top income tax rate is 4.75%. Tulsa has no city income tax. The low rate plus extremely affordable housing create exceptional purchasing power. When someone quotes you $115,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention the Tulsa Remote program ecosystem. Employers know that remote workers are choosing Tulsa for the cost of living, and they benchmark accordingly against coastal rates. The range for AI Knowledge Engineers in Tulsa runs from $87,000 to $145,000. 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 Conversational AI Designer in Tulsa earns $116,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Tulsa is Distinguished Engineer at $266,000
Common questions.
AI Knowledge Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Tulsa
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.