Highest Paying AI Jobs (2025 Data)
In 2025, the AI industry offers some of the most lucrative career opportunities in the technology space.
AI jobs are generally high paying, especially at top tech companies like OpenAI, Netflix, Facebook, and Uber.
So let's see the highest-paying AI jobs right now (based on the latest 2025 data).
1. NLP Engineer - (Average Annual Salary: $157,240)
5-year search growth: 181%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 1.9k/month
Average Annual Salary: $157,240
Description: An NLP engineer can build programs that process and analyze natural language data. NLP engineers work with large-scale datasets, create benchmarking data, and perform thorough statistical analysis when training these models. The growth of generative AI tools like ChatGPT is why the NLP market is expected to reach $43 billion by 2025.
2. AI Product Manager - (Average Annual Salary: $182,587)
5-year search growth: 1,760%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 4.9k/month
Average Annual Salary: $182,587
Description: An AI product manager guides the development and launch of AI products. This job’s primary responsibility is to be the bridge between users and internal teams so a company can ship valuable products and features. Netflix recently advertised an open AI product manager role with a $300,000 to $900,000 annual salary range.
3. AI Engineer - (Average Annual Salary: $134,914)
5-year search growth: 1,640%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 42.9k/month
Average Annual Salary: $134,914
Description: Artificial intelligence engineers build computer programs and applications that can think and learn like humans. These engineers develop these tools using AI and machine learning techniques. This role combines different skills like software development, programming, and data science.
4. Computer Vision Engineer - (Average Annual Salary: $132,077)
5-year search growth: 101%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 2.3k/month
Average Annual Salary: $132,077
Description: Computer vision engineers build applications and programs that can process large datasets and make sense of images. Industries that rely heavily on CV engineers include autonomous vehicles, robotics, augmented reality, and virtual reality.
5. Machine Learning Engineer - (Average Annual Salary: $164,048)
5-year search growth: 194%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 25.2k/month
Average Annual Salary: $164,048
Description: Machine learning engineers can use data to train ML algorithms and models. These self-learning applications need to be trained and retrained to adapt and evolve. According to the 2025 Future Of Jobs Report, machine learning engineers are one of the top three fastest growing jobs.
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6. AI Scientist - (Average Annual Salary: $122,738)
5-year search growth: 615%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 4.8k/month
Average Annual Salary: $122,738
Description: An AI Scientist, often known as an Artificial Intelligence Researcher or Scientist, can develop complex algorithms for AI tools. The scientist is the mastermind during the development phase. For example, OpenAI is currently hiring an AI Research Scientist with an advertised salary range between $295,000-$440,000.
7. AI Data Scientist - (Average Annual Salary: $126,950)
5-year search growth: 380%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 1.9k/month
Average Annual Salary: $126,950
Description: AI data scientists extract insights from data and apply those insights to the development of new AI, machine learning, and computer vision models. OpenAI is currently hiring for multiple data scientist roles, offering an annual salary between $245,000 to $310,000.
8. AI Architect - (Average Annual Salary: $148,441)
5-year search growth: 1,329%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 9.9k/month
Average Annual Salary: $148,441
Description: An AI Architect designs and oversees the structure of AI solutions. The primary function of this position is to find flaws in existing models and applications to help developers and engineers improve the product. The AI architect is analytical with excellent communication and project management skills.
9. AI Researcher - (Average Annual Salary: $125,979)
5-year search growth: 889%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 7.6k/month
Average Annual Salary: $125,979
Description: An AI Researcher explores the foundational theories and concepts of artificial intelligence. They conduct experiments, publish their findings, and work on pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve. Researchers work closely with engineering, product, and development teams to push product innovation.
10. Data Engineer - (Average Annual Salary: $127,806)
5-year search growth: 273%
Search growth status: Exploding
Search Volume (Global): 110k/month
Average Annual Salary: $127,806
Description: Data engineers create and maintain data infrastructures for storage and process. This role is becoming more important for AI to turn new, raw data into a usable form. These datasets are how generative AI models like ChatGPT get trained.
What Is The Highest-Paying AI Job?
According to the most recent data collected by Glassdoor, an AI Product Manager is the highest-paying AI job. This position earns an average annual salary of $182,587.
The next highest-paying AI job is a machine learning engineer with an annual salary of $164,048. This is much higher than the average engineer. In the United States, an engineer earns an average annual salary of $123,937. The machine learning engineer position is one example of how AI is driving increased salaries for specific roles.
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Highest Paying AI Engineer Roles By Company
The tech company that pays the highest AI engineer salary is Uber. This position earns an average annual salary of $314,746.
Walmart Labs ranked second with an average annual salary of $265,698.
Here are 15 tech companies with the highest-paid AI engineers:
| Company | AI Engineer Salary |
| Uber | $314,746 |
| Walmart Labs | $265,698 |
| Netflix | $264,799 |
| Salesforce | $257,846 |
| $248,281 | |
| $236,388 | |
| $230,639 | |
| Splunk | $227,202 |
| Apple | $227,094 |
| Coupang | $234,348 |
| Bloomberg | $202,840 |
| NVIDIA | $179,451 |
| Microsoft | $160,857 |
| OpenAI | $156,913 |
| $144,189 |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Career Trends
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, AI is expected to replace 85 million jobs by 2025. However, AI will also create 97 million new jobs by 2027. This is a 12 million (or 14.1%) net increase in jobs.
The demand for AI Research Scientists is expected to grow rapidly at 21% between 2021 to 2031.
It’s projected that jobs requiring AI or machine learning skills will grow by 71% between 2021 and 2025.
Source: World Economic Forum, BLS, Forbes
Conclusion
Despite looming tech layoffs and an economic slowdown, the AI job market still looks poised for growth.
The need for skilled AI researchers, product managers, and engineers is something to keep an eye on.
If you found this post interesting and want to learn more about artificial intelligence, check out these related posts: Booming Generative AI Companies & Startups and Top AI Trends.
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Anthony is a Content Writer at Exploding Topics. Before joining the team, Anthony spent over four years managing content strat... Read more