Jobs & Workforce
What is the wage premium for workers with AI skills?
Short Answer
Workers with AI skills earn a 56% wage premium over workers in the same role without them — up from 25% the previous year, per PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer.
Key Facts
- 56% — wage premium for workers with AI skills vs. the same role without (PwC, 2025).
- 66% — of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills (Microsoft & LinkedIn, 2024).
- 66% — faster skill change in AI-exposed jobs compared to other jobs (PwC, 2025).
wage premium for workers with AI skills vs. the same role without
Up from 25% the previous year. Every industry analysed pays wage premiums for AI skills.
Which industries pay the highest AI premium?
Every industry PwC analysed pays wage premiums for AI skills, but technology, finance, and professional services pay the most in absolute terms. AI-specific engineering roles command approximately 67% higher compensation than traditional software engineering positions.
Why is the AI wage premium growing so fast?
Supply is severely constrained. 1.63 million AI-related roles are open worldwide against a pool of just 518,000 qualified candidates — a 3× gap. AI engineer hiring grew approximately 25% year over year, while the training pipeline lags by years.
Will the AI wage premium last?
Probably for several years. The premium will compress as training pipelines catch up and AI tools become embedded in every knowledge-worker role — but in the near term, 66% of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills, so the pressure is still rising.
Supporting Data
Recommended Citation
AI Statistics Center, citing PwC (2025). https://aistatisticscenter.com/answers/what-is-the-wage-premium-for-ai-skills
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