Jobs & WFH

14 Best AI Jobs Paying $100k Or More In 2024

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By Zeeshan Hakmi

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries and creating massive career opportunities. With the accelerated adoption of AI, demand for specialized roles in this space has skyrocketed across sectors. This also enabled professionals to access some of the AI jobs paying $100k or more per year, even without extensive experience.

Other than lucrative salaries, AI-based business ideas and entrepreneurial potential have also become huge in recent times, given low launch barriers. So, rather than looking at traditional career options, now is the time to build up skills in futuristic domains like AI, data science, and cloud computing.

These new skills are important to not only land rewarding corporate jobs but also build scalable commercial ventures. The good part is many of these emerging technology skills can be picked up online without intensive college-level academics.

Does The AI Field Has Good Career Options?

The artificial intelligence field offers some of the most lucrative and future-proof career opportunities today. With rapid AI adoption across industries, demand for specialized roles like machine learning engineers, AI researchers, data scientists, and AI product managers continues to skyrocket.

As per reports, salaries for top AI jobs paying $100k or more at leading tech firms now exceed $200,000 per year. Even freelancers with in-demand expertise, such as building AI apps and selling AI-generated digital products, can earn well over $100 per hour, given their specialized skills.

So, if you’re passionate about technology and want to build an impactful career, AI has amazing prospects in terms of income potential, growth, work challenges, and the ability to create positive change.

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Which Industries Are Hiring AI Professionals?

AI is transforming functions across sectors. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), X (Twitter), and Amazon have extensive AI research and engineering teams working on ambitious projects.

Startups and unicorns focused on AI-based vertical solutions are also hiring experts across machine learning, data science, and analytics domains. Besides technology, industries like financial services, healthcare, education, media, and entertainment are rapidly adopting AI for process automation, predictive systems, and data-driven decision-making capabilities.

This cut-across adoption of AI by various industries has created a surge in job opportunities for AI specialists to develop innovative products and solutions.

14 Full-Time And WFH AI Jobs Paying $100k Or More In 2024

Every industry, starting from core tech to manufacturing, now offers various roles that require proficiencies in artificial intelligence. Here are the best AI jobs paying $100k or more this year.

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1. AI Developer

Artificial intelligence continues to transform businesses in 2024, and the need for specialized AI developers is skyrocketing. These in-demand professionals design, build, and maintain complex AI systems and models.

Key Responsibilities: The main responsibilities of an AI developer include collecting quality data, preprocessing data for model creation, and developing algorithms and neural networks. They also play a crucial role in optimizing model accuracy, deploying models into production, and monitoring systems.

Salary Range: The average salary for full-time AI developers ranges from $100,000 to $150,000 per year. Freelancers charge around $55 to $80 per hour for AI development services.

Educational Background: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Master’s degrees further improve your chances. Extensive self-study can also make you job-ready.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Required technical skills include proficiency in Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, sci-kit-learn, OpenCV, and more. Communication and analytical abilities are equally vital soft skills.

How To Start: To become an AI developer, start by learning Python, data structures, algorithms, and math. You can take the following courses:

2. NLP Engineer

Natural language processing (NLP) is revolutionizing how humans interact with machines. As an NLP engineer, you’ll work on designing and developing chatbots, voice assistants, semantic search engines, machine translation systems, and more.

Key Responsibilities: Your core responsibilities involve building NLP models, improving system accuracy, integrating models into apps and products, and monitoring performance.

Salary Range: The average full-time salary for NLP engineers ranges between $120,000-$180,000 per year. Freelance NLP engineers charge around $70-$100 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computational linguistics, or a related field. Strong self-taught skills can also make you employable.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have technical expertise includes Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NLTK, SpaCy, neural networks, and other in-demand AI skills. Two other skills, communication and analytical thinking, are equally vital soft skills.

How To Start: To become an NLP engineer, start by learning Python and key NLP libraries. You can take help of the following course to get an overview:

3. Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning has transformed many industries by enabling systems to learn from data. As a machine learning engineer, you’ll develop and optimize complex ML algorithms to draw actionable insights from massive data.

Key Responsibilities: Core responsibilities include gathering and cleaning datasets, training, evaluating, and improving models, deploying models to products, continuously monitoring systems, and collaborating with stakeholders.

Salary Range: The average annual salary for a full-time machine learning engineer ranges between $120,000 to $200,000. Freelancers charge around $90 to $120 per hour for ML engineering services on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a major like computer science or statistics. With strong self-study skills, you can also qualify for many AI jobs paying $100k or more.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Required expertise includes Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NumPy, Pandas, sci-kit-learn, SQL, AWS, GCP, Azure, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubeflow. Communication and analytical abilities are equally vital.

How To Start: To begin in this field, learn Python, data analysis, linear algebra, statistics, ML theory, and cloud platforms. The following courses can help you to get started:

4. Software Engineer

Software engineering plays a central role in building today’s digital products and services. As a software engineer, you’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain high-quality software systems.

Key Responsibilities: The key responsibilities involve understanding requirements, writing clean, scalable code, debugging issues, optimizing performance, and upgrading software by staying updated with the latest technologies.

Salary Range: The average annual salary for a full-time software engineer is $100,000 to $140,000. Freelance software engineers charge around $50 to $80 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or software engineering. If you have strong self-learning abilities, you can also gain essential expertise pretty quickly.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Key technical skills include proficiency in languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, databases, OS, software design/architecture, QA testing, and debugging. Strong analytical and communication skills are equally vital.

How To Start: To start, begin by learning a programming language, software engineering concepts, data structures, algorithms, databases, and building projects. Check out the following courses:

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5. Software Architect

As a software architect, you’ll lead complex development projects and make high-level design choices that meet quality, performance, scalability, and security goals.

Key Responsibilities: Core areas include defining software architecture, evaluating emerging technologies, understanding technical feasibility and business goals, spearheading teams of developers and testers, and ensuring optimal system performance.

Salary Range: The average salary ranges from $140,000 to $185,000 for full-time software architects. Freelance software architecture services can cost around $90 to $150 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering with 5+ years of hands-on coding experience. Strong self-learned skills can also make you qualified.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Technical expertise should include mastery over programming languages, design patterns, enterprise/cloud architecture, database modeling, analytics, DevOps, and leadership abilities.

How To Start: Learn object-oriented analysis and design, architecture styles, Cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, microservices, containerization, and CI/CD pipelines. The following courses are really helpful:

6. Big Data Engineer

With exponential data growth across industries, big data engineering has become pivotal for storing, processing, and deriving insights. As a big data engineer, you’ll build and maintain the infrastructure that powers data-driven systems and analytics.

Key Responsibilities: The key responsibilities include designing and implementing data pipeline architecture, deploying and managing big data tools like Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, etc, optimizing data flow for analytical workloads, and collaborating with data scientists and analysts.

Salary Range: The average annual salary ranges from $135,000 to $200,000 for full-time big data engineers. Freelance big data engineers with high-income skills can earn around $90 to $130 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields. With strong tech skills in relevant areas, you can qualify for many full-time AI jobs paying $100k or more.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have expertise includes Spark, MapReduce, Hive, Python, SQL, AWS, GCP, Airflow, Kafka, Docker, data modeling, and DevOps abilities. Strong analytical skills are equally important.

How To Start: To get started, learn about the big data ecosystem, data engineering concepts, Python, SQL, Cloud platforms, and tools like Spark and Kafka.

7. Data Scientist

Data science leverages statistical and computational techniques to extract powerful insights from complex data. As a data scientist, you’ll work closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities, build ML models, run analytics, and clearly communicate data-driven findings.

Key Responsibilities: The key responsibilities include gathering and understanding data requirements, cleaning and preprocessing data, doing statistical analysis, training, evaluating and optimizing machine learning models, developing custom data products and solutions, and monitoring model and data pipeline performance.

Salary Range: The average salary for a full-time data scientist role ranges from $120,000 to $180,000 per year. Freelance data scientists charge around $80 to $150 per hour, depending on experience and skills.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a master’s degree in data science, computer science, statistics, or related quantitative fields. With strong self-learning abilities, bachelor’s degree holders can also gain the required expertise.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have technical skills include Python, R, SQL, statistics, ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, sci-kit-learn, AWS/GCP, analytics tools, data visualization, and communication abilities.

How To Start: To begin, start by learning Python, data analysis, statistics, linear algebra, machine learning theory, and coding skills. You can take the following courses:

8. Data Analyst

With data-driven decision-making becoming critical across industries, data analysts have become extremely valuable in analyzing information, identifying patterns, and driving business growth.

Key Responsibilities: As a data analyst, your core responsibilities involve tracking and collecting data, conducting statistical and exploratory data analysis, building interactive dashboards and reports to find actionable insights, clearly communicating analytical findings to stakeholders, and improving data quality.

Salary Range: The average annual salary for full-time data analyst roles ranges from $65,000 to $100,000. Freelance data analysts can charge around $40 to $60 per hour based on skills and experience.

Educational Background: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field like statistics, mathematics, computer science, or business analytics. With strong self-learning skills, you can also gain the expertise to become a data analyst.

Mandatory Tech Skills: You need to have expertise in Excel, SQL, Python, and data visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI, as well as strong analytical, logical thinking, and communication skills.

How To Start: You can start by learning Excel, SQL, exploratory data analysis, statistics, and data visualization to develop your skills for data analysis. You can also check the following courses:

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9. Research Scientist

Research drives innovation! As an AI research scientist, you’ll advance the state-of-the-art in AI, invent new techniques and algorithms, publish papers, and apply research to solve complex real-world problems.

Key Responsibilities: The core responsibilities involve formulating research problems, designing theoretical models, running rigorous experiments, analyzing results, coding algorithms and prototypes, documenting work, reviewing published research, and collaborating with academic and industry researchers.

Salary Range: Owing to advanced expertise, the average pay for full-time AI research scientists can range from $150,000 to $250,000 at top tech companies and research labs. Consultants bill over $125 per hour as a freelancer. There are several AI jobs paying $100k available in this sector.

Educational Background: You’ll need a PhD degree in computer science, computational linguistics, statistics, or related quantitative fields with a specialization in AI and ML. Exceptional tech skills can also qualify you for high-paying AI jobs.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have skills include expertise in algorithms, ML theory, programming languages like Python, and frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. Strong math, analytical abilities, and creativity are equally vital.

How To Start: Learn linear algebra, statistics, probability, algorithms, data structures, and coding. Gain research experience via projects, publications, and collaborations. You can also take the following courses:

10. API Integration Expert

APIs enable different software systems to communicate and exchange data. As an API integration expert, you’ll design, build, test, deploy, and maintain complex API integrations to seamlessly connect modern cloud/on-prem enterprise systems and applications.

Key Responsibilities: Your primary duties involve understanding business goals and system interconnectivity needs, creating API requirements, building efficient integrations, monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and improving infrastructure security and scalability.

Salary Range: The average salary for full-time API architects ranges from $150,000 to $185,000 per year. Freelance API integration services cost around $100 to $125 per hour, given the specialized skills.

Educational Background: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or relevant fields. With strong self-taught integration and cloud skills, you can qualify for many high-paying remote jobs.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have expertise includes REST, SOAP, JSON APIs, OAuth, webhooks, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, tools like Postman, and technologies like Kubernetes and Docker.

How To Start: You first need to learn HTTP, common protocols, API testing approaches, and Cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, and get hands-on practice. You can also register for the following knowledge resources:

11. AI Project Manager

AI projects involve multiple complex technical components and teams. They ensure the overall success of such projects through effective planning, leadership, and execution.

Key Responsibilities: As an AI PM, your responsibilities would involve formulating project goals, creating budgets and timelines, assembling cross-functional teams, scoping project tasks, establishing measurable metrics, facilitating coordination and knowledge sharing, risk mitigation, managing project resources, tracking progress via tools, and ensuring timely delivery.

Salary Range: The average annual pay for AI project managers ranges from $120,000 to $180,000. Freelance project consultation services charge around $70 to $125 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree along with certifications like PMP or PRINCE2. Exceptional leadership skills also qualify you for various AI jobs without coding.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Essential expertise includes Agile methodologies, ML project development phases, cohort analysis, data and ML ethics, and skills like strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and communication.

How To Start: To start, learn project management approaches and ML engineering best practices and become familiar with PM tools. Some of the useful courses are:

12. Product Manager

Product managers lead entire product lifecycles to solve key user needs through technology. AI product managers specifically focus on data-driven products.

Key Responsibilities: As an AI PM, your key duties include understanding market gaps, defining product vision, planning roadmaps, supporting prototyping, running experiments, analyzing usage metrics, gathering user feedback, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring product-market fit and rapid growth.

Salary Range: The average salary of full-time AI product managers ranges from $150,000 to $185,000 at top tech firms, startups, and unicorns. Independent consultants charge over $100 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in technology, business, or design. Exceptional analytical and leadership abilities can qualify you for AI jobs for non-technical skills.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have expertise includes data-first thinking, SQL, product design, rapid prototyping, and A/B testing frameworks. Strategic vision, user empathy, creative problem-solving, and stakeholder management are vital soft skills.

How To Start: You should gain knowledge about AI applications, product design thinking methodologies, and data analytics. Some of the helpful resources are:

13. AI Tester

Testing is crucial for building reliable AI systems. As an AI tester, you’ll formalize test plans and thoroughly evaluate ML models, data pipelines, and decision systems to ensure rigorous quality and standards compliance before production deployment.

Key Responsibilities: Main responsibilities include designing test cases, generating synthetic test datasets, setting up testing environments, tracking software defects, documenting issues, comparing performance metrics, assessing models for biases, and coordinating with developers, engineers, and project managers.

Salary Range: The average salary for full-time AI testing roles ranges from $90,000 to $140,000 annually. Freelance testers charge around $35 to $55 per hour based on expertise.

Educational Background: A bachelor’s degree, along with certifications like ISTQB, can make you job-ready. With self-learning abilities, a computer science background isn’t compulsory for many AI jobs for beginners.

Mandatory Tech Skills: You need to have expertise in Python and SQL, an understanding of ML models, bias testing tools, CI/CD platforms, containerization like Docker, and debugging abilities.

How To Start: To start, learn Python, data analysis with Pandas, ML model evaluation techniques, and tools like Jenkins and Kubernetes. Following are some of the useful resources:

14. Business Intelligence Developer

Business intelligence (BI) refers to the analytical systems and tools that transform complex business data into valuable, actionable insights. As a BI developer, you’ll build and maintain BI solutions like reporting systems, dashboards, and data integrations.

Key Responsibilities: You need to have knowledge about gathering and documenting software requirements, integrating diverse enterprise data sources via ETL pipelines, developing and optimizing SQL queries, creating BI datasets, models, reports, and visualization using the latest BI tools, deploying BI systems, and providing operational support.

Salary Range: The average annual salary ranges from $100,000 to $140,000 for full-time BI developer roles across various industries. Experienced freelance BI developers earn around $70 to $100 per hour.

Educational Background: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or related fields. With hands-on self-learning, you can also gain expertise for AI jobs paying $100k or above.

Mandatory Tech Skills: Must-have technical skills include ETL processes, SQL, Microsoft BI toolchain, data modeling, data analytics, and data warehousing concepts. Attention to detail is vital.

How To Start: You should learn SQL, data analysis, and Microsoft BI tools like SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS. Gain hands-on ETL experience with mini projects.

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What Is The Highest Salary In Artificial Intelligence?

AI researchers with advanced degrees and specialized expertise can earn some of the highest salaries in the technology domain, exceedingly over $500,000 per year at leading organizations.

Even for other roles like machine learning engineers and data scientists, average base salaries at top firms now fall comfortably in the bracket of $150,000 to $230,000 per year. There are even entry-level AI jobs paying $100k or more also available.

In fact, even for beginner-level AI jobs that may not require higher college degrees or jobs without any experience, like AI trainers and ML annotators, salaries can still be attractive at around $90,000 per year on average at technology hotspots like Silicon Valley.

What Skills Do You Need To Get An AI Job That Pays $100k Or More?

Most AI jobs paying $100k or more require specialized technical skills and relevant academic credentials. For instance, machine learning engineers are expected to have expert programming abilities in languages like Python and frameworks like TensorFlow, along with a strong grasp of math, statistics, and algorithms.

Similarly, full-stack expertise across model development, data analysis, and cloud platforms is vital for AI developer roles. However, there are alternate routes as well to earn over $100k without intensive technical education, like becoming an AI business strategist or project manager or making money with AI chatbots, robots, and digital services.

For such tracks, soft skills around communication, critical thinking, leadership, and creativity complemented by domain knowledge prove extremely valuable.

Final Note

Artificial intelligence is opening up some of the most exciting and rewarding career opportunities of the 21st century. With specialized skills, you can access a wide variety of low-stress jobs in AI and adjacent technology domains with the potential for over $100k+ in annual compensation, even as a beginner.

Rather than taking traditional roles, this is the right time to skill up and take risks towards entrepreneurship, freelancing, or corporate AI jobs paying $100k or more per year based on your personal and lifestyle choices. The future belongs to those who take the leap. Gear up, learn futuristic, in-demand skills, and become a pioneer in building this new era of technological advancement and societal progress.

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