AI Operations Research Engineer.
Cheyenne.
$134,000
median salary, 11% below the national average
$103,000 to $170,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median AI Operations Research Engineer salary in Cheyenne is $134,000, 11% below the national average. Entry level starts near $103,000. Experienced professionals push past $170,000. Cheyenne is Wyoming's capital, with an economy driven by government, military operations at F. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $121,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$87,000
to $107,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$114,000
to $141,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$147,000
to $174,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$168,000
to $208,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $64,000 to the total package.
Base
$134,000
Equity
$39,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $198,000
How Cheyenne compares
Cheyenne, WY
$134,000
Cost of living: 13% below average
National Average
$150,000
Cheyenne is $16,000 below
AI Operations Research Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Cheyenne
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Operations Research Engineer offer in Cheyenne, understand the terrain. Cheyenne is Wyoming's capital, with an economy driven by government, military operations at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, and a growing data center industry attracted by Wyoming's no income tax and low energy costs. The city is small but offers affordable living and emerging tech infrastructure opportunities. Compensation reflects the combination of optimization expertise and ML engineering. Engineers who can solve complex scheduling, routing, and resource allocation problems using hybrid AI/OR approaches earn premiums. Experience integrating ML-based prediction with mathematical optimization for real-time decision-making is the most valued skill combination.
Junior OR engineers start at $100,000 to $120,000. Mid-level engineers building production optimization systems reach $140,000 to $168,000. Senior engineers designing enterprise optimization platforms earn $178,000 to $220,000. Directors of optimization at logistics or tech companies can reach $240,000 to $300,000. In Cheyenne, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 13% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Performance bonuses of 12% to 20% tied to optimization outcome improvements are common. Equity at logistics and operations AI companies adds $20,000 to $60,000 annually. Benefits include computing resource access and INFORMS or similar professional society memberships. And on the tax side: wyoming has no state income tax. Cheyenne has no city income tax. The zero income tax environment combined with very low living costs creates exceptional take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $134,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate data center or federal contractor rates. Cheyenne employers in these sectors benchmark against national pay scales and offer competitive packages to attract talent. The range for AI Operations Research Engineers in Cheyenne runs from $103,000 to $170,000. 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 Cybersecurity Engineer in Cheyenne earns $135,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
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