AI Program Director.
Cheyenne.
$192,000
median salary, 15% below the national average
$145,000 to $252,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median AI Program Director salary in Cheyenne is $192,000, 15% below the national average. Entry level starts near $145,000. Experienced professionals push past $252,000. 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 $173,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$125,000
to $154,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$163,000
to $202,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$211,000
to $250,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$240,000
to $298,000
Salary trend
+8% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $83,000 to the total package.
Base
$192,000
Equity
$50,000
Bonus
$21,000
Signing
$12,000
Estimated total: $275,000
How Cheyenne compares
Cheyenne, WY
$192,000
Cost of living: 13% below average
National Average
$225,000
Cheyenne is $33,000 below
AI Program Director salary by city
Salary by role in Cheyenne
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Program Director 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. Program scope and budget responsibility are the primary compensation drivers. Directors managing multi-year AI transformation programs with budgets exceeding $10 million earn significantly more. PMP or equivalent certifications combined with deep AI domain knowledge create a premium of 10 to 18% over candidates with only one skill set.
Senior AI project managers earning $140,000 to $180,000 step into this director role at $170,000 to $295,000. Advancement leads to VP of AI Programs at $220,000 to $320,000 or Chief AI Officer positions. Some directors pivot into AI consulting partnerships with higher variable compensation. 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. Total compensation reaches $300,000 to $550,000 with bonuses tied to program delivery milestones, typically 20 to 35% of base. Equity participation is common at technology companies but less prevalent in consulting or services firms. 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 $192,000, 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 Program Directors in Cheyenne runs from $145,000 to $252,000. 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 Foundation Model Engineer in Cheyenne earns $189,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in Cheyenne is Chief AI Officer at $272,000
Common questions.
AI Program Director salary in other cities
Other salaries in Cheyenne
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