Any skeptics who doubted the money-making potential of artificial intelligence (AI) are changing their tunes upon seeing the explosive success of ChatGPT, whose parent company (OpenAI) hit $10 billion in annual revenue in June. A pretty worrisome side effect of AI’s growth is its effect on human workers. Job loss due to AI expansion is already happening, and it will get worse as the technology gets even more sophisticated.
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Gaining experience working with AI is critical for everyone who wants to hold on to and grow a career in a society rife with threats from tech. You may want to take your knowledge a flight of steps further and design a career as an AI professional. Experts at Kraftshala analyzed recent AI-related search data from Google and job sites including LinkedIn and Indeed to find the most popular AI jobs in 2025. Below are the seven that pay the most. Only one pulls in less than six figures on average. Additionally, you only need a formal and extensive academic background for one of the jobs.
AI Chatbot Developer
- National average salary: $93,749
- Online searches: 673,000
The lowest-paying job on this list is still high-paying, with a national average salary of about $94,000. An AI chatbot developer designs and builds AI-powered chatbots using natural language understanding platforms such as Dialogflow, Rasa or Microsoft Bot Framework. This professional also has expertise in machine learning and data analysis. Some employers want to see at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but it’s not usually a requirement and you can land this job if you have the skills and the vision.
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AI Attorney
- National average salary: $100,626
- Online searches: 2,900
Most of us see the job “lawyer” and think “$$$,” and though it’s true that lawyers often make a lot of money, the profession is fated to become less of a sure thing as AI evolves. The industry-wide expectation is that AI will bring displacement and disruption, even if it doesn’t straight up replace talent. How do you beat the AI heat? One way is to become an AI attorney. In this profession, you’ll maintain an in-depth knowledge of AI laws and regulation. You’ll also play a key role in the expanding cultural conversation over how AI and ethical standards can coexist. Extensive education, including a law degree, is required.
AI Data Scientist
- National average salary: $122,738
- Online searches: 2,400
In our modern capitalist society, data has become precious currency. AI systems are data driven, and companies need a professional to come in and not only manage but make keen interpretations from the masses of data. This is where an AI data scientist comes in. To fill this role, you’ll need a deep understanding of how machine learning operates as well as proficiency in programming languages like Python and R. Most candidates have at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, like computer science, but if you have the chops and the experience, you may be able to land this high-paying job without a rigorous academic background.
Head of Generative AI/Gen AI Architect
- National average salary: $128,756
- Online searches: 60,500
Any company using technology to thrive needs to be invested in AI, and they need an expert to show them the ropes. By creating scalable infrastructure for companies, an AI architect helps with AI integration and adoption, making the sophisticated technology accessible and successful. This is another AI career where a bachelor’s degree in a related field is a plus, but not a necessity. You will, however, need a solid grasp on machine learning models and natural language processing, a sharp understanding of AI infrastructure, application deployment, operations and experience with tools like Kubernetes and Git.
AI Tutor/AI Coach
- National average salary: $129,000
- Online searches: 6,600
Professionals in pretty much all industries are feeling pressure to not only embrace AI but really understand how to use it. They need help; specifically, they need an AI tutor/AI coach. In this role, you’ll teach companies/people how to implement AI solutions. In addition to having strong experience working with AI tools and understanding all the ins and outs of this evolving technology, you’ll need to be a good communicator and an effective teacher. You may not need a degree to get this high-paying job.
Data Annotator
- National average salary: $165,018
- Online searches: 135,000
Back to the importance of data in AI. A data annotator helps develop or optimize AI solutions by going in and labeling and annotating data for machine learning. You’ll need to be an expert in all things data annotation, including standard tools like Labelbox and Annotate. We looked through a number of data annotator job openings and though many stressed the need for technical experience and strong people skills, none highlighted the need for a formal education or degree.
Machine Learning Engineer
- National average salary: $171,040
- Online searches: 49,500
Do you love working with AI algorithms, programming, data and statistics? Do you know how to use both to create artificial intelligence systems? If so, think about becoming a machine learning engineer. The highest-paid job on this list is, unsurprisingly, one that takes a lot of technical mastery. Not only do you need an in-depth knowledge of R, Java and Python, you need to be extremely mathematically minded, analytical and innovative. But, as with most of the other jobs on this list, a formal degree isn’t necessarily a requirement.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Highest-Paying and Most Popular AI Jobs in 2025
