AI Hiring Index
Posted salary ranges · updated 2026-09-29

Forward Deployed Software Engineer salary at AI companies, 2026

30 open Forward Deployed Software Engineer roles at 3 AI companies publish a base-salary range. The median posted range is $135k to $200k; the 90th percentile of posted maximums is $293k. From the companies' own postings, refreshed every 6 hours.

Every one of the 9,204 posted ranges at 215 AI companies, as a spreadsheet-ready CSV: the AI Salary Report, US$29 once. Tables by company, by role title, by function and level, by region and by currency, and the 100 highest ranges. Refreshed four times a day for 12 months from purchase. See 20 sample rows first. Your company or role missing? Reply to the receipt and it is refunded. One payment in US dollars, nothing renews; sold by 2542038 Alberta Ltd., trading as AI Hiring Index.
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By company

The companies posting this role most often first.

CompanyRolesMedian lowMedian highMedian midpoint90th pct high
Palantir22$135k$200k$168k$200k
OpenAI3$153k$325k$239k$325k
PhysicsX2$150k$250k$200k$250k

By level

LevelRolesMedian lowMedian highMedian midpoint90th pct high
Unspecified24$135k$200k$168k$325k
New grad5$135k$145k$140k$145k

By region

RegionRolesMedian lowMedian highMedian midpoint90th pct high
US29$135k$200k$168k$325k

Highest posted Forward Deployed Software Engineer ranges

One row per company.

CompanyRoleRangeLocation
OpenAIForward Deployed Software Engineer - SF$185k to $325kSan Francisco
Scale AIForward Deployed Software Engineer, Public Sector$184k to $293kAustin, TX; Colorado Springs, CO…
OutsetForward Deployed Software Engineer (EU)$180k to $240kEuropean Union

Titles are normalised (seniority words and team suffixes removed) so postings for the same role group together. All functions and companies.

New engineering roles at AI companies, every Monday. The week's openings in this function across 277 companies, plus the weekly index. Free.

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