The AI boom is spawning new, specialized tech roles, and the buzz is undeniable. Businesses are moving swiftly to close AI skill gaps; a 2023 Resume Builder survey found that an overwhelming 91% of business leaders are actively hiring for ChatGPT expertise. But how heavily is AI impacting the job market, and which types of roles and skill sets are the most in-demand? And if companies are really paying prompt engineers $500K salaries, how do you find—and land—those roles?
Our Methodology: Data Collection and Analysis
To find out, We sourced data from Lensa. We’re a job search platform that posts approximately 21 million job listings in the US each month. We asked the team to analyze job postings from June 2022 to the present day, filtering for roles that specifically mentioned “AI” and linked to AI-centric roles. We then cross-referenced these positions and narrowed the list through Glassdoor salary index data in the tech industry to identify the top-earning posts.
We visualized the distribution of AI job opportunities across US states to provide a geographically nuanced perspective. We also identified key employers in the AI sector and categorized them by industry.
High-Paying Roles in AI
The demand for AI and machine learning professionals has soared, with companies offering remarkably generous compensation packages. For instance, Netflix recently advertised an AI Product Manager role with a salary of $900k. Hinge and OpenAI have similarly made notable offers for AI positions, creating an elite tier of jobs that underscores the growing demand for specialized AI talent.
Despite AI’s rising popularity, a significant talent gap exists in the sector. The ubiquitous influence of AI amplifies the urgency to prepare for a future driven by intelligent technologies, reshaping and redefining the job market as we know it.
America’s AI Employment Hotspots
The momentum around AI has triggered a nationwide ripple effect. Several U.S. states have emerged as focal points for AI employment.
- California: Naturally, California tops the list as Silicon Valley remains a global nexus for technology and innovation.
- Texas: Texas benefits from a burgeoning tech scene due to its tax policies and educational initiatives.
- New York: Tech NYC reports that 7% of the NYC workforce is in tech, a number expected to grow.
AI’s Slice of the Job Market Share
You’d think that AI jobs would be concentrated in tech hubs like California or Texas, but the largest share of them are found in the Mid-Atlantic region. It stands to reason that the federal government’s investment in AI to promote global tech leadership is driving up the number of AI jobs in this area. US government spending soared in 2022, with AI contracts reaching $3.3 billion. That same year, the private sector saw a decline in AI investments.
An Inconsistent Job Market for AI
We started our review of this data hypothesizing that AI jobs were exploding. But the data surprised us: while AI remains a hot topic, paradoxically, the number of AI-related job postings has been declining since June 2022. Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
- Tech layoffs have surged in 2023.
- The job market has seen its lowest number of openings in over two years.
- Contrary to 2022’s “Great Resignation” trend, employee turnover rates are low, signaling a lack of confidence in job stability.
- The recruitment process has become lengthier, focusing on highly specialized talent.
Despite these challenges, roles like Data Analyst, Data Engineer, and Data Scientist continue to thrive. These roles all require strong skills in data interpretation, showing that companies are still invested in building data infrastructures essential for AI development.
Most Popular AI Employers by Industry
AI’s transformation of employment is pervasive and not restricted to traditional tech hubs.
Finance: Financial institutions are harnessing AI to make data-driven investment decisions. “FinTech” has become synonymous with innovation.
Government and security: Governmental institutions invest in AI to improve operational efficiency and detect fraud.
Pharma: AI’s predictive capabilities are innovating the pharmaceutical sector, making it more efficient and safer.
In effect, opportunities are emerging in every industry. This year alone, the rise of AI audiovisuals and AI-generated voices has significantly influenced and impacted the entertainment sector.
The AI Job Horizon: Charting Your AI Career Path
Careers in AI aren’t limited to the tech sector. As old jobs change and new ones pop up, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone who’s interested in them. Many AI jobs now value a mix of different skills. Companies are looking for people who are fast learners and bring something special to the table instead of just tech know-how.
There may be fewer AI jobs than expected, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pursue them. As a first step, figure out what skills you have and what you need to learn. Do skill assessments or use benchmarking platforms to learn where you stand compared to others.
Once you know where you’re at, it’s time to learn more. Websites like fast.ai or Stanford’s online courses can help. Find what you love in AI and go all in. You can explore free platforms like Fast AI or take university online courses. Build out the “must-have” skills of your desired AI role and level up from there.
To get noticed, get involved in projects. Places like GitHub or Kaggle let you show off what you can do. But AI isn’t just about your skills—it’s also about community. Joining meetups, going to workshops, or attending events can connect you with others in the field. Engage, ask questions, share your knowledge, and contribute to carve out a space for yourself.
Certifications can be your silent endorsers. Consider starting with micro-credentials. Platforms such as Google Cloud and IBM offer a variety of AI courses for beginners and advanced learners alike.
The TL;DR
Businesses across the board are looking to leverage AI. But despite this buzz, roles are still limited, though growing. Talent scarcity means that salaries for the most specialized AI roles are high.
The broad distribution of AI-related job opportunities outside tech is good news for job seekers who want in. As both the public and private sectors invest in upskilling workers, non-technical workers who are interested in careers in AI should take advantage. Everyone’s invited to the party—but to stay, you’ll need relevant skills.
