Key Takeaways
- LLM and generative AI jobs make up 19% of all AI postings (2,170 roles).
- LLM role salaries are roughly in line with overall AI market medians.
- The top skills in LLM roles are Python, Rag, Aws.
- The highest-paying LLM roles are in Research Engineer at $252K median.
LLM Jobs at a Glance
We identified 2,170 job postings referencing LLM, generative AI, or related technologies out of 11,520 total AI postings.
LLM Jobs by Role
Which role categories contain the most LLM/GenAI postings?
Top Skills in LLM Roles
The most requested skills in LLM and generative AI job postings.
LLM Salary by Role
Median salary for LLM-related jobs varies significantly by role type.
| Role | Median Max Salary | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research Engineer | $252K | 19 |
| AI Agent Developer | $235K | 18 |
| AI Product Manager | $220K | 37 |
| AI Software Engineer | $210K | 137 |
| AI/ML Engineer | $200K | 879 |
| Data Scientist | $180K | 53 |
| AI Architect | $180K | 29 |
| LLM Engineer | $142K | 4 |
What This Means for Your Career
The data in this report points to actionable steps for AI professionals at every level. If you are entering the field, focus on the skills and role types showing the strongest demand growth. For mid-career engineers, the salary premiums and skill clusters above highlight where specialization pays off most. Senior practitioners should watch the company-level trends to identify where AI investment is accelerating and position themselves accordingly.
Methodology: This analysis is based on 11,520 AI job postings collected by AI Pulse in October 2026. Data is sourced from Indeed and company career pages. Only postings with disclosed salary information are included in compensation analyses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Data
Get Weekly AI Market Intelligence
Salary data, skill trends, and hiring patterns from thousands of AI job postings. Delivered every week.
Rome Thorndike
Rome Thorndike is the CEO & Founder of Provyx, which provides GTM intelligence and data validation for healthcare companies, including EngagedMD and BTL Industries. He writes The AI News Digest for over 3,000 subscribers and previously led revenue at AI data company Firmograph.
Connect on LinkedIn