Unveiled: High-paying Artificial Intelligence occupations predicted for 2025
A comprehensive analysis of over 5 million jobs by CV-Library has revealed some interesting trends in the AI job market in the UK from 2023 to 2025.
Growing Roles and Salaries
The fastest-growing salaries in AI were found in roles like Robotics Software Engineer, Principal Data Scientist, Head of Data Science, Data Science Lead, Machine Learning Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, Data Scientist, and Algorithm Specialist.
- Robotics Software Engineer salaries surged dramatically by 51.7%, reaching an average of approximately £52,779.
- Senior technical roles such as Principal Data Scientist (+31.9%) and Head of Data Science (+30.1%) also saw substantial salary increases.
- Mid-level data-related roles like Data Science Lead and Machine Learning Engineer experienced moderate growth, with Machine Learning Engineers averaging around £66,505 in 2025.
- Other specialized roles with modest growth include Computer Vision Engineer (+4.1%) and Data Scientist (+4.0%).
- Algorithm Specialists remain among the highest earners at approximately £100,634 but saw minimal salary growth (1.7%).
Declining Salaries in Traditional AI Positions
In contrast, many traditional AI jobs faced notable salary declines.
- Salaries for AI Engineers fell sharply by –26.8% to around £89,780.
- Senior Data Scientists' average pay dropped by –27.4%.
- Other notable salary reductions include Data Science Engineers (–19.8%), MLOps Engineers (–16.8%), and Data Science Managers (–16.5%).
- Even Robotics Engineers (distinct from Robotics Software Engineers) saw a decrease of –10.9%.
Overall Trends
Overall, salary growth across all AI roles slightly declined by –0.5% year-on-year. The average AI job salary across vacancies advertised since 2023 was around £65,636.
Job location affects pay significantly, with London offering the highest wages for software developers and AI specialists, averaging around £75,000, while regional cities pay 10–20% less but have lower living costs.
Staying Ahead in the AI Job Market
To stay at the forefront of AI innovation, candidates must continuously learn by enrolling in courses and certification programs that align with emerging technologies. Candidates should also showcase their portfolio to demonstrate their real-world AI skills and set themselves apart from other candidates.
CV-Library suggests candidates specialize in emerging AI fields such as robotics and physical AI system roles. Networking and joining communities within the AI field, such as engaging in conversations on social media, attending events, or joining relevant online forums, can also be beneficial.
The rise in automation and AI systems is becoming more prevalent in sectors such as logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. Candidates should stay informed by tuning into industry news, following leading journals, subscribing to newsletters, and attending relevant webinars, events, and conferences.
In summary, the period from 2023 to 2025 in the UK AI job market is characterized by strong salary growth in robotics-related and some senior data science roles, while many traditional AI specialist roles have experienced declining salaries. This shift likely reflects evolving industry demands and re-prioritization of AI skill sets.
- In the UK AI job market from 2023 to 2025, technology roles such as Robotics Software Engineer and Computer Vision Engineer witnessed significant salary growth, reinforcing the increasing importance of artificial-intelligence in these specialized fields.
- In contrast, traditional AI job roles like AI Engineer, Senior Data Scientist, and Data Science Manager experienced salary decreases, suggesting a possible reallocation of resources towards emerging technological advancements in AI, like robotics and physical AI systems.
