AI Red Teamer.
Houston.
$177,000
median salary, 6% below the national average
$132,000 to $233,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Red Teamers actually make in Houston: $132,000 at the 25th percentile, $177,000 at the median, and $233,000 at the 75th. That is 6% below the national average. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. 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 $159,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$115,000
to $142,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$150,000
to $186,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$195,000
to $230,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$221,000
to $274,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $90,000 to the total package.
Base
$177,000
Equity
$55,000
Bonus
$24,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $267,000
How Houston compares
Houston, TX
$177,000
Cost of living: 3% below average
National Average
$188,000
Houston is $11,000 below
AI Red Teamer salary by city
Salary by role in Houston
What you should know
If you are interviewing for AI Red Teamer roles in Houston, here is what you are walking into. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest, driving massive demand for clinical and research roles. Houston's low cost of living and no state income tax make it an attractive destination for professionals seeking strong purchasing power. Salary is driven by expertise in adversarial attacks against ML systems and ability to identify novel vulnerability classes. Red teamers who discover high-impact exploits in production AI systems or publish influential security research command top compensation. Experience with prompt injection, model extraction, and training data poisoning techniques is essential for premium offers.
Junior AI security analysts start at $120,000 to $140,000 running standard evaluation suites. Mid-level red teamers designing custom attacks earn $165,000 to $188,000. Senior red team leads developing new attack methodologies reach $220,000 to $248,000, with principal roles exceeding $280,000. In Houston, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard, with some companies offering bug bounty-style rewards for critical findings. Equity at AI safety companies and major tech firms adds substantial value, often 25 to 50% of base salary in RSUs. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers strong take home pay. The city's overall cost of living is below the national average, further stretching your salary. When someone quotes you $177,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize industry specialization in energy or healthcare. Houston employers pay significant premiums for domain expertise in these sectors over generalist candidates. The range for AI Red Teamers in Houston runs from $132,000 to $233,000. 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 Generative AI Developer in Houston earns $178,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Houston is Chief AI Officer at $295,000
Common questions.
AI Red Teamer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Houston
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