How Much Do AI Engineer Jobs Pay in Washington, DC? (November 2026)
As of November 2026, the median AI Engineer salary in Washington, DC is $162,000 a year. Most roles pay between $123,400 and $285,000 (the 10th–90th percentile), drawn from 26 live salaried listings across 12 companies. All figures are converted to annual US dollars so different sources compare like-for-like.
How pay has moved
Median base salary by month, from our monthly salary snapshots.
Highest-paying employers
- Sr. AI Engineer, Platform Infrastructure, Special ProgramsSr. AI Engineer, Special ProgramsSr. AI Engineer, Special Programs - Top Secret ClearanceAI Engineer, Special Programs - Top Secret ClearanceAll SpaceX roles →
- All OpenAI roles →
- All Anduril Industries roles →
- Cleared AI/ML EngineerCleared AI/ML Engineer Generative AI Applications Engineer (Agents & RAG)Cleared GenAI EngineerForward Deployed AI EngineerAll Accenture Federal Services roles →
- All Booz Allen Hamilton Holding roles →
Employers ranked by median advertised base among those with at least two salaried listings in Washington, DC; each one’s best-paying open roles are listed beneath it.
Methodology: AI Engineer listings in Washington, DC with a published salary, updated daily. Figures come from roles that are open right now. Ranges and single figures are converted to an annual US-dollar midpoint; hourly rates are annualised and out-of-band values dropped. Salary data is self-reported by employers and covers the roles that disclose pay — treat it as a directional guide, not a guarantee.