AI roles dominate LinkedIn's fastest-growing jobs, but human judgment remains essential

Need a new job? These AI roles are the fastest growing in the US, says LinkedIn

LinkedIn also revealed the best industries and cities for these jobs. With generative AI being all the buzz these days, it's no surprise that employers are looking for professionals with the right AI skills. That can mean people in sales, marketing, and other business areas who need to work with AI data. It can also mean developers, engineers, and others who design and set up the needed AI tools and systems. Also: LinkedIn is cracking down on fake recruiters and executive impersonators - here's how Released on Wednesday, a new LinkedIn report called "LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2026: The 25 fastest-growing roles in the US" looks at the hottest jobs in the US. The list covers a variety of professions but highlights several AI occupations among the top 10. Here's what LinkedIn uncovered. In first place is AI engineer, aka machine learning engineer. In this role, you develop and set up AI models that tackle complex tasks demanding decision-making and problem-solving skills, challenges that would normally require a human being. Also: How to prove you're not a deepfake on Zoom: LinkedIn's 'verified' badge is now free for all platforms The typical programming languages and tech skills required are LangChain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and PyTorch. The most common industries in need of AI engineers are Technology and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, and Business Consulting and Services. Most of the jobs themselves are located in San Francisco, New York City, and Dallas. On average, 3.7 years of previous experience are needed, while the roles from which AI engineers usually transition are software engineer, data scientist, and full stack engineer. For people who don't want to be stuck in the office all the time, 26% of the work is remote, while 27% is hybrid. In second place is AI consultant and strategist. Here, you help companies plan and set up AI technologies to improve their overall operations and achieve specific business goals. The skills required include Large Language Models (LLM), MLOps, and Computer Vision. Also: How I started my own LinkedIn newsletter for free - in 5 easy steps The industries in need of these professionals are Technology and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, and Business Consulting and Services. The most jobs are found in San Francisco, New York City, and Boston. A hefty 8.2 years of prior experience are required. Most people in this field transition from such roles as business founder, software engineer, and product manager. Flex work is an option with 30% of the positions remote and 33% hybrid. In the fourth spot is data annotator, or content analyst. People in this field review and label data based on specific guidelines and quality checks. The goal is to ensure the accuracy of the datasets used to train AI and machine learning models. Also: The best free AI courses and certificates for upskilling in 2025 - and I've tried them all Common skills required include SEO (search engine optimization) copywriting, content marketing, and content production. Industries that need data annotators are Technology and Internet, Staffing and Recruiting, and Higher Education. In academic settings, however, data annotation work is often performed by research assistants or associates, according to LinkedIn. The most jobs are located in Austin, Texas; New York City; and San Francisco. Around 3.5 years of prior experience are needed. Many people in this field transition from content manager, editor, or data analyst. Some 27% of the work can be done remotely, with 29% hybrid. Taking fifth place is AI/ML researcher. In this job, you design and test new AI models and algorithms with the goal of improving the systems. Skills required are PyTorch, Deep Learning, and Computer Vision, while the most common industries looking for people in this role include Technology and Internet, Higher Education, and Research Services. Also: How to make LinkedIn work for you: 3 things you must get right Most of the jobs are in San Francisco, New York City, and Boston. Around three years of experience are required, while these professionals usually transition from data scientist, software engineer, or machine learning engineer. Flex work is available with 16% remote and 24% hybrid. Lower down the list at No. 17 is data center technician. Here, you install, maintain, and troubleshoot computer servers, storage systems, and other hardware in a data center. The most common skills needed include data center infrastructure management, data center operations, and data center cabling. Also: The fastest-growing jobs for new grads and how to land one, according to LinkedIn The industries in need of these professionals are IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology and Internet, and Staffing and Recruiting. Most of the jobs are located in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; and Columbus, Ohio. Around 3.8 years of experience are preferred, with such previous roles as information technology technician, technical support technician, and data center operations specialist. You'll be expected in the office most of the time, as only 3.6% of the work is remote, while 32% is hybrid. Aside from these five jobs, other positions that made the list can certainly touch on technology. These include strategic advisors and independent consultants in seventh place, business founders in ninth place, venture partners in 12th place, business development executives in 16th place, and quantitative researchers and analysts in 20th place. To compile the list, LinkedIn looked at millions of jobs posted by LinkedIn members from Jan. 1, 2023, to July 31, 2025. The goal was to determine a growth rate for each position. To be included in the list, a job needed to experience positive growth over the years and a healthy number of postings in the past year. "This year's list points to continued momentum in both technical and strategic AI roles, including AI engineers, AI consultants, and data annotators," LinkedIn said in its post. "The rise in founders and independent consultants also points to a shift toward self-employment and gig work as professionals adapt to uncertainty."

These are the 10 fastest-growing jobs in the US, LinkedIn says

* AI roles are among the fastest-growing in the US: LinkedIn * There's also been a shift toward self-employment and gig work * Here's what LinkedIn's 2026 "Jobs on the Rise" list says (NewsNation) -- Artificial intelligence hasn't changed most jobs yet, but roles tied to AI are already growing fast. AI engineer took the top spot on LinkedIn's annual Jobs on the Rise list, which highlights the fastest-growing roles over the past three years. Other fast-growing AI-related jobs were less technical, with AI consultants and strategists ranking near the top. LinkedIn also flagged a shift toward self-employment, with founders and independent consultants on the rise. The 2026 list is based on an analysis of millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2025, the professional networking platform said. 10 - Sales executives * Most common skills: C-Level Management, International Sales, Sales Strategy * Top roles transitioned from: Vice President of Global Sales, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Business Development * Where the most jobs are: Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas 9 - Founders * Most common skills: Start-up Leadership, Brand Development, Software Development * Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Managing Director * Where the most jobs are: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles 8 - Advertising sales specialists * Most common skills: Media Planning, Social Media Optimization (SMO), Paid Social Media Advertising * Top roles transitioned from: Account Executive, Sales Director, Advertising Manager * Where the most jobs are: New York City, Detroit, Atlanta 7 - Strategic advisors and independent consultants * Most common skills: Executive Advisory, Go-to-Market Strategy, Strategic Partnerships * Top roles transitioned from: Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Chief Operating Officer * Where the most jobs are: New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. 6 - Healthcare reimbursement specialists * Most common skills: Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement, Prior Authorization, Managed Care * Top roles transitioned from: Account Manager, Medical Biller, Sales Specialist * Where the most jobs are: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles 5 - AI/ML researchers * Most common skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning, Computer Vision * Top roles transitioned from: Data Scientist, Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer * Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Boston 4 - Data annotators * Most common skills: SEO Copywriting, Content Marketing, Content Production * Top roles transitioned from: Content Manager, Editor, Data Analyst * Where the most jobs are: Austin, New York City, San Francisco 3 - New home sales specialist * Most common skills: Residential Real Estate, Real Estate Transactions, Buyer Representation * Top roles transitioned from: Real Estate Agent, Sales Manager, Property Advisor * Where the most jobs are: Houston, Dallas, Orlando 2 - AI consultants and strategists * Most common skills: Large Language Models (LLM), MLOps, Computer Vision * Top roles transitioned from: Founder, Software Engineer, Product Manager * Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Boston

LinkedIn's Rising Jobs Report Shows the Promise -- and Limits -- of AI

Even the most AI-centric roles on the list underscore how dependent the technology remains on human judgement. AI engineers -- the fastest-growing job on the list -- aren't simply building autonomous systems. They're making constant, human-led decisions about how those systems learn and function. AI consultants and strategists -- the second fastest-growing role -- rely less on coding than on interpretation, planning, and organizational insight, skills rooted in human context rather than machine logic. The significance of human skills is further highlighted with data annotators, the fourth fastest-growing role on the list. These workers label and review the data that trains AI systems in the first place. LinkedIn notes that many annotators come from editorial, content, and research backgrounds, fields built on judgment, nuance, and quality control. Without that human layer, AI models can't perform as effectively. Non-Tech Jobs Show the Same Trend Outside of tech, the trend is even clearer. New home sales specialists, healthcare reimbursement specialists, advertising sales specialists, and fundraising officers all rank among the fastest-growing roles. These jobs rely on emotional intelligence, credibility, taste, and care, qualities clients and patients still expect from a person, not a machine.