2026 artificial intelligence salary guide.
Hiring or working in artificial intelligence in 2026? Our 2026 AI salary guide outlines salary benchmarks across AI engineering, research, data science and specialised roles like NLP and computer vision. Use it to support hiring strategy, budget planning and help candidates understand their market value.
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FAQS
AI salary guide FAQs.
This guide is for employers hiring AI specialists and professionals working in applied AI, research, and machine learning. Whether you're leading AI initiatives or focused on engineering or modelling, this guide is for you.
It offers reliable salary benchmarks for AI roles across engineering, architecture, and research. Whether you're building out an AI function or planning your next move in the field, the guide helps you stay ahead of 2026 salary trends.
The guide includes Head of AI, AI Software Architect, Lead AI Engineer, AI Research Scientist, Applied AI Scientist, AI Data Scientist, AI Engineer, NLP Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, and AI Analyst roles. It spans research and production-level AI roles.
The projected average salary for artificial intelligence (AI) roles in the UK in 2026 is around £81,316. This estimate is based on 2025 salary benchmarks combined with expected annual pay growth of approximately 3%, allowing employers to stay competitive in hiring advanced AI professionals.
AI adoption is accelerating across industries, driving the need for talent that can build, train, and scale intelligent systems. The demand for NLP, computer vision, and applied AI skills is pushing salaries higher, especially for experienced professionals.
Yes. Our benchmarking service provides accurate salary insights for AI roles across engineering, research, and leadership. Whether you're hiring or reviewing internal pay bands, we deliver market-specific data. Learn more here.