AI Safety Program Manager Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$101,000
national median salary
$73,000 to $136,000. Last updated August 2026.
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 Safety Program Managerspecifically. 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
$142,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$106,000
Cincinnati, OH
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 August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-1082. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI Safety 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. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $142,000, while Cincinnati offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. AI Safety Program Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent.
AI Safety Program Manager salary by city.
Skills that increase AI Safety Program Manager pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Safety Program Managers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,140 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$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.
AI Safety Program Manager compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Signing bonuses near $15K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
AI Safety Program Managers progress Analyst → Manager → Senior Manager → Director → VP over 10 to 15 years in corporate finance, or Associate → VP → Director → MD in investment banking. Certifications (MBA, CFA) unlock specific transitions.
Total compensation for AI Safety Program Managers includes a meaningful signing bonus near $15K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (12% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Safety Program Managers typically earn $91,000 (10% 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.
Are you an AI Safety Program Manager?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about AI Safety Program Manager pay.
Related tools