AI Talent Wars: The Roles Leading the Hiring Race
Demand for artificial intelligence experts is exploding worldwide, with data scientists topping the list of most in-demand roles, data engineers offering the widest entry point, and AI solutions architects commanding the highest salaries.
Data scientists have emerged as the single most sought-after AI professionals, achieving a composite demand score of 99.
With average salaries of $117K, 11K job postings, and a massive 1.8 million online searches, demand for this skill is unmatched. According to Yijin Hardware’s study, this role generates triple the search volume of any other AI specialty.
Data Engineers Offer the Widest Access
Second on the list, data engineers stand out as the most accessible talent in AI. With 23.3K job openings – more than double any other field – this specialty represents the broadest path into AI.
Salaries average $109K, while searches reach 268K, the second-highest in the ranking. The role earns a final score of 80.
AI Solutions Architects Command Top Salaries
AI solutions architects rank third in demand, with employers paying upwards of $166K annually – the highest pay across all roles.
A strong growth rate of 35 percent and rising urgency to fill these jobs drive their total score to 66. Companies are competing fiercely to bring this talent on board.
Product Managers Signal Employer Urgency
AI product managers land in fourth place, scoring 65. They command $128K salaries and see the fastest hiring times in the industry.
On average, these roles are filled in just 23 days, underscoring how urgently businesses are seeking this expertise.
Machine Learning Engineers Push AI into Production
Machine learning engineers close out the top five with a score of 51. Interest in this role grew by 36 percent last year as organizations shift AI projects from pilot phases into production. Offering an annual pay of $123K, this role combines strong growth with competitive salaries.
AI consultants rank sixth with a score of 48, averaging $136K salaries and enjoying steady 36 percent job growth. Right behind them are AI research scientists, in seventh place, who earn $146K on average – second only to solutions architects. Their strong growth and high pay keep them in demand.
MLOps Engineers Show Explosive Growth
Eighth on the list are MLOps engineers, with a score of 44. Demand for this role has nearly doubled in a single year, reflecting the critical need for scaling AI operations. The urgency is further signaled by salaries averaging $126K.
Robotics and Reinforcement Learning Engineers Round Out the Top Ten
Robotics engineers, ranked ninth, are experiencing increased visibility, with 209,000 searches and an average salary of $ 111,000.
They typically get hired in just 29 days, reflecting high urgency. Reinforcement learning engineers finish the top ten with a score of 31, growing at the same 36 percent annual rate as data scientists but from a smaller base.
Market Under Fierce Pressure
The growing competition for AI talent is also reflected in extraordinary incentives. The CEO of Icon recently offered a $50K referral bonus for help in securing top 0.1 percent AI engineers, a striking signal of scarcity.
«This study highlights just how fast AI talent needs are evolving across different roles. It’s clear companies are competing fiercely to find skilled professionals who can drive their AI projects forward,» said Gavin Yi, CEO of Yijin Hardware.
«Beyond salary, the speed of hiring shows how urgent the demand really is. Understanding these trends helps organizations plan better and stay ahead in a rapidly changing market,» he added.
