AI Training Data Specialist.
Minneapolis.
$110,000
median salary, 5% above the national average
$79,000 to $152,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
A AI Training Data Specialist in Minneapolis earns a median of $110,000 in 2026. That is 5% above the national average. The range runs from $79,000 to $152,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Expertise in dataset curation, annotation pipeline management, and data quality assurance for AI training drives compensation.
Salary range
Tap to place your salary
How Minneapolis compares
Minneapolis, MN
$110,000
Cost of living: 5% above average
National Average
$105,000
Minneapolis is $5,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the AI Training Data Specialist market actually looks like in Minneapolis. 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. Expertise in dataset curation, annotation pipeline management, and data quality assurance for AI training drives compensation. Specialists who can design labeling taxonomies, manage distributed annotation teams, and implement quality control workflows are valued. Domain specific knowledge in areas like medical imaging, legal text, or multilingual content adds meaningful premiums.
Entry level data annotators start at $50,000 to $75,000. Mid level data specialists with pipeline management experience earn $90,000 to $120,000. Senior specialists reach $120,000 to $155,000. Directors of training data operations at AI companies can exceed $200,000 in total compensation. 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 10 to 15% are standard at AI companies. Equity grants at startups add 10 to 20% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000 are common. Benefits often include flexible schedules and remote work options. 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 $110,000, 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 Training Data Specialists in Minneapolis runs from $79,000 to $152,000. 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
Negotiating in Minneapolis
Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat.