Lead KYC/AML Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$169,000
national median salary
$132,000 to $219,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$235,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$176,000
Richmond, VA
Lowest Paying
$128,000
Jackson, MS
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. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-2051. Full methodology.
The average Lead KYC/AML Engineer salary in the United States is $169,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $132,000 at the 25th percentile to $219,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $235,000, while Richmond offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation for Lead KYC/AML Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack.
Lead KYC/AML Engineer salary by city
Skills that increase Lead KYC/AML Engineer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Lead KYC/AML Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $23,660 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$23,660 per year
≈ +$21,970 per year
≈ +$20,280 per year
≈ +$18,590 per year
≈ +$16,900 per year
≈ +$16,900 per year
≈ +$16,900 per year
≈ +$15,210 per year
What you should know
Compensation for Lead KYC/AML Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack. Signing bonuses near $17K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within tech-sector Lead KYC/AML Engineers specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 66%+ variance across the compensation band.
Lead KYC/AML Engineers typically progress Junior → Mid → Senior → Staff → Principal over 8 to 12 years, with the Staff+ levels carrying significant technical scope and cross-team influence. The director/VP track diverges around year 8 for those who choose management; IC staff-plus roles keep building technical depth. For Lead KYC/AML Engineers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Lead KYC/AML Engineers includes a meaningful signing bonus near $17K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (15% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Lead KYC/AML Engineers typically earn $157,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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