Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently revolutionizing the labor force at an unprecedented rate. According to the World Economic Forum, AI will eliminate 85 million jobs, and create 97 million new jobs worldwide by 2025 ! In the U.S., the labor market will see a growth of 17.9% in software developer roles - which are a function of AI - by 2033.
In addition, according to a report from Gitnux, 70% of businesses and/or firms are now using AI during the hiring process. Also, 87% of Human Resource professionals say their organizations are using AI to offer " improved accuracy in candidate screening". (1)
Whether you are hiring talent or transitioning into tech, these trends point to the Top 10 AI Roles transforming the workforce in 2025.
How AI is Transforming Industries and Creating New Job Opportunities
AI roles are accelerating rapidly with the rapid adoption of new technologies. According to data from Lightcast, generative AI job postings increased 10 times in the past year which was mentioned by McKinsey. Businesses are investing heavily in AI to reduce operational costs, streamline processes, and expedite innovation. More than 50% of organizations however, admit they do not have the necessary skilled manpower to effectively implement these strategies. Because of this, professionals with skills in AI now earn salaries 25% higher compared to peers without such skills. The global market for AI is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030, meaning competition for top talent is likely to grow stronger.(2)
Top 10 AI Roles You Need to Know in 2025
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- AI Engineer
AI Engineers deploy, frameworks AI Software Engineers are integral to developing, deploying and maintaining AI inspired applications. AI Engineers are tasked with developing working software and solutions that meet the needs and requests of the Business Leader role, Product Owner, Product Lead role; ensuring designed software solutions are scalable, user friendly and aligned with the company’s long-term goals. AI Engineers design, leverage and build solutions using deep learning technologies, neural networks and frameworks based on Tensorflow or PyTorch.
- Machine Learning Engineer
ML Engineers create and build algorithms to implement systems that enable a framework that allows a system to learn without intervention or interaction, and make decisions according to data provided, dictated or submitted; building tools for automation, detection of fraud, recommendation engines, etc. ML Engineers must be skilled in using or deploying algorithms in the language for modelling approaches in the Python programming language, and to implement model training and or performance tuning. - Robotics Engineer
Robotics Engineers develop intelligent robots that perform repetitive or hazardous work in various industries including manufacturing, agriculture and space. They combine artificial intelligence and machine design, and make decisions about use and appropriateness of machines. Knowledge about ROS (Robot Operating System) and clarity in mechatronics is often necessary. - AI Research Scientist
AI research scientists are at the forefront of developing new AI models and enhancing existing models. New inventions in reinforcement learning, computer vision, and natural language processing may derive from scientists' research publications and peer-reviewed journal submissions. Most researchers have advanced degrees. Ph.D. is typically preferred. - Data Scientist
Data Scientists use AI techniques to extract meaning from large datasets, identify trends, and drive business decisions. They bring together the skills of statistics, data visualization, and model deployment often using Python, R, and SQL. - NLP Engineer / AI Chatbot Developer
NLP engineers specialize in natural language processing, building conversational interfaces—chatbots, voice assistants, language translation programs—to allow users to interact with computers using human language. These engineers combine machine learning and human language understanding to allow machines to respond to human language, frequently using models (i.e., GPT, BERT, LLaMA). - AI Product Manager
AI Product Managers oversee the design, development and launch of AI-powered products. They connect the technical teams of developers, designers, and data scientists to the business stakeholders. AI Product Managers must ensure the product works in terms of viability, value, and feasibility. AI Product Managers should understand both the fundamentals of AI and the market. - AI Solutions Architect
They design the complete architecture of the AI solutions to meet the needs of the business. They will make sure to build the product so it fits into an existing enterprise architecture and meets all the specifications required for scalability, security, and performance. - Prompt Engineer
Prompt Engineers tailor input prompts for generative AI models (e.g., ChatGPT or Claude) to maximize correctness and contextual relevance. They are particularly important for customer service, content generation and coding support use cases. - AI Artist / Designer with AI Skills
Creative professionals who use AI tools - such as DALL·E, Midjourney, RunwayML or Adobe Firefly to create visual art, animated content, music, and video. They leverage the tools to expand creative possibilities while utilizing traditional creative design skills to assist in the design process.
Table: Top 10 AI Roles in 2025
Emerging Roles: Other Noteworthy AI Career Paths
The use of AI is beginning to gain traction in every industry, utilising it in novel ways and unexpected areas, as new roles are being created that go beyond the usual data scientist or ML engineer definition such as:
- AI Content Creators: Thanks to generative AI (including ChatGPT and Midjourney), content creators are now using AI tools to produce blogs, marketing copy, images and videos at scale. They are using their creative skills to quickly create high-quality content, hybridising these skills with prompt engineering and knowledge of various AI tools.
- Chief AI Officers (CAIOs): As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to play a larger role in business strategy, organizations have started appointing Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) to lead a centralized AI strategy across the enterprise. As a member of the executive leadership, the CAIO is responsible for setting AI vision, providing overall AI governance, and to make sure that the enterprise is applying technology in ways that drive business initiatives.
- AI Ethicists & Policy Experts: These are the people that make sure that AI systems are designed and implemented under ethical norms; and also, that legal and regulatory standards for deploying AI systems are followed. Since there is now enormous pressure for ethical and responsible deployment of AI from both governments and corporations, we should expect the profile of these experts to only increase.
- Prompt Engineers: Prompt engineers work entirely in crafting inputs for AI models, helping their users achieve the best performance from the LLM, based simply on their constraints in their business use cases, customer-facing activities i.e. not customer support or coding assistants.
- AI Trainers & Data Labelers: These jobs create model development where labelled data is used to train the AI systems, accurately ensuring quality of their outputs, in the areas of computer vision, NLP or voice recognition, too.
Why AI Skills Command Higher Salaries and Job Security
With significant increased demand in the labor market, AI capabilities have contributed to increased pay and job security. For example, the World Economic Forum states that the demand for AI and machine learning specialists is increasing by approximately 40% a year, and professionals with AI skills earn approximately 20%-25% more than their non-AI peers. (3) Most machine learning engineers, for example, may earn over $150,000 in the U.S. The World Economic Forum added that there are more than 70% of businesses worldwide who view AI as a key strategy to their own business performance meaning Professionals with experience in AI are less vulnerable to displacement from automation and will hold roles that are more likely strategically inclined with a focus on innovation. AI skills can also apply to broader organizational roles such as marketing, operations, and product management roles making it critical that individuals possess AI knowledge to safeguard their careers in an ever-changing job market.
Final Thoughts
The AI revolution is underway, and the future of the world is for those who understand AI technology and how to use it properly. Whether you are a company seeking to lead the world in AI innovation, or an individual gearing to shift toward one of the emerging AI-related roles, understanding these 10 AI careers is your essential path forward.
At CodeMax Consulting, we help connect world-class AI talent with companies focused on the future, ready to innovate. Get in touch today to see how we can help you find – or be – the AI expert of the future.
FAQs About AI Careers
Q1: What skills do I need to start a career in AI?
A1: Key skills include programming (Python, R), machine learning algorithms, data analysis, AI frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), and strong problem-solving abilities. Specialized roles may require expertise in NLP, robotics, or AI ethics.
Q2: How can companies find qualified AI talent?
A2: Partnering with specialized staffing firms like CodeMax Consulting can streamline hiring. Companies should also invest in training and upskilling existing employees.
Q3: Are AI jobs only for tech giants?
A3: No, AI roles are increasingly found in startups, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, creative industries, and government agencies.
Q4: What is the average salary for AI professionals?
A4: AI-skilled professionals earn on average 25% more than their non-AI counterparts, with salaries varying by role, location, and experience.
Q5: How is AI expected to impact job growth?
A5: Contrary to popular belief, AI is predicted to create more jobs than it replaces, especially in roles involving AI development, implementation, and management.
Resources:
- https://gitnux.org/ai-in-the-employment-industry-statistics/
- https://explodingtopics.com/blog/ai-statistics
- (13) State of AI Adoption and Transformation: Rewiring Organizations for AI Value | LinkedIn
