Jobs associated with artificial intelligence (AI) are not only increasing in abundance but also offering significantly higher salaries amidst a growing tech revolution.
As per a recent study by Bizreport, the remuneration for AI roles surpasses other professions by 77.53%, signaling the dawn of a prosperous era for individuals proficient in AI skills.
This salary surge, highlighted in the report “AI Influence on U. S. Workforce Salaries,” is not limited to seasoned tech experts. A new role, known as prompt engineering, has emerged in online job listings. Interestingly, this lucrative position does not necessitate traditional engineering expertise. Individuals with a basic grasp of programming and AI models are encouraged to apply, with salaries reaching up to $449,000 per year.
Andrej Karpathy, a former Tesla engineer now working at OpenAI, extolled natural communication as the future mode of interaction with computers, favoring it over traditional programming languages.
He emphasized in a tweet pinned on his profile that “English is the most popular new coding speech.”
English is the most popular new coding speech.
— January 24, 2023, Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy)
The appeal of AI-related work from an economic standpoint is undeniable. Data from a ZipRecruiter analysis reveals that prompt engineers in the United States earn an average annual salary of \(62,977, with top earners commanding up to \)95,500 per year. The highest-paying cities offer hourly rates of up to $80,745 for engineers, with Berkeley, California, being a prime example.
Bizreport gathered information from eight prominent job platforms in 2023 and utilized keyword research to classify and assess AI-related job listings. The study uncovered a substantial 45.87% average increase in computer science salaries in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023.
Derived from ZipRecruiter, entry-level AI jobs witness a staggering 128.23% salary premium compared to non-AI roles. However, as job complexity escalates, the salary gap diminishes, with senior positions typically offering a modest 48.61% uplift.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, regards crafting compelling AI prompts as a highly impactful skill, describing it as an early instance of progress in language development within this lucrative domain.
Individuals like Mark, a professional writer and YouTuber interviewed by Decrypt, underscore the profitability of engaging in online prompt sales, with some individuals purportedly on track to earn $100 million this year.
Nonetheless, the competitive landscape is intensifying. Job postings referencing AI have witnessed a 17% greater increase in engagement over the past two years compared to non-AI-related content, as per data from LinkedIn, a subsidiary of OpenAI’s parent company, Microsoft.
Erin Scruggs, LinkedIn’s VP of Global Talent Acquisition, advises organizations to adopt effective AI strategies to remain competitive in the evolving market landscape.
The projections from Bizreport align with those of LinkedIn, forecasting over 131,000 AI-related job opportunities in the computer technology sector by 2024, underscoring the industry’s rapid expansion and the growing demand for AI expertise.
In contrast to conventional coding roles entrenched in computer science, prompt engineering is tailored for individuals from diverse backgrounds, as noted by Anna Bernstein, a prompt expert at Copy. Bernstein, with no prior technical experience, views her transition from an arts background as a significant achievement, as shared with Time Magazine.
Notably, the role of prompt engineering has spurred the emergence of “prompt hacking,” where independent prompt engineers leverage their skills to push AI models beyond predefined limits. Depending on the path chosen, this practice can lead to innovative breakthroughs or ethical concerns, such as generating inappropriate content or disclosing sensitive information.
While the prospect of AI automation potentially displacing numerous jobs looms on the horizon, for now, it is creating some of the most lucrative positions available. AI seems to be generating more rewarding opportunities than it displaces, at least temporarily, given the impressive salaries and inclusive entry pathways. Perhaps, the real joke is on the computers after all.
