How does company size affect AI Threat Modeler pay in Minneapolis?

Large enterprises in Minneapolis pay AI Threat Modelers 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $142,000 to $247,000 spans both.

What is the entry level AI Threat Modeler salary in Minneapolis?

Entry level AI Threat Modeler positions in Minneapolis start near $142,000. Candidates with strong backgrounds negotiate toward $189,000.

What is the career path for a AI Threat Modeler?

Junior AI security analysts start at $115,000 to $135,000 conducting structured threat assessments. Minneapolis's COL multiplier amplifies compensation at senior levels.

What should I ask about benefits when interviewing for a AI Threat Modeler in Minneapolis?

Ask about equity, bonuses, 401(k), health insurance, PTO, and remote flexibility. Benefits in Minneapolis can add $47,250+ to base salary.

AI Threat Modeler.

Minneapolis.

$189,000

median salary, 5% above the national average

$142,000 to $247,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Minneapolis is 5% more expensive than the national average. For AI Threat Modelers, that shakes out to a median of $189,000, with the full range spanning $142,000 to $247,000. Compensation is driven by expertise in identifying attack surfaces unique to AI systems and ability to design comprehensive threat models spanning data, models, and infrastructure. Know the range before you walk in.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$142,000

per year

Median

$189,000

per year

75th Percentile

$247,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$142,000$247,000

How Minneapolis compares

Minneapolis, MN

$189,000

Cost of living: 5% above average

National Average

$180,000

Minneapolis is $9,000 above

What you should know

The AI Threat Modeler landscape in Minneapolis is not what most salary sites will tell you. Minneapolis is a Fortune 500 powerhouse with Target, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, and 3M headquartered in the metro. The city's strong corporate base creates consistent demand across finance, healthcare, retail tech, and supply chain roles. Quality of life is high, and employers offer competitive salaries to offset the cold winters. Compensation is driven by expertise in identifying attack surfaces unique to AI systems and ability to design comprehensive threat models spanning data, models, and infrastructure. Threat modelers covering the full AI supply chain from training data to inference endpoints earn top compensation. Experience with STRIDE, MITRE ATLAS, and custom AI threat frameworks is highly valued.

Junior AI security analysts start at $115,000 to $135,000 conducting structured threat assessments. Mid-level threat modelers leading system-level analysis earn $155,000 to $180,000. Senior modelers architecting enterprise AI security strategy reach $210,000 to $235,000, with chief AI security architects at $265,000 to $310,000. In Minneapolis, 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. Bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, with additional compensation for threat intelligence contributions and security framework development. Equity at AI security startups can be substantial, representing 20 to 40% of total compensation. And on the tax side: minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85%, one of the highest state rates. There is no city income tax in Minneapolis, but the state burden significantly reduces take home pay. When someone quotes you $189,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat. The range for AI Threat Modelers in Minneapolis runs from $142,000 to $247,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Minneapolis

Retail & E-CommerceHealthcareFinancial ServicesFood & AgricultureManufacturing

Negotiating in Minneapolis

Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat.

Common questions.

AI threat modeling must address model-specific attacks like adversarial inputs, data poisoning, model inversion, and supply chain compromise of pre-trained models. These novel attack vectors require specialized knowledge that commands 15 to 22% higher compensation than traditional threat modeling.

Experience with MITRE ATLAS and NIST AI RMF is increasingly required. CISSP or OSCP certifications combined with ML security expertise create a powerful combination, with certified AI threat modelers earning 10 to 18% above non-certified peers.

In Minneapolis, large enterprises typically pay AI Threat Modelers 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, with additional compensation for threat intelligence contributions and security framework development. The $142,000 to $247,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85%, one of the highest state rates. There is no city income tax in Minneapolis, but the state burden significantly reduces take home pay. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Entry level AI Threat Modeler positions in Minneapolis typically start near $142,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $189,000. Junior AI security analysts start at $115,000 to $135,000 conducting structured threat assessments.

Junior AI security analysts start at $115,000 to $135,000 conducting structured threat assessments. Mid-level threat modelers leading system-level analysis earn $155,000 to $180,000. Senior modelers architecting enterprise AI security strategy reach $210,000 to $235,000, with chief AI security architects at $265,000 to $310,000. In Minneapolis, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, with additional compensation for threat intelligence contributions and security framework development. In Minneapolis's market, these extras can add $47,250 or more on top of the base salary.