AI Careers: How to Leverage Your Degree

Global hiring in artificial intelligence (AI) has increased by more than 300% in the last eight years, according to a 2025 LinkedIn report. In fact, AI hiring is outpacing hiring in all other employment sectors, growing 30% faster than overall hiring since fall 2024.

Earning a master’s degree in AI opens doors to lucrative AI careers. These careers are at the forefront of a new type of AI workforce, and preparing for an AI career now means getting ahead of the competition in a field that only appears to be growing.

What Is an AI Degree?

An AI degree focuses on both theory and application. As AI advances around the world, these degree programs are evolving to prepare students for a new type of workforce.

What Do You Learn in an AI Degree Program?

Key concepts learned in an AI degree program include:

• Analyzing strategies and processes to identify where AI can provide value
• Evaluating technologies that support AI solution development
• Creating and implementing AI solutions
• Developing a framework for ethical AI use

As this program focuses on both theory and application, students also gain crucial technical skills in the field of AI, such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning algorithms, robotics, and data science.

Why Is an AI Degree Important for an AI Career?

A common misconception of an AI degree program, such as a master’s degree in AI, is that it’s focused only on the technical side of AI adoption. However, these degree programs teach both hard skills that AI careers require, such as machine learning algorithms, and soft skills needed to become impactful leaders.

The percentage of jobs listed on LinkedIn requesting someone with AI literacy skills increased by more than six times between 2024 and 2025. However, LinkedIn’s research also found that companies aren’t just looking for AI skills. They’re looking for a mix of AI and human skills, both of which are taught in an AI degree program. 

Employers are looking for well-rounded individuals who are prepared to move through multiple roles in their careers, adapting to an ever-evolving technology.

AI Career Outcomes for an AI Degree

According to LinkedIn’s research on the state of today’s workforce, about 20% of workers hired in the U.S. today hold jobs titles that didn’t even exist in 2000. With the rapid advancement of AI, more such titles are being developed today.

These AI careers allow students to leverage the skills and knowledge they learned in their AI degree programs to become impactful, instrumental members of their organizations.

AI Research Scientist

AI research scientists are at the forefront of AI development. They study existing systems and processes to build upon AI solutions, looking at both AI’s theoretical applications and its ability to help solve real-world problems. 

The responsibilities of an AI research scientist include:

• Researching AI applications to develop new methodologies
• Experimenting with AI model prototypes to identify opportunities for improvement
• Analyzing performance data of AI models
• Reporting findings through publications, conferences, and other speaking engagements

AI research scientists need a diverse range of technical and soft skills, including:

• Programming and algorithm development: Deep knowledge of programming languages (Python, JavaScript) and machine learning algorithm development
• Experimentation and validation: Ability to experiment with models and validate their use
• Research skills: Ability to research opportunities for implementing new technologies 
• Analytic skills: Ability to demonstrate that an AI solution functions as intended
• Communication skills: Ability to convey findings to key stakeholders, the AI research community, and the public

Because AI research scientists need a thorough understanding of its theoretical and practical use, they should hold a doctorate or an equivalent in computer science, AI, or a similar field. They must first complete a bachelor’s degree, which typically takes about four years, and a master’s degree, which typically takes at least two years. Earning a doctorate can take between four and seven years.

They should also have previously published AI research in academic journals.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies AI research scientists as computer and information research scientists, a career with a median annual salary of about $140,910 as of May 2024. 

Job openings for this role are expected to rise by 20% between 2024 and 2034, far outpacing the national average.

AI Ethics Officer

Any technology developing as quickly as AI needs oversight and guidance to ensure that it follows ethical guidelines. AI ethics officers, also called AI ethicists, guide the ethical development and implementation of AI models. They work to protect against bias, ensure privacy for AI users and others, and safeguard against ethical issues.

The responsibilities of an AI ethics officer include:

• Identifying potential ethical concerns before issues can compound
• Developing and enforcing ethical frameworks for safe AI deployment
• Auditing AI systems for accuracy, fairness, and safety
• Staying up to date on AI developments to identify new ethical challenges
• Recommending policy changes in AI governance
• Addressing the public’s concerns about AI ethics

AI ethics officers should have some technical skills, but the main focus of this role is on theory, as they should be studying how AI can work before deployment. The skills AI ethicists need include:

• AI literacy: Ability to understand and evaluate how AI works and its impacts 
• Analytic skills: Ability to analyze AI models to identify ethical concerns and form solutions
• Theoretical thinking: Ability to understand the theoretical applications of AI to identify ethical challenges before they arise
• Research skills: Knowledge of AI advancement; researching new developments to find ethical issues
• Communication skills: Ability to communicate AI ethics concerns and solutions to stakeholders and share ethical AI use guidelines with the general public

Becoming an AI ethics officer requires a foundational knowledge of AI’s theoretical and practical applications. AI ethics officers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, AI, or a related field. However, some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree or doctorate.

However, a key consideration in preparing for this role is a background in ethics in technology. One way to prepare is to earn a certification related to AI ethics. For example, the Certified AI Ethics and Governance Professional (CAEGP) certification course by Tonex prepares professionals for careers that address ethical and governance challenges in AI.

According to Payscale, the median annual salary for an ethics officer is about $100,000 as of December 2025. Because an AI ethics officer is still a very new role, the BLS doesn’t publish separate data on it yet. 

Rather, the BLS categorizes it under compliance officers, the number of which is expected to grow by 3% between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as the national average.

Data Scientist

Data scientists work with data to draw meaningful insights that can help improve various facets of their organization. In the age of AI, data scientists are increasingly expected to use these skills to develop more efficient, more ethical, and more powerful AI solutions.

The responsibilities of a data scientist include:

• Developing methodologies for data collection
• Cleaning and organizing raw data
• Analyzing data to draw insights
• Communicating data findings through visualization and reporting software
• Making recommendations to key stakeholders based on findings
• Creating, validating, and optimizing algorithms

Data scientists need strong technical skills and soft skills, including:

• Data science: Collecting, cleaning, and organizing large volumes of raw data
• Data analytics: Evaluating data and extracting findings
• Programming and algorithm development: Writing algorithms, such as machine learning algorithms, and developing AI models
• Problem-solving skills: Creating logical solutions for challenges encountered in data collection, cleaning, evaluation, and algorithm development
• Communication skills: Communicating findings with other workers involved in AI development and implementation and with key stakeholders

Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, AI, or a similar field. However, some employers prefer candidates with a master’s or doctoral degree. Some employers also prefer candidates with industry-related experience. For example, an employer in the finance industry may look for a candidate with skills not only in data science and AI but also in financial areas such as banking and investments.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a data scientist was about $112,590 as of May 2024. The number of roles for data scientists is expected to rise by 34% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the national average.

Chief AI Officer

A chief AI officer (CAIO), or head of AI, is an executive role that emerged in the wake of the AI revolution. The core responsibility of the CAIO is to develop the strategy for integrating AI into a business, requiring not only an understanding of AI adoption but also the ethical implications of AI development.

The responsibilities of a CAIO include:

• Developing and implementing an organization’s overall AI strategy
• Identifying opportunities where AI can add value and efficiency
• Advising key stakeholders on AI adoption
• Overseeing the development of AI models and machine learning algorithms
• Hiring, managing, and training AI talent
• Ensuring that AI applications comply with ethical and regulatory guidelines
• Educating employees on the company’s vision and approach to AI adoption

The skills needed to thrive in this role include:

• AI technical skills: Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, AI models, and AI adoption, as they’re constantly changing
• AI ethical understanding: Deep understanding of regulatory requirements around AI and the ethical implications of AI adoption
• Leadership and delegation: Capable of ensuring that AI projects run smoothly and collaboratively
• Analysis and reporting: Constantly seeking opportunities to improve AI’s value and efficiency for the organization
• Strategic thinking: Ability to look at the big picture of how AI strategy impacts the organization as a whole

Because the CAIO is a very new role, there isn’t one defined path to it. The key is understanding that this role is strategic—as such, a future CAIO may benefit from earning a higher education degree in AI with a focus on strategic AI use, such as a Master of Science (MS) in Artificial Intelligence.

According to LinkedIn’s research, the number of companies with a CAIO has tripled between 2020 and 2025, more than doubling between 2023 and 2025. According to Payscale, CAIOs can expect a median annual salary of about $206,430 as of May 2025.

Start Your New AI Career With NEC

AI is creating a new workforce, and those who adapt early are likely to reap the rewards. AI careers didn’t exist 25 years ago, but today, growth in AI careers is outpacing growth in other sectors. 

New England College’s MS in Artificial Intelligence prepares students for groundbreaking careers in this growing field. This forward-thinking program creates highly capable professionals in AI who are ready to embrace powerful, ethical AI adoption. Students gain knowledge of the theoretical and ethical perspectives on AI, as well as a decision-making framework for AI processes and implementation.

This fully online degree program is led by experienced AI professionals. It’s designed to be completed in as little as two years, when students can confidently start their AI career and help change the future.

Shape the future of AI with NEC.