AI Media & Entertainment Specialist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$113,000
national median salary
$78,000 to $162,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $120,230 for Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) across the United States, based on 262,440 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$67,240
25th percentile
$85,660
Median
$120,230
75th percentile
$158,880
90th percentile
$199,130
Workers surveyed
262,440
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$112,590
May 2025 release
$120,230
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 Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) rather than AI Media & Entertainment Specialistspecifically. 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 15-2051Highest Paying
$159,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$118,000
San Francisco, CA
Lowest Paying
$87,000
Charleston, WV
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 August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-2051. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI Media & Entertainment Specialist salary in the United States at $113,000 in 2026, within a range of $78,000 to $162,000. 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 Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $159,000, while San Francisco offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation varies by studio size and content type.
AI Media & Entertainment Specialist salary by city.
Skills that increase AI Media & Entertainment Specialist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Media & Entertainment Specialists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $15,820 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$15,820 per year
≈ +$14,690 per year
≈ +$13,560 per year
≈ +$12,430 per year
≈ +$11,300 per year
≈ +$11,300 per year
≈ +$11,300 per year
≈ +$10,170 per year
What you should know.
Compensation varies by studio size and content type. Major streaming platforms and game studios pay the most. Specialists working on content recommendation, procedural generation, visual effects automation, and audience analytics earn the highest rates in this creative-technical intersection.
Junior media data scientists start around $88,000. Senior AI entertainment specialists earn $140,000 to $170,000. Directors of content intelligence or VP of AI at major studios and platforms reach $220,000 to $300,000 with equity.
Streaming platforms offer RSUs that can add 20% to 40% to total compensation. Game studios may include royalty participation. Entertainment companies often provide content perks, screening access, and flexible creative schedules.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Media & Entertainment Specialists typically earn $105,000 (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 Media & Entertainment Specialist pay.
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