Workers feared AI would kill jobs. Instead, it could boost their paychecks: 72% of employers say they’ll pay more for AI skills

Workers are on edge that AI will swoop up their jobs and make it harder for them to find another. But new data shows that those who have in-demand AI skills will actually be in the driver’s seat when it comes to making more money.

Over half of employers will offer higher-than-expected salaries to attract new hires in 2027, according to new data from talent consulting firm Robert Half.

More than anything, they want to attract workers with specialized skills—and despite fears that advanced tech could replace certain jobs, there’s actually a wage premium on AI expertise.

Around 72% of managers plan to boost pay for recruits with relevant AI skills, and 42% say that knowledge commands a greater surcharge than other technical skills.

“Employers are willing to offer higher pay for professionals who understand where AI can add value, can integrate it into day-to-day processes, and can apply it responsibly to solve real business challenges,” Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half, tells Fortune.

Separate data echoes the rising opportunity for professionals to leverage their tech expertise and earn more. AI job postings in the U.S. have doubled since 2023, according to a LinkedIn analysis from earlier this year.

And with those skills come with a $100,000 pay premium.

The professional platform’s study found that AI is pumping out some of the “fastest-growing and highest-paying opportunities in today’s labor market”; the average AI job posting offers an annual salary of around $177,000, compared to non-AI roles which typically pay roughly $80,000.

The top 10 U.S. cities where job-seekers could land higher salaries

Robert Half’s data shows that around 57% of managers across the United States say they’re offering higher-than-planned salaries to new hires—and job-seekers will have better success in some cities than others.

Some metropolitan cities like the tech hub of San Francisco and the legal metropolis of Washington D.C. are battling for top talent with bigger paychecks. Meanwhile, other major employment hubs like New York City and Chicago aren’t even dominating the list. Here are the top 10 cities with the highest share of employers doling out bigger paychecks to new employees, according to Robert Half:

1. San Francisco (66%)
2. Denver (65%)
3. Seattle (64%)
4. Dallas (61%)
5. Minneapolis (60%)
6. Boston (59%)
7. Atlanta (57%)
8. Washington D.C. (54%)
9. Los Angeles (52%)
10. Houston (48%)

AI expertise isn’t the only skill commanding a premium—employers are also opening their wallets for workers in a range of specialized roles.

Technology accounts for one of the biggest projected salary increases, with employers planning to increase wages for their newly onboarded data scientists by 3.3% starting in 2027. Freshly hired financial analysts will also get a boost in income (3.8%) next year, as well as attorneys with four to nine years of experience (3.9%), marketing automation specialists (3.9%), and executive assistants (3.9%). They’re expected to enjoy pay increases more than double the projected salary bump of 1.7% across all specialties in general.

To bring on the best talent possible, employers are pulling out all of the bells and whistles. Around 64% of managers say that job offers have become more competitive than they were three years ago, according to the data.

Workers are worried as AI upends job security—but could be missing out on thousands

The threat of AI replacing jobs is real, but so is the opportunity for workers who know how to use it. As companies pour money into AI, workers who build those in-demand skills could find themselves on the winning side of the transformation.

Around 60% of white-collar tech workers believe their roles and teams could be replaced by AI within the next three to five years, according to a 2025 report from Udacity.

The tech has already been responsible for tens of thousands of job cuts in America, but it could create new opportunities in the long run.

While AI and automation will cut demand for around 36 million U.S. jobs by 2035, new growth will generate the need for 41 million other roles, according to data from McKinsey Global Institute.

And in order for many workers to stay afloat, they’ll be better off embracing the tech rather than warding it off. Currently, around 40% of U.S. workers are casually using AI on the job, according to an Ipsos study with Google shared exclusively with Fortune earlier this year, while only 5% are considered “AI fluent.” And that gap is leading to some serious shortfalls in pay.

Employees who are AI fluent are over four times more likely to report higher earnings and get promoted due to their AI expertise, compared with workers who are getting used to the tech.

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