Chief Data & AI Officer.
San Antonio.
$268,000
median salary, 9% below the national average
$200,000 to $350,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Chief Data & AI Officer offer in San Antonio, TX, here is the reality: $200,000 to $350,000, with $268,000 as the midpoint. 9% below the national average. Compensation scales with the breadth of the AI and data portfolio under management. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $241,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$174,000
to $214,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$228,000
to $281,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$295,000
to $348,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$335,000
to $415,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $177,000 to the total package.
Base
$268,000
Equity
$96,000
Bonus
$60,000
Signing
$21,000
Estimated total: $445,000
How San Antonio compares
San Antonio, TX
$268,000
Cost of living: 9% below average
National Average
$295,000
San Antonio is $27,000 below
Chief Data & AI Officer salary by city
Salary by role in San Antonio
What you should know
Here is what the Chief Data & AI Officer market actually looks like in San Antonio. San Antonio has a major military presence with Joint Base San Antonio and a growing cybersecurity hub. The city is home to USAA headquarters and a cluster of healthcare systems. The extremely affordable cost of living and no state income tax make it attractive for professionals seeking purchasing power. 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 San Antonio, 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: texas has no state income tax. San Antonio has no city income tax. The zero tax environment and very affordable housing create exceptional purchasing power relative to most metros. When someone quotes you $268,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage the cybersecurity corridor. San Antonio's NSA facility and military cyber operations drive demand for cleared security professionals at premium rates. The range for Chief Data & AI Officers in San Antonio runs from $200,000 to $350,000. 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 San Antonio earns $270,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in San Antonio is Distinguished Engineer at $303,000
Common questions.
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