AI isn’t a buzzword or a fleeting trend that will fade with time. A survey finding revealed that nearly 86% of employers plan to use AI-related tools by 2028, and individuals with AI skills can expect an increase in salaries by up to 30%. While there is a high demand for AI professionals in every country, the following 10 countries are offering the most lucrative salaries to attract the best talent.
United States of America (USA)
AI jobs previously existed in the USA, but their demand has witnessed a massive surge in recent years. In 2023 alone, 169,045 job postings required AI skills. Companies in this country are willing to pay six-figure salaries, averaging $146,000. California, in particular, is among the highest-paying American states, offering an average annual salary of $150,110 to AI professionals. Some of the most common jobs in the AI category include deep learning architect, data scientist, product designer, software engineer, etc.
United Kingdom (UK)
A 2,200 UK business decision-makers survey revealed they’re willing to pay higher salaries to people with AI skills. Candidates with the right AI skills can receive salary hikes of up to 45% compared to those who don’t. For instance, senior-level AI engineers specializing in AI fields like deep learning, NLP, etc., can command average annual salaries of £70,000 ($89,215) to £100,000 ($127,450) and even higher.
India
Companies in major Indian cities are willing to pay massive salary packages to deal with talent shortages in the AI landscape. Most of the demand for AI professionals in India comes from IT, retail, healthcare, banking, insurance, telecom, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. Salaries for mid-level AI positions start at Rs.50 lakh ($59,050) per annum and reach Rs.1.5 crore ($177,151) for senior positions. Currently, 416,000 (approximately) professionals are working in AI, and an additional 213,000 are needed to fill positions.
France
France is witnessing a battle among companies to hire the best AI talent for their organizations. It has resulted in companies offering top salaries to recruit the top 1% of talent. While the salary depends on various factors, like experience, skill stack, etc., AI engineers in France can expect annual salary packages from €55k ($58,137) to €130k ($137,416). Senior-level AI engineers can bag salaries up to €195k ($195,750) a year.
Japan
The demand for skilled AI professionals in Japan has pushed companies to offer lucrative salaries to the best professionals proficient in AI. While all companies require AI professionals, brands like Sony, SoftBank, and Toyota are pushing the limits to bag exceptional AI talent. Machine Learning (ML) engineers are offered salaries in the ¥9 million to ¥12 million range. It translates to approximately $60,000 and $80,000. Other AI professionals are also receiving packages in similar salary range.
China
Local tech giants in China are struggling to find the best AI talent for their organizations. It has resulted in many companies like Xiaomi, Meituan, Baidu, etc., offering higher pay to attract talented AI professionals. While various AI job profiles have witnessed a high demand, NLP professionals are bagging as high as ¥24,007 ($3,302) a month, which is double the amount earned by an average IT professional. Demand for deep learning professionals has also soared, with salaries averaging ¥26,279 ($3,614) a month.
Germany
Germany is also at the forefront of hiring skilled AI talent and is willing to give higher-than-average salary packages to lure the right professionals. An average AI specialist can expect to earn approximately €94,080 ($99,447) per annum. The range can be much higher for more experienced professionals, averaging €114,871 a year. Companies hiring for AI specialist roles want proficiency in skills like Python, JavaScript, C++/CLI, data mining, and big data analytics. In the coming five years, there will be an 8% increase in the salary offered to AI professionals.
Canada
Hiring skilled AI talent is a priority for almost 66% of employers in Canada, but most are finding it challenging to find the right professionals. They are also willing to pay 25% higher salary and even more to professionals with the right AI skills. Canada’s AI job market is lucrative, so you can consider exploring opportunities here. While salary packages vary based on job roles, AI professionals can earn an average annual income of C$ 103k ($72,732) per annum. Lead data scientists are being offered salaries of up to C$ 175k ($123,574) per annum, while data science directors can bag a whopping C$224k ($158,175) annual salary.
Australia
Australia is also embracing wide scale AI adoption, resulting in companies competing regarding salary offerings to attract the best AI talent. A survey result indicated that nearly 84% of employers in Australia are taking effective steps to help their workforce embrace AI. Approximately 52% of employers are specifically looking to onboard professionals with AI skills. While the salaries offered to AI professionals vary by specific role, experience, and other factors, an average AI professional can earn an average annual income of $123,316. Experienced professionals can earn well above $200,000 per annum.
Singapore
4 in 5 organizations in Singapore are expecting an increase in the demand for AI skills in the coming years. While they are actively trying to hire the best AI professionals, factors like the lack of qualified candidates are making hiring difficult. Professionals with the right AI skills can expect to increase their salary by 25% or more, depending on their experience, skill stack, etc. AI engineers in Singapore can bag an average annual income of $136,300, while those more experienced can land as high as $245,340 per annum packages.
