Model Reliability Engineer.
Sioux Falls.
$143,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$108,000 to $187,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Model Reliability Engineer pay in Sioux Falls ranges from $108,000 to $187,000 in 2026. The median is $143,000, 17% below the national average. Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city and a growing financial services hub, home to major credit card operations for Citibank and Wells Fargo. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $129,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$93,000
to $114,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$122,000
to $150,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$157,000
to $186,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$179,000
to $222,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$143,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $179,000
How Sioux Falls compares
Sioux Falls, SD
$143,000
Cost of living: 15% below average
National Average
$172,000
Sioux Falls is $29,000 below
Model Reliability Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Sioux Falls
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Model Reliability Engineer roles in Sioux Falls, here is what you are walking into. Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city and a growing financial services hub, home to major credit card operations for Citibank and Wells Fargo. The city's no state income tax and very low cost of living create exceptional take home pay ratios. Healthcare and agriculture round out the economy. Pay correlates with the criticality of models monitored and the sophistication of drift detection systems built. Engineers maintaining models in regulated industries like healthcare or finance earn premiums. Experience with automated retraining triggers and canary deployment strategies significantly boosts compensation.
Junior model reliability engineers start at $110,000 to $130,000, with mid-level roles paying $150,000 to $172,000. Senior engineers earn $195,000 to $225,000, and staff-level reliability architects managing cross-team model health programs reach $240,000 to $275,000. In Sioux Falls, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 15% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 12 to 20% are standard, often tied to model uptime SLAs and incident reduction metrics. Equity packages at AI companies typically vest over four years with a one-year cliff. And on the tax side: south Dakota has no state income tax. Sioux Falls has no city income tax. This zero income tax environment is a major draw for high earners seeking maximum take home pay. When someone quotes you $143,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the zero income tax advantage in negotiations. Sioux Falls employers know this is a major recruiting tool and will frame compensation accordingly. The range for Model Reliability Engineers in Sioux Falls runs from $108,000 to $187,000. 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 Full Stack AI Developer in Sioux Falls earns $142,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Sioux Falls is Chief AI Officer at $253,000
Common questions.
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