AI Program Manager Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$101,000
estimated national base salary
$73,000 to $136,000. Last updated September 2026.
Orbyt prices 6 titles at this same figure, including AI Program Manager, AI Portfolio Manager, and Sustainability AI Product Manager. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $102,320 for Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082) across the United States, based on 1,066,670 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$61,580
25th percentile
$78,440
Median
$102,320
75th percentile
$133,100
90th percentile
$167,970
Workers surveyed
1,066,670
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$100,750
May 2025 release
$102,320
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 Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082) rather than AI Program Manager 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 13-1082Highest Paying
$144,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$105,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$77,000
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 13-1082. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI Program Manager salary in the United States at $101,000 in 2026, within a range of $73,000 to $136,000. 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. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 6 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $144,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Salary scales with portfolio size managed and the strategic importance of AI programs overseen.
AI Program Manager salary by city.
Skills that increase AI Program Manager pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for AI Program Managers, 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
≈ +$11,110 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$10,100 per year
≈ +$9,090 per year
What you should know.
Salary scales with portfolio size managed and the strategic importance of AI programs overseen. Program managers coordinating cross-functional AI initiatives spanning research, engineering, and product teams earn top compensation. PMP or agile certifications combined with ML domain knowledge drive offers above median.
Junior AI project managers start at $108,000 to $128,000 managing individual workstreams. Mid-level program managers overseeing multiple AI projects earn $148,000 to $168,000. Senior program directors managing enterprise AI portfolios reach $195,000 to $220,000, with VPs at $260,000 to $320,000.
Bonuses of 15 to 22% are standard, often tied to program milestone delivery and budget adherence. RSUs at tech companies add significant value, with four-year grants typically worth 20 to 40% of cumulative base salary.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Program Managers 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 Program Manager pay.
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