Emerging jobs with high salaries in AI identified in new report for 2025
AI Job Market in the UK: Salary Trends and Strategies for Career Growth
The AI job market in the UK is thriving, with more than 6,000 AI-related vacancies since 2023, offering an average salary of £65,636, according to CV-Library. However, the market is continually evolving, with a 0.5% year-on-year decline in salary growth.
A key factor driving the strong demand for AI professionals is the talent shortage, especially in areas that combine AI with domain expertise, such as life sciences. This scarcity of skilled candidates has led to salaries increasing by 30-50% compared to traditional counterparts.
Companies are leveraging AI for high-impact applications like accelerating drug discovery and personalized treatments, which increases the value and pay for AI specialists. Leading pharmaceutical companies and tech firms are competing fiercely for the best AI talent, sometimes offering packages previously reserved for C-suite executives.
In the competitive AI job market, staying informed and up-to-date is crucial. Candidates should follow leading journals, subscribe to newsletters, attend relevant webinars, and immerse themselves in the AI community by attending events, joining online forums, and engaging in conversations on social media.
To stay at the forefront of AI innovation, candidates should enroll in courses and certification programs that align with emerging technologies. Specializing in emerging AI fields can also help maximize career growth opportunities.
However, some traditional AI roles face salary stagnation or declines due to market saturation and competition. For instance, the average salary for a Senior Data Scientist decreased by 27.4%, and the average salary for an AI Engineer decreased by 26.8%.
On the other hand, roles like Robotics Software Engineer are gaining momentum in the AI job market, with the average wage surging by 51.7%, making it the fastest-growing AI job. Algorithm Specialists earn on average the most (£100,634), yet encountered a salary growth rate of just 1.7%, the second lowest analyzed.
Employers are also offering enhanced perks such as remote work, tuition support, and better benefits to attract skilled candidates. Meanwhile, inflation and cost-of-living adjustments have influenced salary growth patterns, with AI roles continuing to enjoy stronger gains relative to other tech jobs despite some plateauing in general tech salaries.
Regional disparities and the rise of remote/hybrid roles further affect salary dynamics by expanding access to higher-tier pay beyond London. For example, AI/ML engineers in the UK average £70,000–£120,000+, with cloud, cybersecurity, data, and emerging tech roles offering strong pay. AI specialists in life sciences can earn significantly more, with bioinformatics salaries rising 23% year-on-year and top-tier roles commanding over €300,000 annually.
In conclusion, the AI job market in the UK presents numerous opportunities for career growth. Candidates should focus on specializing in emerging AI fields, staying informed, upskilling, networking, and showcasing a portfolio to maximize these opportunities. Additionally, considering certifications in robotics programming or deepening knowledge in real-time computing can strengthen a candidate's position in the market.
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In the AI job market, companies are increasingly utilizing data-and-cloud-computing technologies to run AI applications for high-impact purposes, such as drug discovery and personalized treatments, which fuels demand for AI professionals. (Source)
To stay competitive, AI candidates should focus on expanding their skillset with artificial-intelligence expertise, particularly in emerging fields like robotics programming or real-time computing, to maximize their career growth opportunities. (Source)
