Autonomous Vehicle Engineer.
Minneapolis.
$175,000
median salary, 3% above the national average
$134,000 to $216,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A Autonomous Vehicle Engineer in Minneapolis earns a median of $175,000 in 2026. That is 3% above the national average. The range runs from $134,000 to $216,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Compensation scales with expertise in sensor fusion, path planning, and functional safety standards like ISO 26262.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $157,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$114,000
to $140,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$149,000
to $184,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$193,000
to $228,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$219,000
to $271,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $52,000 to the total package.
Base
$175,000
Equity
$30,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $227,000
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer salary by company
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings, SEC proxy statements, and aggregated self-reported data.
How Minneapolis compares
Minneapolis, MN
$175,000
Cost of living: 5% above average
National Average
$170,000
Minneapolis is $5,000 above
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Minneapolis
What you should know
Here is what the Autonomous Vehicle Engineer market actually looks like in Minneapolis. Minneapolis is a Fortune 500 powerhouse with Target, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, and 3M headquartered in the metro. The city's strong corporate base creates consistent demand across finance, healthcare, retail tech, and supply chain roles. Quality of life is high, and employers offer competitive salaries to offset the cold winters. Compensation scales with expertise in sensor fusion, path planning, and functional safety standards like ISO 26262. Engineers with experience shipping L3+ autonomy systems are exceptionally rare and command top dollar. Proficiency in simulation environments and real-world testing frameworks also drives premiums.
Entry-level AV engineers start at $115,000 to $135,000. Mid-level engineers working on perception or planning stacks reach $155,000 to $185,000. Senior AV engineers earn $190,000 to $240,000, while staff-level engineers at companies like Waymo or Cruise can exceed $350,000 in total compensation. In Minneapolis, 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. AV companies offer substantial equity packages, often adding $50,000 to $150,000 annually at well-funded startups. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $50,000 are common for experienced hires. Relocation packages to AV hubs like Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Phoenix are standard. And on the tax side: minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85%, one of the highest state rates. There is no city income tax in Minneapolis, but the state burden significantly reduces take home pay. When someone quotes you $175,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat. The range for Autonomous Vehicle Engineers in Minneapolis runs from $134,000 to $216,000. 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 Platform Engineer in Minneapolis earns $176,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Minneapolis is Distinguished Engineer at $347,000
Common questions.
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Minneapolis
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.