Although it should not be the main reason to pursue a career in artificial intelligence, it is true that the field has proven to be a lucrative one, especially for those holding graduate degrees. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains up-to-date statistics on employment and salary information. While artificial intelligence does not have its own listing in the BLS, there are job titles that may involve AI that do merit their own entries. We will focus on four of these job titles here:
- AI Computer and Information Research Scientist
- AI Data Scientist/Analyst
- AI Operations Research Analyst
- AI Mechanical Engineer/Robotics Engineer
Artificial Intelligence Computer and Information Research Scientist Salaries
The BLS identifies Computer and Information Research Scientist jobs as those requiring a minimum of a master’s degree, and includes artificial intelligence scientists within this classification. According to statistics from May 2022, the mean annual wage for AI computer and information research scientists is $155,880. Jobs within this classification are expected to grow by 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, a rate that is much faster than the average expected rate for other occupations.
The highest paying industries in which AI computer and information research scientists work are:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Software Publishers | $96.78 | $201,300 |
| Semiconductor/Electronic Component Manufacturing | $90.41 | $188,050 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, Other Media Networks/Content Providers | $90.25 | $187,720 |
| Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | $87.40 | $181,800 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $84.88 | $176,540 |
The highest-paying states in which AI Computer and Information Research Scientists work, as of May 2022, per the BLS, are:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | $111.64 | $232,210 |
| Oregon | $91.30 | $189,910 |
| Washington | $87.89 | $182,800 |
| New Mexico | $73.53 | $152,950 |
| Massachusetts | $73.11 | $152,060 |
The highest-paying metropolitan areas in which AI Computer and Information Research Scientists work as of May 2022, per the BLS, are:
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170.92 | $355,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $140.62 | $292,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $124.98 | $259,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $118.63 | $246,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95.49 | $198,610 |
Artificial Intelligence Data Scientist/Analyst Salaries
According to the BLS, AI data scientists and analysts can enter the field with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. As of May 2022, the mean annual wage for an AI data scientist/analyst is $115,240. It is projected that jobs within this classification will grow by 35 percent from 2022-2032, a rate that is much higher than the projected average growth for other occupations.
The highest-paying industries in which AI Data Scientists/Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Clothing and clothing accessories retailers | $78.86 | $164,030 |
| Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing | $76.13 | $158,350 |
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | $71.28 | $148,270 |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers | $68.89 | $143,290 |
| Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities | $64.29 | $133,730 |
The highest-paying states in which AI Data Scientists/Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | $70.86 | $147,390 |
| Washington | $67.68 | $140,780 |
| Virginia | $64.42 | $133,990 |
| Delaware | $64.10 | $133,320 |
| New Jersey | $62.49 | $129,980 |
The highest-paying metropolitan areas in which AI Data Scientists/Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $112.17 | $233,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $73.12 | $152,080 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | $70.81 | $147,280 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68.66 | $142,810 |
| Boulder, CO | $68.14 | $141,740 |
Artificial Intelligence Operations Research Analyst
AI Operations research analysts, according to the BLS, need at least a bachelor’s degree. As of May 2022, their mean annual wage is $95,820. It is projected that jobs within this classification will grow by 23 percent from 2022-32, much higher than the average expected growth for other jobs.
The highest-paying industries in which AI Operations Research Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing | $111.13 | $231,150 |
| Business schools and computer and management training | $79.11 | $164,550 |
| Petroleum and coal products manufacturing | $61.83 | $128,600 |
| Natural gas distribution | $61.61 | $128,150 |
| Federal executive branch | $60.67 | $126,190 |
The highest-paying states in which AI Operations Research Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Virginia | $58.39 | $121,460 |
| Alabama | $52.48 | $109,160 |
| New York | $52.05 | $108,260 |
| Hawaii | $51.88 | $107,920 |
| Maryland | $51.57 | $107,260 |
The highest-paying metropolitan areas in which AI Operations Research Analysts work as of May 2022 are:
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67.88 | $141,200 |
| Midland, TX | $60.98 | $126,830 |
| Huntsville, AL | $58.67 | $122,020 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $58.51 | $121,690 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV | $58.43 | $121,540 |
Artificial Intelligence Mechanical Engineer/Robotics Engineer Salaries
AI mechanical engineers/robotics engineers can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, according to the BLS. Their mean annual wage as of May 2022 is $100,820. It is projected that jobs in this classification will increase by 10 percent from 2022-32, a rate that is faster than the average increase for other occupations.
The highest-paying industries in which AI Mechanical Engineers/Robotics Engineers work as of May 2022 are:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services | Over $115.00 | Over $239,200 |
| Oil and gas extraction | $77.57 | $161,340 |
| Other pipeline transportation | $70.70 | $147,060 |
| Natural gas distribution | $66.91 | $139,170 |
| Petroleum and coal products manufacturing | $62.06 | $129,080 |
The highest-paying states in which AI Mechanical Engineers/Robotics Engineers work as of May 2022 are:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| New Mexico | $60.62 | $126,080 |
| District of Columbia | $58.98 | $122,670 |
| Louisiana | $56.85 | $118,250 |
| California | $56.83 | $118,200 |
| Alaska | $55.43 | $115,300 |
The highest-paying metropolitan areas in which AI Mechanical Engineers/Robotics Engineers work as of May 2022 are:
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67.67 | $140,750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $66.12 | $137,530 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $63.90 | $132,920 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $62.34 | $129,670 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58.13 | $120,900 |
Sources:
“Computer and Information Research Scientists.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm.
“Data Scientists.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm.
“Mechanical Engineers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. 15-1221: Computer and Information Research Scientists.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes151221.htm.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. 15-2051: Data Scientists.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes152051.htm.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. 17-2141: Mechanical Engineers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172141.htm.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022. 15-2031: Operations Research Analysts.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes152031.htm.
“Operations Research Analysts.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022. Accessed 17 November 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm.