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[00:00]
A
This podcast is brought to you by relioQuest. Cybercriminals are constantly attacking. They want your data. They want your identity. They want your innovation. RelioQuest fortifies your business with agentic defense AI that detects, contains and eliminates cyber threats in minutes. It helps your security team move faster at the work that matters most to protect the business now, and delivers insights to help them predict what's next. ReliaQuest agentic defense for the enterprise. Learn more at reliaquest.com that's R E L I A Q U E-S-T.com.
[00:36]
B
With youh Money Briefing I'm JR Whelan at the Wall Street Journal in New York. There's nothing artificial about the salaries being offered for artificial intelligence and machine learning jobs. In fact, they're up there with chief information officers and chief Technology officers. We'll break down the numbers in a moment. First, these money and market stories you should know. Here's a way to measure the power of Amazon the online retail giant is asking consumer goods companies to create brands exclusively to sell the site. Turns out it's too expensive and time consuming for Amazon to do it on its own. Among the companies getting on board are equal brand sweeteners and the nutrition brand gnc. And mattress maker Tuft and Needle recently created a new brand called NOD exclusively for Amazon. In many cases, companies are launching products through an accelerator program Amazon launched last year to outsource the work. Amazon's been growing the number of its in house brands in recent years to more than 100, including names you probably know like Amazon Basics, Happy Belly Food and Mama Bear Baby products. And have we made too much of the progress and impact of cryptocurrencies in blockchain? Well, analysts at JPMorgan Chase seem to think so. They write in a report that while progress has been made to move blockchain adoption beyond experimentation and use in payments, development has been largely confined to use cases like smart contracts, record keeping and decentralized applications rather than an institutionalized approach. Now the analysts do say that with blockchain there have been numerous developments that show that the technology can make a significant impact for banks. But transformative real world applications are still at the work in progress stage and they see widespread blockchain adoption with scalable solutions at least three to five years away. Are you looking for a new job? Well, the market is hot for artificial intelligence and machine learning professionals. How hot? Well, people in those fields are expected to earn some of the highest salaries for IT jobs over the next year, and Wall Street Journal Reporter Angus Loten, who writes for CIO Journal, is here with details. So Angus, as you point out in your story, in the AI field some could make upwards of $200,000 a year. That puts them in some pretty good company.
[02:55]
C
It does. Just a few years ago, they wouldn't have even broken the top 10 of salaries in the tech field. Artificial intelligence engineers and developers are now in the top 10. Machine learning engineers are actually in the top 11.
[03:08]
B
What has pushed these salaries higher and moved these jobs higher in the ranks in such a small amount of time?
[03:14]
C
Well, it's demand for AI we've been seeing for years. It goes hand in hand with companies digitally transforming their operations, getting into cloud computing. What they've got now is just a treasure trove of data that they've been sitting on. They're picking it up in just about any industry. Sensors, the Internet of things, phone data, mobile network, online stuff. So it's a matter of getting some pros in there to sort through that data and see what kind of value they're sitting on in terms of their
[03:44]
B
business and what kinds of sectors make use of the AI professionals the most.
[03:50]
C
If you can imagine, last year the general unemployment rate in all professions was at about 3.9 or 4%. For tech, that was about half of that, about 2%. So I mean, there's just a lot of demand in all industries we're seeing, particularly retail. It's easy to see how they can use customer facing data to try to improve services there. Banking certainly is another front runner, but also manufacturing any kind of efficiencies they can get on the production line, they can get that through smart applications and algorithms.
[04:25]
B
And then people coming in being able to take this data the companies are sitting on and put it to good use. The whole idea of machine learning and AI can help a company reduce costs pretty significantly.
[04:36]
C
It can. I mean, it's still early days, but as I say, just about in every industry there's ways that you can eke out efficiencies with some just fine tuning production processes in different ways. I think what you're seeing, why that demand is going up is because this isn't just theoretical. I mean, there was certainly a lot of hype around technologies like blockchain. There was a lot of companies jumping on board and then realizing they couldn't quite get the business value, or at least not immediately out of, out of some of these other technologies. With artificial intelligence, you can see these values coming up almost immediately.
[05:09]
B
So if somebody wants to get in on the AI marketplace is there a specific training that they should pursue that might best serve them?
[05:15]
C
There is, but it might take them a little while because some of these higher end salaries and again, these are averages. So when you're looking at some big tech companies, they could be making in the millions and they're right up there with chief information officers and chief technology officers in the C suite who are, who are making on average upwards of 300,000, it's great. It's a nice lucrative position to have. But for those high end salaries, what they're looking for, at least employers are looking for, are some folks that are very steeped in math and stats. We're looking at PhDs. That's for the higher end stuff. The lower end stuff is developers that specialize in these areas and there's just not that many of them out there. If you're young enough and you want to get started, now's the time because this technology will be around for a
[06:01]
B
while and there's a real shortage of these professionals. And a lot of these companies are either hiring people on a temporary basis or they're really scrambling to find someone who could fill a full time slot.
[06:11]
C
They are. They really are. There's some different strategies to finding the right people. Combing through white papers and analysts report and looking for people who know what they're talking about. There's also hackathons for the other, you know, bottom end of that, folks coming out of university. They've really got their work cut out for them.
[06:28]
B
All right, that is Wall Street Journal reporter Angus Loten joining us here in our studios. Angus, thanks for stopping by.
[06:33]
C
Thank you.
[06:34]
B
And that's your money briefing. I'm JR Whalen in New York for the Wall Street Journal.
[06:38]
A
This podcast is brought to you by reliaQuest. Cybercriminals are constantly attacking. They want your data, they want your identity, they want your innovation. ReliaQuest fortifies your business with agentic defense AI that detects, contains and eliminates cyber threats in minutes. It helps your security team move faster at the work that matters most to protect the business now and delivers insights to help them predict what's next. ReliaQuest agentic defense for the enterprise. Learn more@ReliaQuest.com that's R E L I A Q U-E-S-T.com.

Summary4 min read

WSJ Your Money Briefing – "A.I. and Machine-Learning: Jobs that Pay Big Bucks"

Date: January 28, 2019
Host: JR Whalen (B)
Guest: Angus Loten (C), Wall Street Journal Reporter for CIO Journal

Episode Overview

This episode of WSJ Your Money Briefing focuses on the rapid growth in demand—and salaries—for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) professionals. Host JR Whalen interviews reporter Angus Loten to discuss why these roles now command some of the highest pay in technology, which industries are leading the charge, what skills are essential, and how candidates can break into the field.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Massive Salary Growth in AI and Machine Learning (02:54–03:14)

Just a few years ago, AI engineers didn’t crack the top ten for tech salaries. Today, both AI and ML engineers are among the top earners, sometimes making upwards of $200,000 a year.
- Quote: “Artificial intelligence engineers and developers are now in the top 10. Machine learning engineers are actually in the top 11.”
  — Angus Loten [02:54]

What’s Driving the High Demand? (03:14–03:44)

Digital Transformation: Companies are accumulating vast data from sources like sensors, IoT devices, and mobile networks. However, they need skilled professionals to extract value from this data trove.
Insight: The business need isn’t theoretical—AI provides immediate, actionable value, unlike some other hyped technologies such as blockchain.

Industries Most Hungry for AI Talent (03:44–04:25)

Tech Unemployment: The general unemployment rate is around 4%, but it drops to 2% for tech—indicating high demand.
Industries Hiring:
- Retail: Improves customer-facing services with data-driven insights.
- Banking: Leverages data for both customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Manufacturing: Seeks production line efficiencies through smart algorithms.
- Essentially, every sector is exploring ways to utilize AI to cut costs and enhance operations.
- Quote: “There’s just a lot of demand in all industries we’re seeing, particularly retail...but also manufacturing—any kind of efficiencies they can get on the production line, they can get that through smart applications and algorithms.”
  — Angus Loten [03:50]

Cost-Reduction and Real-World Value (04:25–05:08)

Immediate Benefits: AI and machine learning can quickly deliver cost savings by refining processes and uncovering new efficiencies.
Contrast with Blockchain: Unlike overhyped technologies, AI’s payoff is visible now.
- Quote: “With artificial intelligence, you can see these values coming up almost immediately.”
  — Angus Loten [04:36]

Essential Training and Skills for Landing AI Roles (05:08–06:01)

High-End Salaries: Requires expertise—often PhDs in mathematics and statistics for senior roles.
Other AI Developer Roles: Still command high pay, but the talent pool is limited.
Takeaway for New Entrants: Now is the time to enter the field—demand is only expected to rise.
- Quote: “For those high-end salaries, what they’re looking for...are some folks that are very steeped in math and stats. We’re looking at PhDs. That’s for the higher end stuff. The lower end stuff is developers that specialize in these areas and there’s just not that many of them out there.”
  — Angus Loten [05:15]

Hiring Strategies: Filling the AI Talent Shortage (06:01–06:27)

Talent Shortage: Companies often resort to temporary hires or creative recruiting.
Recruitment Tactics: Finding prospects via white papers, analyst reports, or hackathons—especially for recent grads.
- Quote: “They really are...there’s some different strategies to finding the right people. Combing through white papers and analysts report and looking for people who know what they’re talking about. There’s also hackathons...folks coming out of university, they’ve really got their work cut out for them.”
  — Angus Loten [06:10]

Memorable Quotes

“People in those fields are expected to earn some of the highest salaries for IT jobs over the next year...some could make upwards of $200,000 a year. That puts them in some pretty good company.”
— JR Whalen [02:54]
“If you’re young enough and you want to get started, now’s the time because this technology will be around for a while and there’s a real shortage of these professionals.”
— Angus Loten [06:01]

Segment Timestamps

[02:54] – Salary comparison: AI and ML jobs vs. traditional tech roles
[03:14] – Why AI salaries are surging: digital transformation, data abundance
[03:44] – Industries with highest demand for AI professionals
[04:25] – The real-world impact of AI: efficiency and value realization
[05:08] – Training and qualifications needed for top AI and ML jobs
[06:01] – Talent shortages and recruitment strategies

Tone & Takeaway

The discussion is informative, pragmatic, and bullish on AI’s prospects—offering actionable insights for both seasoned tech professionals and younger listeners considering their careers. There's a clear sense of urgency about entering the field, highlighting a talent shortage and the unique, high-value opportunities available in AI and machine learning right now.

Loading summary

Transcript17 lines

[00:00]
A
This podcast is brought to you by relioQuest. Cybercriminals are constantly attacking. They want your data. They want your identity. They want your innovation. RelioQuest fortifies your business with agentic defense AI that detects, contains and eliminates cyber threats in minutes. It helps your security team move faster at the work that matters most to protect the business now, and delivers insights to help them predict what's next. ReliaQuest agentic defense for the enterprise. Learn more at reliaquest.com that's R E L I A Q U E-S-T.com.
[00:36]
B
With youh Money Briefing I'm JR Whelan at the Wall Street Journal in New York. There's nothing artificial about the salaries being offered for artificial intelligence and machine learning jobs. In fact, they're up there with chief information officers and chief Technology officers. We'll break down the numbers in a moment. First, these money and market stories you should know. Here's a way to measure the power of Amazon the online retail giant is asking consumer goods companies to create brands exclusively to sell the site. Turns out it's too expensive and time consuming for Amazon to do it on its own. Among the companies getting on board are equal brand sweeteners and the nutrition brand gnc. And mattress maker Tuft and Needle recently created a new brand called NOD exclusively for Amazon. In many cases, companies are launching products through an accelerator program Amazon launched last year to outsource the work. Amazon's been growing the number of its in house brands in recent years to more than 100, including names you probably know like Amazon Basics, Happy Belly Food and Mama Bear Baby products. And have we made too much of the progress and impact of cryptocurrencies in blockchain? Well, analysts at JPMorgan Chase seem to think so. They write in a report that while progress has been made to move blockchain adoption beyond experimentation and use in payments, development has been largely confined to use cases like smart contracts, record keeping and decentralized applications rather than an institutionalized approach. Now the analysts do say that with blockchain there have been numerous developments that show that the technology can make a significant impact for banks. But transformative real world applications are still at the work in progress stage and they see widespread blockchain adoption with scalable solutions at least three to five years away. Are you looking for a new job? Well, the market is hot for artificial intelligence and machine learning professionals. How hot? Well, people in those fields are expected to earn some of the highest salaries for IT jobs over the next year, and Wall Street Journal Reporter Angus Loten, who writes for CIO Journal, is here with details. So Angus, as you point out in your story, in the AI field some could make upwards of $200,000 a year. That puts them in some pretty good company.
[02:55]
C
It does. Just a few years ago, they wouldn't have even broken the top 10 of salaries in the tech field. Artificial intelligence engineers and developers are now in the top 10. Machine learning engineers are actually in the top 11.
[03:08]
B
What has pushed these salaries higher and moved these jobs higher in the ranks in such a small amount of time?
[03:14]
C
Well, it's demand for AI we've been seeing for years. It goes hand in hand with companies digitally transforming their operations, getting into cloud computing. What they've got now is just a treasure trove of data that they've been sitting on. They're picking it up in just about any industry. Sensors, the Internet of things, phone data, mobile network, online stuff. So it's a matter of getting some pros in there to sort through that data and see what kind of value they're sitting on in terms of their
[03:44]
B
business and what kinds of sectors make use of the AI professionals the most.
[03:50]
C
If you can imagine, last year the general unemployment rate in all professions was at about 3.9 or 4%. For tech, that was about half of that, about 2%. So I mean, there's just a lot of demand in all industries we're seeing, particularly retail. It's easy to see how they can use customer facing data to try to improve services there. Banking certainly is another front runner, but also manufacturing any kind of efficiencies they can get on the production line, they can get that through smart applications and algorithms.
[04:25]
B
And then people coming in being able to take this data the companies are sitting on and put it to good use. The whole idea of machine learning and AI can help a company reduce costs pretty significantly.
[04:36]
C
It can. I mean, it's still early days, but as I say, just about in every industry there's ways that you can eke out efficiencies with some just fine tuning production processes in different ways. I think what you're seeing, why that demand is going up is because this isn't just theoretical. I mean, there was certainly a lot of hype around technologies like blockchain. There was a lot of companies jumping on board and then realizing they couldn't quite get the business value, or at least not immediately out of, out of some of these other technologies. With artificial intelligence, you can see these values coming up almost immediately.
[05:09]
B
So if somebody wants to get in on the AI marketplace is there a specific training that they should pursue that might best serve them?
[05:15]
C
There is, but it might take them a little while because some of these higher end salaries and again, these are averages. So when you're looking at some big tech companies, they could be making in the millions and they're right up there with chief information officers and chief technology officers in the C suite who are, who are making on average upwards of 300,000, it's great. It's a nice lucrative position to have. But for those high end salaries, what they're looking for, at least employers are looking for, are some folks that are very steeped in math and stats. We're looking at PhDs. That's for the higher end stuff. The lower end stuff is developers that specialize in these areas and there's just not that many of them out there. If you're young enough and you want to get started, now's the time because this technology will be around for a
[06:01]
B
while and there's a real shortage of these professionals. And a lot of these companies are either hiring people on a temporary basis or they're really scrambling to find someone who could fill a full time slot.
[06:11]
C
They are. They really are. There's some different strategies to finding the right people. Combing through white papers and analysts report and looking for people who know what they're talking about. There's also hackathons for the other, you know, bottom end of that, folks coming out of university. They've really got their work cut out for them.
[06:28]
B
All right, that is Wall Street Journal reporter Angus Loten joining us here in our studios. Angus, thanks for stopping by.
[06:33]
C
Thank you.
[06:34]
B
And that's your money briefing. I'm JR Whalen in New York for the Wall Street Journal.
[06:38]
A
This podcast is brought to you by reliaQuest. Cybercriminals are constantly attacking. They want your data, they want your identity, they want your innovation. ReliaQuest fortifies your business with agentic defense AI that detects, contains and eliminates cyber threats in minutes. It helps your security team move faster at the work that matters most to protect the business now and delivers insights to help them predict what's next. ReliaQuest agentic defense for the enterprise. Learn more@ReliaQuest.com that's R E L I A Q U-E-S-T.com.