Want a higher paying tech job? Employers seek AI fluency

Employers are getting pickier when looking at tech resumes, but competition for the right skills is still intense. Companies will pay a premium for experience and advanced AI skills. “The market is no longer defined simply by how many people employers hire, but by how precisely they hire,” said Ger Doyle, ManpowerGroup’s regional president for North America. In many cases, employers would rather leave a position open than make the wrong hire, Doyle said. AI fluency and expertise are driving higher salaries, talent consulting firm Robert Half said after surveying more than 2,000 hiring managers, business leaders, and employed workers for its 2027 salary guide. “72% are increasing pay for relevant AI skills, with 42% offering more for AI-related expertise than other technical skills,” the firm said. The tech job market today There were 272,040 new IT openings posted in September, boosting the active listings to 625,633, the highest in more than three years, according to a study released by CompTIA earlier this month. About 349,821 jobs listed in September — more than half the active listings — needed AI skills, growing by 32,327 compared to August, CompTIA said. In a recent survey of tech and IT service employers, AI literacy was the most in-demand technical skill, with 34% of US respondents naming it as a sought-after skill, reported Experis, part of ManpowerGroup, in its fourth-quarter talent outlook. AI modeling and app development followed close behind at 33%. “We’re seeing it influence hiring across occupations ranging from data science and engineering to project management and operational roles,” ManpowerGroup’s Doyle said. Employers face a tug-of-war as workflows transform and job requirements change, said Michael Chui, senior fellow at McKinsey. “You have to have the right talent in place. You have to retrain. You might have to change the incentives. That’s all hard work,” Chui said. What skills are sought AI skills in demand are increasingly tied to business priorities and outcomes, consulting firm PwC said in a June study. Companies want to hire AI-fluent workers who can hit the ground running. They prefer candidates who have used cutting-edge tools and services. In tech job postings, employers are seeking more experience but fewer skills, said Dean Boerner, a data scientist at Revelio Labs, in a study published last month. Since late 2024, the average number of skills required in tech job postings dropped from about 30 to 21, while required experience rose from about 4.6 to 4.8 years. Employers particularly want more years of experience in data-related skills such as data organization, data research, and enterprise architecture design. This translates to hiring experienced personnel rather than handing duties to junior hires or AI systems, Revelio said in its study. Fewer job listings mention broad categories like software and application development, the study said, while a larger number of job listings mention specialized skills such as Java API development and Python development. Other AI-linked skills including networking, cloud development, and machine learning are also in demand. The AI infrastructure buildout has also led to an increased demand for semiconductor talent, network architects, construction managers, and software developers. “Data centers are the factories of the AI economy, and every server rack that comes online needs someone who knows how to run it,” said Kye Mitchell, head of Experis US. Experts said software developer roles are now pivoting toward data and machine learning expertise. AI is automating coding, so software developers are becoming AI engineers with duties that include verifying AI-derived code and ensuring compliance. “Governance is a thing in which engineers will have a key role to play… AI engineers build contextual guardrails for compliance,” said Deepak Seth, senior director analyst at Gartner. Salaries AI engineer will be among the top-paid jobs in 2027, with salaries ranging from $154,500 to $196,750, depending on experience, according to Robert Half. AI architects get between $145,250 and $204,000. Salaries for AI/ML analysts, machine-learning engineers, and data scientists range from $121,250 to $186,750. RPA (robotic process automation) engineers, who focus on software and automation, get salaries between $107,000 and $155,250. Salaries also depend on location. Career ladder AI is throwing out the traditional way to climb up the career ladder. Hands-on experience and on-the-job upskilling matter more, while academic credentials carry less weight. Companies are looking for specialized, judgment-heavy skills, “which younger workers are the least equipped to offer,” Revelio Labs said in its study.  PwC noted that entry-level roles in AI-exposed jobs now demand skills that are traditionally developed through experience, such as leadership and strategic thinking. “Organizations must rethink how they mentor and train junior staff, helping them step up to complex decision-making much earlier in their careers,” PwC said in its June report. Fresh graduates combining technical fundamentals with practical experience, AI fluency, and strong communication skills will stand out, Experis’ Mitchell said. “[Employers] are also building talent from within, expanding talent pools, and using multiple strategies to meet their needs,” Mitchell said. Proof of AI proficiency in the workplace will become a standard requirement, Gartner’s Seth said. By 2027, 75% of hiring processes will include certifications and testing for workplace AI proficiency during recruiting, he said. “Anybody in the IT world knows… we were asked for certifications about Java or C++ or whatever. Now suddenly that will shift to workplace AI proficiency,” Seth said. Skills are also going out of date faster. “The half-life of technical skills will shorten from 8 to 12 years to 2 to 5 years. So adaptability and learning velocity will become very, very key,” Seth said. “Rehiring is expensive. Reskilling is a better option,” Seth said.