Motion Planning AI Engineer.
Birmingham.
$145,000
median salary, 19% below the national average
$109,000 to $190,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Motion Planning AI Engineer in Birmingham earns a median of $145,000 in 2026. That is 19% below the national average. The range runs from $109,000 to $190,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Deep expertise in trajectory optimization, sampling based planning, and learned planning algorithms drives top compensation.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $131,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$94,000
to $116,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$123,000
to $152,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$160,000
to $189,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$181,000
to $225,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.
Base
$145,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $184,000
How Birmingham compares
Birmingham, AL
$145,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$180,000
Birmingham is $35,000 below
Motion Planning AI Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Birmingham
What you should know
Here is what the Motion Planning AI Engineer market actually looks like in Birmingham. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. 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 Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
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: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $145,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Motion Planning AI Engineers in Birmingham runs from $109,000 to $190,000. 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 Site Reliability Engineer in Birmingham earns $144,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is Chief AI Officer at $263,000
Common questions.
Motion Planning AI Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Birmingham
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