Side-by-side compensation comparison across national and state-level data.
AI Engineers out-earn Software Engineers by $58,800 (30%) on median.
Percentiles for 2026. Higher percentile values reflect senior/specialized roles.
| Percentile | Software Engineer | AI Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $99,800 | $149,200 | $49,400 |
| Median (50th) | $138,700 | $197,500 | $58,800 |
| 75th | $183,900 | $267,900 | $84,000 |
| 90th (top earners) | $231,100 | $357,200 | $126,100 |
Which job wins in each state (based on median annual salary).
| State | Software Engineer | AI Engineer | Higher Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $215,000 | $345,700 | AI Engineer |
| Texas | $159,500 | $213,300 | AI Engineer |
| Florida | $141,500 | $201,500 | AI Engineer |
| New York | $187,200 | $280,500 | AI Engineer |
| Pennsylvania | $144,200 | $205,400 | AI Engineer |
| Illinois | $151,200 | $215,300 | AI Engineer |
| Ohio | $129,000 | $183,700 | AI Engineer |
| Georgia | $142,800 | $203,400 | AI Engineer |
| North Carolina | $137,300 | $195,500 | AI Engineer |
| Michigan | $133,100 | $189,600 | AI Engineer |
| New Jersey | $174,700 | $248,900 | AI Engineer |
| Virginia | $156,700 | $223,200 | AI Engineer |
| Washington | $196,900 | $300,200 | AI Engineer |
| Arizona | $140,100 | $199,500 | AI Engineer |
| Massachusetts | $180,300 | $272,600 | AI Engineer |
Designs, writes, and maintains software systems. Demand remains strong despite 2023-24 tech contraction.
Builds with LLMs and foundation models. Fastest-growing salary band of 2025-26.
Nationally, AI Engineers out-earn Software Engineers by approximately $58,800 per year (30% difference). However, this varies by state, experience level, and specific employer.
Both fields have positive 2026 growth outlooks. Software Engineers are projected at +2.5% YoY wage growth, while AI Engineers are at +2.5%. Beyond wage growth, consider opportunity density (job openings) and your geographic flexibility.
Software Engineer typically requires: Designs, writes, and maintains software systems. Demand remains strong despite 2023-24 tech contraction.. AI Engineer typically requires: Builds with LLMs and foundation models. Fastest-growing salary band of 2025-26.. Compare the formal requirements against your existing skills and education to assess the switching cost.
Salary is one input among many. Job satisfaction, skills transferability, geographic fit, and long-term ceiling matter as much as median pay. Use this as a benchmark, then dig into job descriptions and talk to people in both fields before deciding.