AI Model Evaluator Salary.
Across 83 U.S. cities.
$120,000
national median salary
$90,000 to $155,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$162,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$125,000
Princeton, NJ
Lowest Paying
$94,000
Jackson, MS
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 Model Evaluator salary in the United States is $120,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $90,000 at the 25th percentile to $155,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $162,000, while Princeton offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation scales with expertise in evaluation methodology design, benchmark creation, and statistical rigor.
AI Model Evaluator salary by city
Skills that increase AI Model Evaluator pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Model Evaluators based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $16,800 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$16,800 per year
≈ +$15,600 per year
≈ +$14,400 per year
≈ +$13,200 per year
≈ +$12,000 per year
≈ +$12,000 per year
≈ +$12,000 per year
≈ +$10,800 per year
What you should know
Compensation scales with expertise in evaluation methodology design, benchmark creation, and statistical rigor. Evaluators who can design domain-specific assessments for frontier models and quantify safety metrics command premiums. Experience with red-teaming, adversarial testing, and regulatory compliance evaluation adds significant value.
Junior evaluators start at $80,000 to $95,000 running standard benchmarks. Mid-level evaluators designing custom evaluation suites reach $115,000 to $140,000. Senior evaluators leading safety assessment programs earn $145,000 to $180,000. Directors of AI evaluation at frontier labs can exceed $220,000 in total compensation.
Equity at AI safety companies and frontier labs adds $20,000 to $70,000 annually. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are typical. Research publication budgets and conference travel are common perks that support career development.