Motion Planning AI Engineer.
Albany.
$176,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$132,000 to $230,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Motion Planning AI Engineers actually make in Albany: $132,000 at the 25th percentile, $176,000 at the median, and $230,000 at the 75th. That is 2% below the national average. Albany is New York's capital and a growing semiconductor hub, with GlobalFoundries and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute driving chip manufacturing employment. 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 $159,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$114,000
to $141,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$150,000
to $185,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$194,000
to $229,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$220,000
to $273,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $47,000 to the total package.
Base
$176,000
Equity
$26,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $223,000
How Albany compares
Albany, NY
$176,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$180,000
Albany is $4,000 below
Motion Planning AI Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Albany
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Motion Planning AI Engineer offer in Albany, understand the terrain. Albany is New York's capital and a growing semiconductor hub, with GlobalFoundries and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute driving chip manufacturing employment. State government is the largest employer. The cost of living is dramatically lower than NYC while still offering strong tech salaries. Deep expertise in trajectory optimization, sampling based planning, and learned planning algorithms drives top compensation. Engineers who can design motion planners that handle dynamic environments with safety constraints in real time are extremely valued. Experience with manipulation planning, multi agent coordination, and formal safety guarantees adds significant salary premiums.
Junior motion planning engineers start at $108,000 to $140,000. Mid level engineers with real robot deployment experience earn $158,000 to $200,000. Senior engineers reach $205,000 to $258,000. Principal planning scientists at autonomous vehicle or robotics companies can exceed $340,000 in total compensation. In Albany, 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 robotics and autonomous systems 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 frequently include hardware lab time and research conference travel budgets. And on the tax side: new York State income tax rates reach 10.9%. Albany has no additional city income tax (unlike NYC). The lower cost of living and absence of city tax makes take home pay more competitive than downstate. When someone quotes you $176,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the semiconductor investment corridor. GlobalFoundries and related suppliers are paying nationally competitive rates to attract engineering talent to the Capital Region. The range for Motion Planning AI Engineers in Albany runs from $132,000 to $230,000. 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 Generative AI Developer in Albany earns $175,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Albany is Distinguished Engineer at $307,000
Common questions.
Motion Planning AI Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Albany
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