AI Risk Manager.
Richmond.
$184,000
median salary, 5% above the national average
$142,000 to $236,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Richmond is 1% more expensive than the national average. For AI Risk Managers, that shakes out to a median of $184,000, with the full range spanning $142,000 to $236,000. Pay is driven by expertise in AI-specific risk frameworks, including model risk management, adversarial robustness, and deployment safety protocols. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $165,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$120,000
to $147,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$156,000
to $193,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$202,000
to $239,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$230,000
to $285,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $79,000 to the total package.
Base
$184,000
Equity
$48,000
Bonus
$20,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $263,000
How Richmond compares
Richmond, VA
$184,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$175,000
Richmond is $9,000 above
AI Risk Manager salary by city
Salary by role in Richmond
What you should know
The AI Risk Manager landscape in Richmond is not what most salary sites will tell you. Richmond combines a strong government and defense sector with growing technology and financial services industries. Capital One's headquarters drives significant fintech employment. The city's proximity to Washington DC creates spillover demand for federal contractors and tech workers seeking lower living costs. Pay is driven by expertise in AI-specific risk frameworks, including model risk management, adversarial robustness, and deployment safety protocols. Managers with experience in regulated industries like banking or healthcare earn 15 to 20% more. Ability to quantify AI risk in financial terms is a key salary differentiator.
Junior AI risk analysts start at $95,000 to $120,000. AI risk managers earn $135,000 to $175,000. Senior risk managers reach $190,000 to $250,000, and chief AI risk officers or VP-level roles at financial institutions command $270,000 to $400,000 in total compensation. In Richmond, 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. Annual bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard in financial services. Equity at AI companies adds $30,000 to $70,000 annually. Retention bonuses are common due to the scarcity of professionals combining risk management expertise with AI technical knowledge. And on the tax side: virginia's top income tax rate is 5.75%. Richmond has no city income tax. The moderate rate and reasonable cost of living create solid net compensation. When someone quotes you $184,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage DC corridor salary benchmarks. Richmond employers compete with Northern Virginia and DC for talent, especially in fintech and government contracting. The range for AI Risk Managers in Richmond runs from $142,000 to $236,000. 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 AI Safety Engineer in Richmond earns $185,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Richmond is Chief AI Officer at $316,000
Common questions.
AI Risk Manager salary in other cities
Other salaries in Richmond
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