1. Machine Learning Engineer
Master the future: Your guide
to 2025's hottest AI careers
Discover the revolutionary opportunities AI is creating in the tech job market
Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to an integral part of our daily lives. From self-driving vehicles to robotic assistants, AI is transforming industries and creating unprecedented opportunities. And while there has been much debate about AI’s impact on jobs, the reality is it creates more opportunities than it takes.
There is a clear demand for AI talent. Predictions from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 expect growing digital access to create 19 million jobs and replace 9 million by 2030. The report also notes that 22% of existing jobs will undergo significant changes due to AI and technological advancements. So, if you’re looking for ways to future-proof your career, now is the perfect time to explore careers in AI. Continue reading to learn about the top 10 AI jobs in 2025 and the skills you need to succeed in these roles.
Salary range: $90,976 - $234,208
Role overview
Machine learning engineers are at the forefront of AI innovation. They are responsible for researching, designing and developing AI models and systems that can analyze large datasets, make predictions and continuously learn and adapt on their own.
Key responsibilities
• Creating and optimizing algorithms to improve AI model performance
• Deploying machine learning models into production environments
• Building and managing data pipelines to ensure efficient data flow
• Performing statistical analyses to refine and enhance model accuracy
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate AI solutions into various applications
Educational requirements
A career as a machine learning engineer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or a related field. A Ph.D. is often preferred for advanced research roles.
This Ruler is for the Space Between the Bottom of the Hero/Header Text and the
Subheader Copy. Check Your Spacing for Consistency.
This Ruler is for the Space Between Modules/Macros/Sections.
It Should Reach from the Bottom of the Previous Module/Macro to the Top of the Next Section.
This Ruler is for the Space Between Text/Buttons/Callouts. Check Your Spacing for Consistency.
Essential AI skills employers seek in 2025
Published January 2025
In today’s job market, AI skills are in high demand across various industries. Businesses need employees who have the skills to successfully develop, implement and manage AI systems and applications. Whether you’re directly involved in AI development or using it within your role, the following skills can significantly enhance your career prospects:
The top 10 AI jobs of 2025
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer
Salary range: $77,022 - $208,624
Role overview
NLP engineers help computer systems understand and interpret human language. They do this by developing models and techniques to convert unstructured speech and text into a format that machines can process and respond to.
Key responsibilities
• Developing and optimizing NLP algorithms and models to improve language understanding
• Using data preprocessing and large text datasets to train machine learning models and enhance NLP capabilities
• Conducting experiments to test and refine NLP technologies
• Implementing NLP solutions in various applications, such as chatbots and virtual assistants
• Collaborating with data scientists and software engineers to integrate NLP models into larger systems
Educational requirements
A career as an NLP engineer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, linguistics, data science or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer, AWS Certified Machine Learning or IBM Natural Language Processing.
4. AI Research Scientist
Salary range: $108,768 - $252,768
Role overview
AI research scientists conduct research, run experiments and recommend solutions to various issues with artificial intelligence systems. The primary aim of this role is to help advance the field of AI by developing innovative solutions that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Key responsibilities
• Conducting cutting-edge research in AI and machine learning to develop new algorithms, models and systems
• Designing and running experiments to test the effectiveness of AI solutions
• Publishing research findings in academic journals and presenting at conferences
• Collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners on joint research projects
• Mentoring junior researchers and contributing to the development of the research team
Educational requirements
A career as an AI research scientist requires a Ph.D. in computer science, data science, mathematics or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include the Google AI Research Scientist certification and MIT Professional Certificate in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
3. AI Ethics Consultant
Salary range: $134,336 - $224,064
Role overview
AI ethics consultants have a crucial role in ensuring systems adhere to established standards and guidelines. They identify and address biases and other ethical issues in AI systems.
Key responsibilities
• Conducting ethical impact assessments to identify potential biases and ethical concerns in AI systems
• Advising development teams and working with the legal team to ensure AI systems comply with all relevant laws and regulations
• Developing and implementing ethical guidelines and frameworks for AI development
• Educating stakeholders on the importance of ethics in AI and promoting ethical AI practices
• Monitoring and auditing AI systems to ensure ongoing ethical compliance
Educational requirements
A career as an AI ethics consultant typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in ethics, philosophy, law, computer science or a related field. Certifications such as the Certified Ethical Emerging Technologist (CEET) and AI Ethics and Governance certifications from reputable institutions can also help candidates stand out.
6. Data Scientist
Salary range: $61,069 - $184,101
Role overview
Data scientists collect, analyze and interpret large datasets to provide valuable insights to the company they work for. They use machine learning and predictive analytics to uncover patterns and trends that go beyond statistical analysis to inform business decisions.
Key responsibilities
• Collecting and preprocessing large datasets for analysis
• Developing and implementing machine learning models to extract insights from data
• Performing statistical analyses to identify trends and patterns
• Creating data visualizations to present findings to stakeholders
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to apply data-driven insights to business strategies
Educational requirements
A career as a data scientist typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science, statistics, computer science or a related field. Professional certifications such as the Certified Data Scientist (CDS) or Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate can also give candidates a competitive advantage.
5. Robotics Engineer
Salary range: $69,216 - $175,072
Role overview
Robotics engineers use automation and AI to design, develop and test robotic systems and prototypes. They use automation and AI to ensure that robotic systems operate efficiently and effectively.
Key responsibilities
• Designing and developing robotic systems and prototypes
• Testing and troubleshooting robotic systems to ensure proper functionality and correcting issues as they arise
• Creating documentation for the development process and system specifications
• Conducting market research and analyzing customer needs to inform design decisions
• Providing technical support and training to team members and end-users
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate robotics solutions into larger systems
Educational requirements
A career as a robotics engineer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include the Certified Robotics Engineer (CRE) and other Robotics and Automation certifications from reputable institutions.
8. Computer Vision Engineer
Salary range: $104,032 - $247,520
Role overview
Computer vision engineers help computer systems see and interpret visual information the same way a human brain does. They work on tasks such as image recognition, object detection and video analysis.
Key responsibilities
• Designing and developing computer vision algorithms and models
• Training machine learning models to analyze and interpret data from digital images and videos
• Conducting extensive research to understand and improve visual recognition systems
• Implementing computer vision solutions in various applications, such as autonomous vehicles and surveillance systems
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate computer vision models into larger systems
Educational requirements
A career as a computer vision engineer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering or a related field. Professional certifications that can make candidates more competitive include the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute Certification and the Computer Vision Nanodegree from Udacity.
7. Business Intelligence (BI) Developer
Salary range: $77,280 - $166,496
Role overview
BI developers design, model, build and maintain the infrastructure that AI data warehouses and storage systems need to function. They ensure data quality and accessibility for AI algorithms.
Key responsibilities
• Designing and developing BI solutions, including data warehouses and dashboards
• Building and maintaining data pipelines to ensure efficient data flow
• Performing data integration and transformation to ensure data quality
• Creating and optimizing data models to support business analytics
• Collaborating with stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver insights
• Continuous development to stay updated with the latest BI tools and technologies
Educational requirements
A career as a BI developer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include the Microsoft: Data Analyst Associate and Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) designation.
10. Software Developer
Salary range: $77,022 - $208,624
Role overview
Software developers design, code and test the algorithms that make AI systems possible. They work closely with data scientists and AI researchers to create reliable and scalable AI solutions.
Key responsibilities
• Designing and developing software applications and algorithms for AI systems
• Writing and testing code to ensure functionality and performance
• Collaborating with data scientists and AI researchers to implement AI models
• Performing code reviews and debugging to maintain code quality
• Ensuring AI systems are secure, scalable and capable of handling large volumes of data
Educational requirements
A career as a software developer typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, software engineering or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate and Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE Programmer designations.
9. Computational Linguist
What AI solution is best for your company?
What AI solution is best for your company?
How to use recruitment chatbots to your advantage
How to use recruitment chatbots to your advantage
9 strategies to
future-proof your career
9 strategies to
future-proof your career
Related articles
Learn more
Learn more
Our Job Search Guide is filled with expert advice you need to land a job
Search open jobs
Search open jobs
Ready for your next opportunity?
Salary range: $81,453 - $233,106
Role overview
Computational linguists develop algorithms and models that process and analyze human language. This is used to create AI systems for speech recognition and machine translation applications like chatbots and virtual assistants.
Key responsibilities
• Designing and implementing natural language processing systems
• Developing machine learning algorithms for language processing tasks
• Analyzing linguistic data to identify trends and patterns
• Collaborating with software engineers and data scientists to integrate language models into applications
• Conducting research to improve language processing techniques
Educational requirements
A career as a computational linguist typically requires a bachelor's or master’s degree in linguistics, computer science or a related field. Relevant professional certifications include Google Cloud Natural Language Processing and IBM Watson Natural Language Processing.
future-proof your career
Salary Range Sources
The compensation model combines wage data from two distinct sources. The backbone for all occupational wage data is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) dataset. Job postings are used to supplement OES data by providing wage observations that can be tied to skills and certifications. Job postings are scraped from online sources.
Generative AI
Knowledge of generative models that can create new content, such as images and text.
Prompt engineering
Expertise in designing and refining prompts to optimize AI model performance.
Object detection
Ability to develop and implement algorithms that enable machines to identify and classify objects within images or videos.
Soft skills
Creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are invaluable for innovating and overcoming challenges in AI projects.
Programming languages
Proficiency in languages such as Python, Java and C/C++ is essential for developing and implementing AI systems.
Natural language processing (NLP)
Understanding and working with NLP techniques to enable machines to interpret and respond to human language.
Large language models (LLMs)
Experience with LLMs, which are crucial for tasks like text generation and language translation.
Data science
Skills in data collection, interpretation and analysis to derive meaningful insights from large datasets.
World Economic Forum
SPACE IN BETWEEN BUTTONS
SPACE IN BETWEEN MODULES/ Macros/ Sections
SPACE IN BETWEEN HEADER AND SUBHEAD + Subhead & Body
Learn more
Our Job Search Guide is filled with expert advice you need to land a job
Search Open Jobs
Ready for your next opportunity?
What AI Solution is Best for Your Company?
How to Use Recruitment Chatbots to Your Advantage
9 Strategies to Future-Proof Your Career
Related Articles