AI Jobs Are Booming for Gen Z, Not Everyone

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded as a field, creating a surge of job opportunities for Generation Z, particularly those with hands-on technical expertise in AI systems. According to LinkedIn research, 69% of new hires for forward-deployed engineers and AI engineers were members of Generation Z in 2025, commanding median salaries of $199,000 and $166,000 respectively.

In contrast, the next highest-ranking AI role, "head of AI," saw millennials dominate, comprising 60% of new hires and earning a median salary of $236,000. This shift has created a condensed career timeline, rewarding technical fluency in a technology that's only five years old, rather than traditional seniority. The AI job market has grown by 156% between 2024 and 2025, with the median AI role now paying $177,000, more than double the median for non-AI roles.

However, the rapid growth comes at the expense of entry-level jobs as AI takes over routine tasks. Young workers aged 22 to 25 in AI-exposed occupations have seen a 19% relative decline in employment, while those with AI expertise are being pulled ahead in the job market. Despite the growth in AI hiring, women make up only 26% of new AI hires, with a significant pay gap at higher levels of the job market.

Overall, the AI job market is splitting between a small group of young, technically skilled workers and everyone else, who are competing for a shrinking supply of entry-level roles.