AI Manufacturing Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$101,000
estimated national base salary
$79,000 to $131,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $102,440 for Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112) across the United States, based on 365,740 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$74,370
25th percentile
$83,600
Median
$102,440
75th percentile
$129,250
90th percentile
$159,860
Workers surveyed
365,740
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$101,140
May 2025 release
$102,440
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112) rather than AI Manufacturing Engineer specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2112Highest Paying
$141,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$105,000
Boulder, CO
Lowest Paying
$78,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2112. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI Manufacturing Engineer salary in the United States at $101,000 in 2026, within a range of $79,000 to $131,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $141,000, while Boulder offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation varies based on the manufacturing vertical (semiconductor, automotive, pharmaceutical) and the complexity of AI systems deployed.
AI Manufacturing Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase AI Manufacturing Engineer pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for AI Manufacturing Engineers, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $14,140 a year.
≈ +$14,140 per year
≈ +$13,130 per year
≈ +$12,120 per year
≈ +$11,110 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$9,090 per year
What you should know.
Compensation varies based on the manufacturing vertical (semiconductor, automotive, pharmaceutical) and the complexity of AI systems deployed. Engineers who can integrate computer vision for defect detection, predictive maintenance models, and process optimization into existing manufacturing lines earn premiums. Domain expertise in specific manufacturing processes adds 10% to 20%.
Junior AI manufacturing engineers start at $85,000 to $100,000. Mid-level engineers deploying production defect detection systems reach $120,000 to $145,000. Senior engineers optimizing multi-facility AI systems earn $155,000 to $190,000. Directors of AI manufacturing at large industrial companies can reach $210,000 to $260,000.
Bonuses of 10% to 20% are common, often tied to yield improvement or downtime reduction metrics. Equity is available at industrial AI startups. Benefits typically include relocation assistance to manufacturing hub locations and continuing education budgets for industry certifications.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Manufacturing Engineers typically earn $94,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about AI Manufacturing Engineer pay.
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