Solutions Engineer, AI.
Richmond.
$150,000
median salary, 3% below the national average
$116,000 to $189,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Solutions Engineer, AI salary in Richmond is $150,000, 3% below the national average. Entry level starts near $116,000. Experienced professionals push past $189,000. Richmond combines a strong government and defense sector with growing technology and financial services industries. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $135,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$98,000
to $120,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$128,000
to $158,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$165,000
to $195,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$188,000
to $233,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $38,000 to the total package.
Base
$150,000
Equity
$21,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $188,000
How Richmond compares
Richmond, VA
$150,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$155,000
Richmond is $5,000 below
Solutions Engineer, AI salary by city
Salary by role in Richmond
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Solutions Engineer, AI offer in Richmond, understand the terrain. Richmond combines a strong government and defense sector with growing technology and financial services industries. Capital One's headquarters drives significant fintech employment. The city's proximity to Washington DC creates spillover demand for federal contractors and tech workers seeking lower living costs. Compensation reflects the ability to design and implement AI solutions for enterprise customers. Engineers who can translate business requirements into technical architectures, build POCs, and drive adoption post-sale earn premiums. Domain expertise in high-value verticals like finance, healthcare, or manufacturing adds 10% to 20% to compensation.
Junior solutions engineers start at $105,000 to $125,000. Mid-level SEs handling enterprise accounts reach $145,000 to $175,000. Senior SEs designing complex multi-system integrations earn $180,000 to $220,000. Solutions architecture leaders and directors of customer engineering can reach $240,000 to $300,000 in total compensation. In Richmond, 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. Variable compensation adds 15% to 30% of base salary. Equity at AI companies adds $20,000 to $70,000 annually. Customer success bonuses tied to expansion revenue are common. Travel allowances and home office stipends for field-based roles are standard benefits. And on the tax side: virginia's top income tax rate is 5.75%. Richmond has no city income tax. The moderate rate and reasonable cost of living create solid net compensation. When someone quotes you $150,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage DC corridor salary benchmarks. Richmond employers compete with Northern Virginia and DC for talent, especially in fintech and government contracting. The range for Solutions Engineer, AIs in Richmond runs from $116,000 to $189,000. 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 Predictive Modeling Specialist in Richmond earns $149,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Richmond is Distinguished Engineer at $323,000
Common questions.
Solutions Engineer, AI salary in other cities
Other salaries in Richmond
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