The Highest-Paying AI Skills in 2026

Expertise in large language models is now the most valuable AI skill on the market—and it's not the only one outpacing what a traditional degree can deliver. As companies race to build and deploy AI systems, the gap between in-demand technical skills and conventional credentials keeps widening.

Our latest report analyzed artificial intelligence skills across job demand and compensation to identify which capabilities offer earnings comparable to or exceeding a traditional university degree.

• Knowledge of large language models (LLMs) ranks as the most in-demand AI skill, with average salaries approaching $200K annually.
• Both listed in tens of thousands of job postings, deep learning and computer vision skills follow closely.
• No-code AI tools and prompt engineering show lower demand and more modest pay, though both still surpass typical entry-level salaries for recent college graduates.

The study evaluated 55 AI skills across technical and strategic categories using two key factors: active job listings that include that skill and average salary. Active job listings across major employment platforms measured real-world demand, while average salary across entry, mid, and senior levels captured long-term earning potential. Skills with the highest demand and strongest pay offer the most viable alternatives to traditional degree pathways.

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Large Language Models (LLMs)

Large language model skills lead the AI job market with nearly 57K active listings and average pay just under $200K per year, making LLM expertise roughly 10% more lucrative than second-place deep learning. The skill covers working with generative models, with expertise ranging from API integration to custom fine-tuning. Companies across industries are now building products around LLMs, and they’re paying a premium for people who understand not just how to call an API but how to make these models reliable, safe, and cost-effective at scale.

2. Deep Learning

Deep learning ranks second with over 67K job listings, the highest raw demand among all skills studied, as it has roughly 60% more openings than computer vision. Average compensation comes in at about $179K per year, around three times the median salary for recent college graduates across all majors. Deep learning is the foundation of modern AI, covering neural networks, backpropagation, and model architecture design. The sheer volume of job postings makes deep learning the safest bet for job seekers, even if the top-end pay is slightly lower than LLM roles.

3. Computer Vision

Computer vision skill takes third place with nearly 42K job listings, about two-thirds of the deep learning share of the job market. Average pay lands at about $184K annually, roughly 5K above deep learning. This skill focuses on teaching machines to interpret images and video, from facial recognition to autonomous vehicle perception. Computer vision pays better than deep learning despite having fewer openings, suggesting that employers view it as a scarcer specialty that commands a premium.

4. AI Product Management

AI product management ranks fourth with about 26K job listings, 40% fewer than computer vision. Average pay reaches $195K per year, second only to LLM fine-tuning among the top ten. This skill focuses on decisions of which models to build and how to bring them to market. The high pay reflects that companies have realized that leadership and market judgment are just as valuable as technical skills.

5. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural Language Processing rounds out the top five with about 36K job listings, 40% more than AI product management. Average pay lands at $173K annually, just about $26K below LLM skills. Demand for NLP expertise has surged alongside the rise of LLMs, but salaries have not kept pace with the broader LLM category, suggesting that NLP is seen as a foundational skill rather than a premium specialty.