How much do AI Threat Modelers make in New York compared to the national average?

The national median AI Threat Modeler salary is $179,688. In New York, COL adjustments bring the median to $230,000.

What is the cost of living adjusted AI Threat Modeler salary in New York?

New York's COL multiplier is 1.28x. The median AI Threat Modeler salary of $230,000 here equals about $179,688 in an average cost market.

AI Threat Modeler.

Q: Do AI Threat Modelers in New York earn overtime or bonuses?

Many AI Threat Modelers are exempt from overtime. Bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, with additional compensation for threat intelligence contributions and security framework development. Ask about total comp when evaluating offers.

New York.

$230,000

median salary, 28% above the national average

$173,000 to $301,000. Updated for 2026.

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The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

A AI Threat Modeler in New York earns a median of $230,000 in 2026. That is 28% above the national average. The range runs from $173,000 to $301,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. 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.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$173,000

per year

Median

$230,000

per year

75th Percentile

$301,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$173,000$301,000

How New York compares

New York, NY

$230,000

Cost of living: 28% above average

National Average

$180,000

New York is $50,000 above

What you should know

Here is what the AI Threat Modeler market actually looks like in New York. New York City remains one of the world's largest and most diverse job markets, with unmatched density in finance, media, and technology. The city's tech sector has grown rapidly, rivaling the Bay Area for venture funding and startup activity. Remote work has reshaped demand slightly, but employers still pay premiums for in office presence in Manhattan. 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 New York, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 28% above average, and employers adjust to compete.

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: new York State income tax rates reach 10.9%, and New York City adds a local income tax up to 3.876%. Combined with federal taxes, your effective rate can be among the highest nationally. When someone quotes you $230,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Emphasize your willingness to work from the office in Manhattan. Many NYC employers pay 10 to 15% more for in person roles compared to remote positions. The range for AI Threat Modelers in New York runs from $173,000 to $301,000. 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 New York

Financial ServicesMedia & AdvertisingTechnologyHealthcareFashion & Retail

Negotiating in New York

Emphasize your willingness to work from the office in Manhattan. Many NYC employers pay 10 to 15% more for in person roles compared to remote positions.

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.

It depends on the position and employer. Many AI Threat Modelers in New York are classified as exempt salaried employees without overtime eligibility. However, bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, with additional compensation for threat intelligence contributions and security framework development. When evaluating the $173,000 to $301,000 range, ask about the total compensation structure during negotiation.

The national median for a AI Threat Modeler is $179,688. In New York, cost of living adjustments push the median to $230,000. That premium reflects New York's higher housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

New York's cost of living multiplier is 1.28x the national average. The adjusted median AI Threat Modeler salary of $230,000 accounts for this. In practice, a AI Threat Modeler earning $230,000 in New York has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $179,688 in an average cost market.