LiDAR AI Engineer.
Burlington.
$185,000
median salary, 3% above the national average
$139,000 to $242,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what LiDAR AI Engineers actually make in Burlington: $139,000 at the 25th percentile, $185,000 at the median, and $242,000 at the 75th. That is 3% above the national average. Burlington is Vermont's largest city and a small but growing hub for technology, healthcare, and sustainable industries. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
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)
$120,000
to $148,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$157,000
to $194,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$204,000
to $241,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$231,000
to $287,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $44,000 to the total package.
Base
$185,000
Equity
$24,000
Bonus
$16,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $229,000
How Burlington compares
Burlington, VT
$185,000
Cost of living: 6% above average
National Average
$180,000
Burlington is $5,000 above
LiDAR AI Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Burlington
What you should know
If you are interviewing for LiDAR AI Engineer roles in Burlington, here is what you are walking into. Burlington is Vermont's largest city and a small but growing hub for technology, healthcare, and sustainable industries. The University of Vermont drives education and research employment. The city attracts remote workers and small tech companies seeking New England quality of life at lower costs than Boston. Expertise in 3D point cloud processing, sparse convolution networks, and LiDAR specific perception algorithms drives compensation. Engineers who can build real time 3D detection and segmentation systems for autonomous vehicles or robotics command top pay. Experience with sensor fusion combining LiDAR with cameras and radar adds significant salary premiums.
Junior LiDAR perception engineers start at $108,000 to $140,000. Mid level engineers with AV perception experience earn $158,000 to $200,000. Senior engineers reach $205,000 to $258,000. Principal perception scientists at autonomous vehicle companies can exceed $340,000 in total compensation with equity. In Burlington, 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 autonomous vehicle and robotics companies adds 20 to 40% of total compensation. Performance bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $60,000 are common. Benefits often include vehicle testing perks and hardware lab access. And on the tax side: vermont's top income tax rate is 8.75%, one of the highest in the nation. Burlington has no city income tax, but the state burden requires careful salary planning. When someone quotes you $185,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work flexibility. Burlington's lifestyle appeal is a retention tool, but employers know they must offer competitive pay to offset Vermont's high tax rate. The range for LiDAR AI Engineers in Burlington runs from $139,000 to $242,000. 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 Robotics AI Engineer in Burlington earns $186,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Burlington is Chief AI Officer at $329,000
Common questions.
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