Chief Data & AI Officer.
Ann Arbor.
$298,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$222,000 to $389,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Ann Arbor is 2% more expensive than the national average. For Chief Data & AI Officers, that shakes out to a median of $298,000, with the full range spanning $222,000 to $389,000. Compensation scales with the breadth of the AI and data portfolio under management. 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 $268,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$194,000
to $238,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$253,000
to $313,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$328,000
to $387,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$373,000
to $462,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $198,000 to the total package.
Base
$298,000
Equity
$107,000
Bonus
$67,000
Signing
$24,000
Estimated total: $496,000
How Ann Arbor compares
Ann Arbor, MI
$298,000
Cost of living: 2% above average
National Average
$295,000
Ann Arbor is $3,000 above
Chief Data & AI Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Ann Arbor
What you should know
Here is what the Chief Data & AI Officer market actually looks like in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is a top-tier research hub anchored by the University of Michigan. The city has a thriving startup ecosystem, strong automotive R&D presence, and growing AI and robotics sector. Toyota, Google, and numerous autonomous vehicle companies have offices here. Compensation scales with the breadth of the AI and data portfolio under management. Officers overseeing both revenue-generating AI products and enterprise data governance at Fortune 500 companies command premium packages. Industry vertical matters significantly, with financial services and healthcare paying 15 to 25% above median.
Most CDAIOs advance from VP of Data Science or VP of AI Engineering roles earning $200,000 to $270,000. The CDAIO role itself ranges from $220,000 to $385,000 base. Some transition to CEO or board director positions with total compensation exceeding $1,500,000 annually. In Ann Arbor, 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. Total compensation typically reaches $600,000 to $1,200,000 including equity grants, performance bonuses of 40 to 60% of base, and retention packages. Board observer seats and advisory equity in portfolio companies are increasingly common. And on the tax side: michigan has a flat 4.25% income tax. Ann Arbor has a city income tax of 1% for residents. The moderate combined rate is offset by the strong employer base and research ecosystem. When someone quotes you $298,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage the autonomous vehicle and robotics corridor. Ann Arbor employers pay nationally competitive rates for AI, robotics, and automotive engineering talent. The range for Chief Data & AI Officers in Ann Arbor runs from $222,000 to $389,000. 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 SVP of AI Innovation in Ann Arbor earns $294,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Ann Arbor is Distinguished Engineer at $330,000
Common questions.
Chief Data & AI Officer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Ann Arbor
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