Embedded AI Engineer Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$165,000
national median salary
$125,000 to $215,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$235,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$172,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$144,000
Detroit, MI
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Embedded AI Engineer salary in the United States is $165,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $125,000 at the 25th percentile to $215,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $235,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. The intersection of embedded systems expertise and ML model optimization creates strong salary premiums.
Embedded AI Engineer salary by city
What you should know
The intersection of embedded systems expertise and ML model optimization creates strong salary premiums. Engineers who can deploy neural networks on edge devices with strict power and latency constraints earn 12 to 20% more than general embedded engineers. Experience with model quantization, pruning, and hardware-specific optimization for chips like NVIDIA Jetson or Apple Neural Engine is highly valued.
Embedded software engineers earning $100,000 to $135,000 advance to this AI-focused role at $125,000 to $215,000. Senior embedded AI engineers earn $175,000 to $240,000 before progressing to Principal Engineer or Head of Edge AI at $210,000 to $280,000. This niche offers strong demand with limited supply.
Total packages range from $190,000 to $360,000 with equity, hardware bonuses, and performance incentives of 10 to 22% of base. Companies in automotive, robotics, and consumer electronics offer the strongest total compensation for this specialization.