The AI hype is far from dying down in 2024
Just when you thought it couldn’t possibly receive any more hype, it turns out to be the exact opposite. The proverbial “AI boom” is set to stay, according to a new Slack study which surveyed over 10,000 white-collar workers across the globe.
Findings from the study revealed that executive urgency to begin implementing AI into their operations has multiplied drastically—by as much as seven times—while a recent McKinsey report on The State Of AI In 2024 reveals that AI adoption has spiked from hovering at 50% to a staggering 72% worldwide.
The report went on to state that if 2023 was the year of AI discovery, 2024 is truly etching a name for itself in the history books as being the year for AI implementation, and already, employers are realizing the benefits to revenue, employee productivity, and employee satisfaction.
Because of these factors, 2024 presents a great time for aspiring professionals to capitalize on the extreme interest and new-found hype that artificial intelligence is creating, especially within the professional services sector.
So if you don’t yet have computer science expertise, now is the time to consider a career within this ever-expanding field, especially since the market for artificial intelligence, now valued at $200 billion, is projected to skyrocket to as much as nearly $2 trillion by 2030.
And if you are part of the graduating class of 2024, you can leverage your expertise within computer science, mathematics, or other related field to pursue these five entry-level AI jobs that are becoming more in demand as the AI implementation phase progresses.
(Salaries by Salary.com and Glassdoor.)
1. AI/ML Engineer
AI and machine learning engineers engineer and deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning models and systems, and train models on expansive data sets.
Education And Qualifications Needed
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
- Specialist certifications/advanced qualifications in AI and machine learning, such as those offered through Coursera
Average pay range: $119,000 to $182,000
2. Data Scientist
Data scientists often use AI tools so they can collect and extract data, and make sense of them, which is then used by companies to improve decision-making.
Education And Qualifications Needed
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science.
- You can also enter data science without a degree through undergoing data science certifications online, such as the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate.
Average pay range: $108,942 to $133,690
3. ML Researcher
ML (machine learning) researchers conduct fundamental research that aids in the advancement of machine learning algorithms, and enable new information science inventions.
Education And Qualifications Needed
- Bachelor’s degree and PhD in computer science, mathematics, machine learning, or artificial intelligence (this is preferred by most major tech companies).
Average pay range: $114,301 to $136,323
4. NLP Specialist
An NLP (natural language processing) specialist works on applications that engage with and interpret human language, such as chatbots.
Education And Qualifications Needed
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field.
- Specialized courses covering topics such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.
Average pay range: $105,021 to $132,848
5. AI Software Developer
As an AI software developer, your role would be focused on building AI software solutions in collaboration with data scientists. You would also be integrating your solutions into existing applications.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field.
- Taking up additional courses if necessary to understand machine learning concepts, NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, data processing, etc. Master’s degree can be very helpful.
Average salary range: $106,000 to $157,000
Aspiring tech professionals should seize the opportunities that are demanding their talented … [+]
To secure these high-paying entry-level remote AI jobs, remember to boost your experience and skills with a master’s degree in a related specialism, in addition to getting hands-on experience with AI-related projects during your studies. This will go a long way towards securing your remote entry-level role and attracting interest from major employers, including start-ups.