AI Job Creation Booms, But Training Remains a Hurdle
A recent, in-depth analysis of AI career trends in the U.S., conducted by Affordable Contractors Insurance in November 2025, reveals a clear divergence between job seeker interest, high-paying roles, and market accessibility.
The study, which aggregated public search data (Google), job availability (Glassdoor), and salary information (Indeed), confirms that while top salaries still belong to highly specialized fields, the greatest interest lies in roles with shorter training timelines.
The Lure of the AI Data Analyst
The most sought-after position in the AI landscape is the AI Data Analyst, attracting 5.2 million job-seekers searching for entry information.
Despite offering a modest average yearly salary of $82,600—significantly lower than highly technical counterparts—its appeal stems from a comparatively shorter learning path of 2 to 3.5 years.
This high level of interest, however, translates to intense competition, with the market currently listing only four open positions nationwide.
The second most desired role, Reinforcement Learning Engineer, garnered 2 million searches but demands a very high complexity and a 5-to-8-year commitment for a $115,900 salary.
High Complexity, Top Earnings
The highest earners in the sector are the Deep Learning Engineers, who command an average annual salary of $164,600.
This substantial compensation reflects the role’s “Very High” complexity rating and the extensive 4 to 7 years required to build the necessary expertise.
Similarly, the AI Product Manager offers a top-tier salary of $159,400, requiring 4 to 6 years of expertise, yet the job market is slightly more accessible with 70 openings currently listed.
Other highly complex and well-paid roles include the AI Researcher and Application Security Engineer.
AI Career Trends: The Most Accessible Entry Point
In stark contrast to the competitive, high-search jobs, the Quality Engineer role presents the most significant opportunity for immediate entry.
While its salary sits at $86,500, similar to the Data Analyst, it boasts a staggering 5,448 open positions—by far the most available in the study.
The “Easy–Moderate” complexity rating makes it the easiest path to break into an AI-related career.
Industry Outlook: A Rapidly Shifting Landscape
Sean O’Keefe, CEO and Founder of Affordable Contractors Insurance, commented on the findings, contextualizing the rapid pace of career evolution.
“AI is expected to automate around 85 million jobs by 2030, but it’s also projected to create 97 million new roles during the same period,” Sean noted.
He predicts a rapid shift away from the current requirement for multi-year training, stating, “We’ll see entry-level AI jobs that people can learn in a few months instead of half a decade. The technology is moving too fast.”
This perspective suggests that while current demand favors quicker paths, the market itself is accelerating toward more accessible, short-term training solutions.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and YouTube to get the latest news updates. Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.