U.S. managers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for candidates with artificial intelligence skills, according to new survey data from Robert Half. The findings indicate that 72% of managers plan to boost pay for recruits with relevant AI skills as employers compete for specialized talent.

The 2027 Salary Guide from Robert Half found that specialized skills are the top reason cited by employers for offering higher-than-planned salaries. Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half, said in an interview that "Employers are willing to offer higher pay for professionals who understand where AI can add value, can integrate it into day-to-day processes, and can apply it responsibly to solve real business challenges."

Data from LinkedIn analysis shows that AI job postings in the U.S. have doubled since 2023. The average annual salary for an AI job posting is approximately $177,000, while the average annual salary for non-AI roles is approximately $80,000.

In Dallas, 61% of employers are offering higher-than-planned salaries to new hires. Minneapolis sees 60% of employers making similar adjustments, and 59% of employers in Boston are increasing offers. Atlanta reports 57% of employers offering higher salaries, while 54% of employers in Washington, D.C. are doing so. In Los Angeles, 52% of employers are offering higher-than-planned salaries, and 48% of employers in Houston are following suit.

Workforce adoption of AI tools has accelerated rapidly. Around 40% of U.S. workers are casually using AI on the job, according to an Ipsos study with Google. However, only 5% of U.S. workers are considered 'AI fluent'.

Employees who are AI fluent are over four times more likely to report higher earnings and get promoted due to their AI expertise compared with workers who are getting used to the tech. A prior survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2023 found that only 8% of workers had significant experience with AI tools.

Despite the demand for AI skills, uncertainty remains among workers. Sixty percent of white-collar tech workers believe their roles and teams could be replaced by AI within the next three to five years, according to a Udacity 2025 report. Long-term projections from McKinsey Global Institute data indicate that AI and automation are projected to cut demand for around 36 million U.S. jobs by 2035. Conversely, new growth is projected to generate the need for 41 million other roles by 2035.

Tech professionals are already integrating these tools into their workflows. Software engineer Laura Housh began using AI as a helper for coding and other tasks in 2024. A 2024 Google research division survey found that 90% of tech professionals said they use AI in their job. The 90% usage rate in the Google survey represented a 14% increase from 2024.

Why It Matters

The surge in compensation for AI-skilled workers reflects a structural shift in the labor market where technical proficiency directly influences earning potential. With AI job postings doubling since 2023 and average salaries for AI roles more than double those of non-AI positions, the financial stakes for upskilling are high. The discrepancy between the $177,000 average for AI roles and the average annual wage for data scientists reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2025 suggests evolving compensation trends that may outpace traditional benchmarks.

While employers prioritize AI integration, the workforce faces a dual reality of opportunity and displacement. Projections indicate a net gain of 5 million roles by 2035, yet 36 million jobs face reduced demand. The gap between casual AI usage at 40% and AI fluency at 5% reflects a critical skills deficit that companies are addressing through higher pay, even as workers express concern about automation replacing their roles within the next three to five years.

Timeline

In 2024, software engineer Laura Housh began using AI as a helper for coding and other tasks. Also in 2024, 90% of tech professionals in a Google research division survey said they use AI in their job. Looking forward, employers plan to increase wages for newly hired data scientists by 3.3% starting in 2027.

In 2027, employers also plan to increase wages for attorneys with four to nine years of experience by 3.9%, marketing automation specialists by 3.9%, and executive assistants by 3.9%. By the end of 2035, AI and automation are projected to cut demand for around 36 million U.S. jobs. Also by 2035, new growth is projected to generate the need for 41 million other roles.

What's New

Additional reporting provides further context on the labor market dynamics surrounding AI adoption. In 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded a 25% increase in the number of job openings for data scientists, indicating a growing demand for technical roles that may correlate with the salary increases mentioned in the Robert Half survey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of AI-related job postings in the U.S. increased by 120% between 2023 and 2025, aligning with the trend noted in the Robert Half survey.

Compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics adds another layer to the salary discussion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for data scientists in 2025 was lower than the $177,000 cited in the Robert Half survey, suggesting potential discrepancies or evolving trends in compensation for AI-related roles.