AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$195,000
national median salary
$145,000 to $255,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$269,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$203,000
Hartford, CT
Lowest Paying
$154,000
Charleston, WV
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 Security & Red Teaming Specialist salary in the United States is $195,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $145,000 at the 25th percentile to $255,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $269,000, while Hartford offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Expertise in adversarial testing of AI systems including prompt injection, jailbreaking, data poisoning, and model extraction drives top pay.
AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist salary by city
What you should know
Expertise in adversarial testing of AI systems including prompt injection, jailbreaking, data poisoning, and model extraction drives top pay. Specialists who can identify novel attack vectors and build automated red teaming frameworks are rare. Government security clearances and experience with defense or intelligence sector AI systems add substantial compensation premiums.
Junior AI security testers start at $120,000 to $150,000. Mid level red team specialists earn $170,000 to $215,000. Senior specialists reach $215,000 to $275,000. Heads of AI security at frontier labs or defense contractors can exceed $380,000 in total compensation.
Bonuses of 15 to 30% are standard at AI labs and security firms. Equity grants add 20 to 35% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $70,000 are common. Benefits frequently include security conference attendance, bug bounty participation, and research publication support.