Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the job landscape at an incredibly fast pace, and hence, the demand for new kinds of roles is increasing. As a result, it wasn’t surprising to see several AI-related positions claiming multiple spots among LinkedIn’s top-growing roles of 2026. The annual “Jobs on the Rise” report is based on millions of job transitions by LinkedIn members from 2023 to mid-2025, and highlights explosive demand for both hands-on AI development and foundational support roles that are essential to train advanced models.
LinkedIn’s data highlights “continued momentum in technical and strategic AI roles,” as organisations ramp up AI adoption across industries. While the full list of 25 fastest-growing jobs spans diverse sectors like real estate and healthcare, AI jobs stand out prominently in the top ranks, reflecting the technology’s transformative impact on employment.
Here is a list of all the top roles in the field of AI that dominate LinkedIn’s list of fastest-growing jobs in 2026.
Artificial Intelligence Engineer
LinkedIn Jobs-on-the-Rise rank: 1
Also known as a Machine Learning Engineer, this role tops the list. Professionals develop and implement AI models for complex tasks such as problem-solving and prediction.
Key skills: LangChain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PyTorch.
Top industries: Technology, IT Services, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Dallas.
Demographics: 23% female; median 3.7 years prior experience.
Common transitions from: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Full Stack Engineer.
Flexible work: 26% remote, 27% hybrid.
Artificial Intelligence Consultant and Strategist
LinkedIn Jobs-on-the-Rise rank: 2
These experts guide organisations in planning and deploying AI technologies to enhance operations and achieve strategic goals.
Key skills: Large Language Models (LLM), MLOps, Computer Vision.
Top industries: Technology, IT Consulting, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Boston.
Demographics: 18% female; median 8.2 years prior experience.
Common transitions from: Founder, Software Engineer, Product Manager.
Flexible work: 30% remote, 33% hybrid.
Data Annotator
LinkedIn Jobs-on-the-Rise rank: 4
A critical behind-the-scenes role, data annotators label and review datasets to ensure accuracy for training AI and machine learning models, often on a project basis.
Key skills: SEO Copywriting, Content Marketing, Content Production.
Top industries: Technology, Staffing and Recruiting, Higher Education.
Hiring hotspots: Austin, New York City, San Francisco.
Demographics: 62% female; median 3.5 years prior experience.
Common transitions from: Content Manager, Editor, Data Analyst.
Flexible work: 28% remote, 29% hybrid.
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Researcher
LinkedIn Jobs-on-the-Rise rank: 5
Researchers design, test, and refine new models and algorithms to advance AI capabilities.
Key skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning, Computer Vision.
Top industries: Technology, Higher Education, Research Services.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Boston.
Demographics: 26% female; median 3.0 years prior experience.
Common transitions from: Data Scientist, Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer.
Flexible work: 16% remote, 24% hybrid.
Note that these four AI-centric roles occupy positions in the top five job roles, hinting robust demand for expertise in building, strategizing, researching, and supporting AI systems. LinkedIn notes that transitions into these jobs often come from adjacent tech fields, making them accessible for professionals with backgrounds in software engineering or data science.
The report also points to a new trend – AI is not only creating high-skill technical jobs but also entry points like data annotation, which requires precision and attention to detail rather than advanced coding.
