Head of AI Partnerships Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$235,000
national median salary
$175,000 to $310,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $148,270 for Sales Managers (SOC 11-2022) across the United States, based on 637,080 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,170
25th percentile
$100,360
Median
$148,270
75th percentile
$207,340
90th percentile
$290,540
Workers surveyed
637,080
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$138,060
May 2025 release
$148,270
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.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $235,000 is 58% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Sales Managers covers a different population than the Head of AI Partnerships title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Sales Managers (SOC 11-2022) rather than Head of AI Partnershipsspecifically. 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 11-2022Highest Paying
$334,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$245,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$178,000
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 11-2022. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Head of AI Partnerships salary in the United States at $235,000 in 2026, within a range of $175,000 to $310,000. 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 Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $334,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Deal value and partnership portfolio size drive compensation most strongly.
Head of AI Partnerships salary by city.
Skills that increase Head of AI Partnerships pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Head of AI Partnershipss based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $32,900 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$32,900 per year
≈ +$30,550 per year
≈ +$28,200 per year
≈ +$25,850 per year
≈ +$25,850 per year
≈ +$23,500 per year
≈ +$23,500 per year
≈ +$21,150 per year
What you should know.
Deal value and partnership portfolio size drive compensation most strongly. Heads managing strategic relationships with major cloud providers, foundation model companies, and enterprise AI buyers earn at the top of the range. Technical credibility combined with business development experience creates a 12 to 20% premium over candidates with only one of these skill sets.
Senior AI partnership managers or business development directors earning $145,000 to $195,000 advance to this head role at $175,000 to $310,000. Progression leads to VP of Strategic Partnerships at $220,000 to $330,000 or Chief Business Officer. Some pivot into AI venture capital leveraging their partnership network.
Total compensation reaches $350,000 to $650,000 with deal-closing commissions, partnership revenue bonuses of 25 to 45% of base, and equity. Some roles include carried interest in joint ventures or revenue-sharing arrangements that significantly boost long-term earnings.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Head of AI Partnershipss typically earn $223,000 (5% 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 Head of AI Partnerships pay.
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