Clinical AI Engineer.
Austin.
$155,000
median salary, 7% above the national average
$118,000 to $198,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Austin is 3% more expensive than the national average. For Clinical AI Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $155,000, with the full range spanning $118,000 to $198,000. Compensation reflects the specialized intersection of ML engineering and clinical domain expertise. 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 $139,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$101,000
to $124,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$132,000
to $163,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$171,000
to $202,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$194,000
to $240,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $34,000 to the total package.
Base
$155,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $189,000
How Austin compares
Austin, TX
$155,000
Cost of living: 3% above average
National Average
$145,000
Austin is $10,000 above
Clinical AI Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Austin
What you should know
The Clinical AI Engineer landscape in Austin is not what most salary sites will tell you. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Compensation reflects the specialized intersection of ML engineering and clinical domain expertise. Engineers who can navigate FDA regulatory requirements, build AI systems for clinical decision support, and validate models against clinical outcomes earn premiums. Experience with medical imaging AI, EHR integration, or clinical NLP adds significant value.
Junior clinical AI engineers start at $100,000 to $115,000. Mid-level engineers building FDA-ready AI systems reach $135,000 to $165,000. Senior engineers leading clinical AI programs earn $170,000 to $210,000. Directors of clinical AI at hospital systems or health tech companies can reach $230,000 to $290,000 in total compensation. In Austin, 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. Equity at health AI startups adds $20,000 to $70,000 annually. Bonuses of 10% to 20% are standard. Benefits often include continuing medical education stipends and conference budgets. Some healthcare systems offer pension benefits and loan forgiveness programs. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $155,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Clinical AI Engineers in Austin runs from $118,000 to $198,000. 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 Data Pipeline Engineer (ML) in Austin earns $156,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Austin is Distinguished Engineer at $337,000
Common questions.
Clinical AI Engineer salary in other cities
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