AI Swarm Intelligence Researcher.
Billings.
$141,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$106,000 to $180,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median AI Swarm Intelligence Researcher salary in Billings is $141,000, 7% below the national average. Entry level starts near $106,000. Experienced professionals push past $180,000. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $127,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$92,000
to $113,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$120,000
to $148,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$155,000
to $183,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$176,000
to $219,000
Salary trend
+9% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $68,000 to the total package.
Base
$141,000
Equity
$42,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $209,000
How Billings compares
Billings, MT
$141,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$152,000
Billings is $11,000 below
AI Swarm Intelligence Researcher salary by city
Salary by role in Billings
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Swarm Intelligence Researcher offer in Billings, understand the terrain. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The city serves as a regional center for the Northern Plains. Remote work has brought a wave of tech professionals seeking Montana's quality of life, gradually diversifying the local job market. Compensation reflects the niche expertise in multi-agent coordination, emergent behavior, and distributed AI systems. Researchers with published work on swarm optimization, collective decision-making, or bio-inspired algorithms command premiums. Applications in drone coordination, logistics optimization, and decentralized AI systems drive industry demand.
Postdoc researchers start at $100,000 to $120,000. Mid-level researchers with implemented swarm systems reach $140,000 to $170,000. Senior researchers leading swarm AI programs earn $180,000 to $220,000. Directors of multi-agent systems research at defense or logistics companies can reach $240,000 to $300,000. In Billings, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 11% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at robotics and logistics AI companies adds $20,000 to $60,000 annually. Research grants and government contracts supplement compensation at defense-oriented organizations. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Conference travel and publication budgets are generous. And on the tax side: montana has a top income tax rate of 5.9% but no state sales tax. Billings has no city income tax. The no sales tax benefit helps offset the state income tax. When someone quotes you $141,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work arrangements. Billings employers are increasingly open to remote and hybrid setups to attract talent from larger metros. The range for AI Swarm Intelligence Researchers in Billings runs from $106,000 to $180,000. 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 Application Developer in Billings earns $142,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Billings is Chief AI Officer at $287,000
Common questions.
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