Some of today’s highest-paid technology workers will never have to write a single line of code. It’s not because their work is done by AI. Tech companies pay hefty six-figure salaries for senior communications positions.
In February, Anthropic posted a job for a director of product communications, with a listed salary of $400,000. Netflix was looking for a Senior Director of Communications with a salary range of $656,000 to $1.2 million. OpenAI was looking for a Head of Infrastructure Communications and a Head of Business Communications. Both have salaries up to $430,000 plus stock.
Google is also willing to pay senior communications managers a total compensation package of more than $370,000. Total compensation for Meta’s communications jobs averages around $221,380, and can go much higher for senior positions. And at Microsoft, a top communications director is setting down nearly $300,000.
But with so much more to be spent on AI development, why are tech-focused companies investing so heavily in more analogue, linguistically-focused roles? Experts say it’s because the general public understands so little about AI.
“AI is complex. It is evolving rapidly and is causing very real anxiety among employees, regulators, and customers. In such an environment, clarity becomes a strategic asset,” Whitney Munro, founder and CEO of communications, strategy, and consulting firm FLEX Partners, said in a February LinkedIn post. “If you can’t clearly explain what your technology does, how it works, and how it protects people, it’s harder to scale and you’re more likely to be at risk.”
In fact, research from the American Psychological Association shows that people who worry that AI will make their jobs obsolete are far more likely to experience tension and stress at work, even though they lack detailed understanding of how AI tools actually work in the workplace.
This is where high-level communications roles in companies focused on technology and AI come in handy.
“When you build technology powerful enough to reshape an industry, communications are more than just marketing,” Munro added. “It delivers risk management, regulatory positioning, investor confidence, internal alignment and public trust all at the same time.”
Why are communication experts in demand in the age of AI?
These high-stakes roles come with higher salaries. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a communications director in the U.S. is around $110,000, but technology companies place a much higher premium on communications professionals because they understand how much is at stake. On the other hand, many of these high-paying roles require 10 years or more of experience, according to job postings.
These executives are responsible for defining the overarching story companies tell about AI to investors, regulators, customers, employees, and the broader public. This can mean a variety of responsibilities, from framing the risks and benefits of powerful AI models to crafting pressure-testing language in executive speeches, social media posts, and blog posts that can move markets or trigger regulatory scrutiny. This role requires someone who is comfortable with background calls in the boardroom and with reporters, and who can interrogate dense technical work and translate it into plain English without losing nuance.
Noah Greenberg, CEO of content distribution platform Stacker, posts a weekly roundup of high-paying journalism and communications roles, chronicling how these jobs are becoming more popular these days. Technology companies aren’t the only ones hiring high-level communications talent. Many brands invest in retaining in-house journalists or “storytellers” to strategically cover their stories.
While not all companies are offering $1 million salaries, many are hiring in the six-figure salary range, which can be a better earning opportunity for journalists looking to move into a corporate career. He cited the examples of Hinge hiring an editorial director for up to $223,000, Lamp hiring a head of content at a salary of more than $200,000, and Adobe hiring an “AI evangelist” also at a salary of more than $200,000.
“The reality is that this is (a big part of) the future of media,” Greenberg wrote in a January LinkedIn post. “Branded journalism cannot and will not replace independent journalism. But in 2026, some of the best reporting/research/features on various industries will come from small and medium-sized companies in their fields who recognize that it is better to be in the media than wait to be picked up by the media.”
The surge in salaries reflects two converging trends. First, generative AI has flooded the internet with lower-quality content, paradoxically increasing the value of unique human voices and sharp editorial judgment. In a sea of bad luck created by AI, companies are willing to pay a premium for experts who can cut through the noise and build trust. Second, technology leaders are increasingly viewing narrative as a strategic weapon on par with product design and capital allocation. In an environment where people are scrutinizing the pitfalls of AI, how companies tell their stories can impact valuations, regulations, and talent recruitment.
“For businesses, the ability to consistently produce high-quality copy provides a competitive moat to build connections with customers, amplify the performance of owned and acquired channels, and drive revenue,” Adam Joseph, CEO of AI-powered communications technology company Clipbook, said in a February LinkedIn post. “This is a counterintuitive insight (shouldn’t great works be commoditized with GenAI?). The flooded bottom of the market has placed a premium on the top.”
A version of this story was first published on Fortune.com on February 23, 2026.
