Deep Learning Engineer.
San Antonio.
$186,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$144,000 to $237,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Deep Learning Engineer offer in San Antonio, TX, here is the reality: $144,000 to $237,000, with $186,000 as the midpoint. 7% below the national average. Pay hinges on expertise with transformer architectures, large-scale training pipelines, and GPU optimization. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $167,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$121,000
to $149,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$158,000
to $195,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$205,000
to $242,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$233,000
to $288,000
Salary trend
+8% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $94,000 to the total package.
Base
$186,000
Equity
$58,000
Bonus
$25,000
Signing
$11,000
Estimated total: $280,000
Deep Learning 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 San Antonio compares
San Antonio, TX
$186,000
Cost of living: 9% below average
National Average
$200,000
San Antonio is $14,000 below
Deep Learning Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in San Antonio
What you should know
Here is what the Deep Learning Engineer 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. Pay hinges on expertise with transformer architectures, large-scale training pipelines, and GPU optimization. Engineers who have shipped production models at scale earn top-band salaries. Publications at NeurIPS or ICML and familiarity with distributed training frameworks like DeepSpeed further boost compensation.
Junior deep learning roles start at $120,000 to $145,000. Mid-level engineers earn $155,000 to $200,000. Senior and staff-level positions reach $220,000 to $300,000 base, with principal engineers at top labs exceeding $400,000 in total compensation. 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. Equity is a major component at AI-focused companies, often representing 30 to 50% of total compensation. Annual bonuses range from 10 to 20% of base, with signing bonuses of $30,000 to $75,000 common for experienced hires. 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 $186,000, 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 Deep Learning Engineers in San Antonio runs from $144,000 to $237,000. 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 AI Research Scientist in San Antonio earns $187,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in San Antonio is Distinguished Engineer at $303,000
Common questions.
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