Chief Data & AI Officer Salary.
Across 83 U.S. cities.
$295,000
national median salary
$220,000 to $385,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$414,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$307,000
San Francisco, CA
Lowest Paying
$228,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Chief Data & AI Officer salary in the United States is $295,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $220,000 at the 25th percentile to $385,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $414,000, while San Francisco offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation scales with the breadth of the AI and data portfolio under management.
Chief Data & AI Officer salary by city
Skills that increase Chief Data & AI Officer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Chief Data & AI Officers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $41,300 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$41,300 per year
≈ +$38,350 per year
≈ +$35,400 per year
≈ +$32,450 per year
≈ +$32,450 per year
≈ +$29,500 per year
≈ +$29,500 per year
≈ +$26,550 per year
What you should know
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.
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.