Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
Job outlook for artificial intelligence specialists in the United States
Are artificial intelligence specialist jobs in demand?
Artificial Intelligence Specialist job and salary trends over time
Artificial Intelligence Specialist jobs over time
Artificial Intelligence Specialist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 28 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 28 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 26 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 25 | 0.00% |
Average artificial intelligence specialist salary over time
Artificial Intelligence Specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $151,994 | $73.07 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $148,382 | $71.34 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $147,558 | $70.94 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $146,322 | $70.35 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $143,073 | $68.79 | +1.4% |
Artificial Intelligence Specialist jobs by state
Most common states for artificial intelligence specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 183 | 26% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 65 | 10% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 750 | 9% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 63 | 8% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 396 | 7% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 55 | 7% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 43 | 7% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 112 | 6% |
| 9 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 82 | 6% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 65 | 6% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 62 | 6% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 56 | 6% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 198 | 5% |
| 14 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 80 | 5% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 71 | 5% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 55 | 5% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 304 | 4% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 204 | 4% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 136 | 4% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 60 | 4% |
Most common cities for artificial intelligence specialists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $147,530 |
| 2 | Folsom | 1 | 1% | $173,370 |
| 3 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $134,120 |
| 4 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $173,428 |
| 5 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $162,432 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $149,798 |
| 7 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $134,277 |
| 8 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $164,179 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $158,534 |
| 10 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $132,907 |
| 11 | Fremont | 1 | 0% | $173,426 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $132,303 |
| 13 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $173,460 |
Artificial Intelligence Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of artificial intelligence specialist experts
New Mexico State University
University of Delaware
What general advice would you give to an Artificial Intelligence Specialist?
Carol Flinchbaugh Ph.D.: I always remind students entering today’s workforce they will have anywhere from 6-8 careers. Not jobs, careers. That is the age we are living in with such fast technological advances. They need to have an understanding as to how and when their careers will change based on generative AI. That said, there are many industries – especially in customer service-related jobs – where job roles won’t change so quickly.
What Artificial Intelligence Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carol Flinchbaugh Ph.D.: I mention some of this below, but new graduates will need to increase their knowledge about the advances in technology, especially generative AI tools. Knowing how to use this technology to augment their job roles and responsibilities is critical. In addition, there is value for continued learning to gain a working understanding of the computer science behind such tools. New employees should consider the value of certificates AI and AI design.
What will help Artificial Intelligence Specialists increase their earning potential?
Carol Flinchbaugh Ph.D.: At this point, current graduates need to understand the transformative change that we are experiencing with generative AI. New employees need to understand the role of AI’s potential across every industry, and they must be open to continuous learning about AI. Ideally, they will have an opportunity for on-the-job training; however, things are changing so fast that employees often need to take initiative to keep themselves up-skilled with the recent technology changes.
Rahmat Beheshti PhD
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Delaware
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, And Computational Biology
What general advice would you give to an Artificial Intelligence Specialist?
Rahmat Beheshti PhD: While working on improving your hard skills (see my comment about mastering your core theoretical background for ML methods), make sure you improve your soft skills, too. In most cases, these latter skills are as important as (if not more important) in determining the chance of being hired and setting the slope of your growth trajectory after hiring.
What Artificial Intelligence Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rahmat Beheshti PhD: There seems to be a consensus that skills related to the effective integration of multi-modal large language models (MLLMs) into targeted tasks will be highly relevant in the short future.
What will help Artificial Intelligence Specialists increase their earning potential?
Rahmat Beheshti PhD: Learn advanced AI skills and especially make sure you understand the very deep theory/math underlying the modern machine learning methods (such as transformers and diffusion models). Only a high level of familiarity with these concepts may put you in a weaker position in the competitive environment we live in.
What general advice would you give to an Artificial Intelligence Specialist?
Dr. Mahyar Amirgholy Ph.D.: In the next few years, the game changer is going to be all about AI and how we adapt to it. It's like, the tech keeps evolving, right? So, we've got to keep up, keep learning. It's not just about understanding AI as it is now, but staying on your toes for what's coming next. Think of it as an ongoing adventure where each new update or tool can help us do our jobs better or solve problems in cooler ways. Also, it's not just about the techy stuff; communication and teamwork are huge because the best ideas come when different minds collide. So, stay curious, stay flexible, and keep those collaboration skills sharp.
What Artificial Intelligence Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mahyar Amirgholy Ph.D.: Starting out, I'd say keep your mind open and keep learning, especially about AI. It's super cool and more than just tech—it's a key to tackling big problems like climate change and pollution. So, when you're diving into your career, remember that learning about AI isn't just about getting ahead—it's about helping out our planet too. Embrace the tech, get creative, and see how you can use it to make a real difference.
What will help Artificial Intelligence Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mahyar Amirgholy Ph.D.: To really boost your salary potential, think beyond just what you learned in school. Ask yourself, 'What sets me apart from others? What can I offer that's unique and valuable?' It's not just about your qualifications; it's about showing how you can bring more to the table, especially with new tech like AI. Show potential employers how you can use AI to drive profits, solve problems, or improve efficiency. If you can demonstrate that you're not just another hire but a real asset who can help them stay ahead of the curve, you're in a much better position to negotiate a higher salary. So, dive into the tech, get creative with it, and show how it translates to real-world benefits for your employer.