AI Simulation Engineer.
Burlington.
$182,000
median salary, 6% above the national average
$138,000 to $239,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Simulation Engineers actually make in Burlington: $138,000 at the 25th percentile, $182,000 at the median, and $239,000 at the 75th. That is 6% above the national average. Burlington is Vermont's largest city and a small but growing hub for technology, healthcare, and sustainable industries. 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 $164,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$118,000
to $146,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$155,000
to $191,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$200,000
to $237,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$228,000
to $282,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $87,000 to the total package.
Base
$182,000
Equity
$53,000
Bonus
$23,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $269,000
How Burlington compares
Burlington, VT
$182,000
Cost of living: 6% above average
National Average
$172,000
Burlington is $10,000 above
AI Simulation Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Burlington
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Simulation Engineer offer in Burlington, understand the terrain. Burlington is Vermont's largest city and a small but growing hub for technology, healthcare, and sustainable industries. The University of Vermont drives education and research employment. The city attracts remote workers and small tech companies seeking New England quality of life at lower costs than Boston. Compensation depends on simulation fidelity requirements and domain expertise. Engineers building physics-accurate environments for robotics or autonomous vehicles earn top-tier pay. Proficiency in game engines, reinforcement learning, and synthetic data generation drives salary above median.
Junior simulation engineers start around $130,000 building basic environments. Mid-level engineers creating high-fidelity training worlds earn $170,000 to $195,000. Principal engineers designing simulation platforms for autonomous systems reach $225,000 to $280,000. In Burlington, 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. Equity packages at robotics and autonomous vehicle startups can be substantial. Annual bonuses of 10% to 18% are typical, with signing bonuses of $20,000 to $40,000 common for experienced hires. And on the tax side: vermont's top income tax rate is 8.75%, one of the highest in the nation. Burlington has no city income tax, but the state burden requires careful salary planning. When someone quotes you $182,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work flexibility. Burlington's lifestyle appeal is a retention tool, but employers know they must offer competitive pay to offset Vermont's high tax rate. The range for AI Simulation Engineers in Burlington runs from $138,000 to $239,000. 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 Data Architect (AI/ML) in Burlington earns $181,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Burlington is Chief AI Officer at $329,000
Common questions.
AI Simulation Engineer salary in other cities
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