new wall street journal Startups competing for top AI talent are increasingly using higher base salaries rather than relying primarily on equity, reflecting a market in which candidates have more influence, according to the report.
The numbers bear this out. The number of AI-related jobs has increased by 257% since 2015, with demand outpacing supply. This has created a seller’s market, with AI engineers often receiving six-figure salaries right out of college, according to a report from global payroll platform Rise.
While this may sound like a technology-industry-only problem, Rise found that more than half of AI roles are outside traditional technology companies and are spreading across every major industry. This means HR leaders in healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and more are suddenly competing in a talent market for which they were not prepared.
AI salaries will rise
What kind of money are we actually talking about? The Rise report provides several salary benchmarks. Senior machine learning engineers earn an average annual salary of approximately $213,000. The top tier of AI researchers will receive packages totaling more than $1 million, and mature, high-value Series D startups will receive equity grants of $2 million to $4 million.
Notably, large-scale language model engineers command salaries 25% to 40% more than typical machine learning engineers, and salaries for AI safety and coordination specialists will increase by 45% in 2023 alone. “As AI systems become more powerful, ensuring they behave as intended has become an important and lucrative specialty,” the report’s authors wrote.
Additionally, Rise research suggests that companies are realizing that adding AI capabilities to their teams can result in a 28% premium in pay compared to traditional technical roles. This insight can feed into workforce planning and headcount budgeting. HR leaders who reveal that math for their executive partners are doing their organization a service.
“As the technology industry scrambles to retain top AI professionals, understanding the compensation landscape is critical to strategic workforce planning,” the authors of the Rise report said.
HR technology in the news
ZipRecruiter has announced the ChatGPT app, which allows job seekers to discover roles and receive personalized career guidance directly within ChatGPT. This integration is designed to power AI-powered job discovery and connect candidates with opportunities through natural conversations and real-time labor market insights.
SAP and SmartRecruiters have launched a joint AI hiring solution that connects talent acquisition and SuccessFactors HXM. This integration aims to streamline hiring workflows, improve candidate matching, and provide integrated analytics across HR systems.
ICIMS has introduced Frontline AI, a new experience layer built for frontline mass hiring. The solution is designed for speed and simplicity, streamlining the candidate process and manager workflow. Designed to reduce friction in hourly hiring across retail, healthcare, and hospitality industries.
Digital health company eMed has secured $200 million in funding led by Aon Consulting, valuing the company at more than $2 billion. With support from investors such as Tom Brady and Linda Yaccarino, eMed continues to expand its AI-powered home diagnostics and telemedicine solutions.
More HR technology product announcements
Adecco Group deepens its partnership with Salesforce through a multi-year agreement for global access to Adecco 360. The partnership will accelerate the adoption of agent AI across Adecco, LHH and Akkodis, connecting apps, data and AI agents on one trusted platform.
At the PowerUp 2026 event, learning platform Udemy announced Altus, an agent AI solution. Altus uses specialized AI agents to help organizations identify critical skills, accelerate workforce proficiency, and measure the ROI of reskilling and technology adoption programs.
Talent platform Findem announced it has acquired Glider AI to build an end-to-end AI recruitment platform. This integrated solution autonomously sources, validates and validates candidate skills, delivering ready-to-hire talent and transforming fragmented recruitment workflows.
To celebrate its 7th anniversary, HR platform Deel has launched an integrated operating model that unifies recruitment, compensation and workforce planning on a global payroll infrastructure. Deel aims to eliminate the “fragmentation tax” and make cross-border workforce management seamless.
Taiwanese display technology company BenQ has released its latest interactive display RP05. Designed for classrooms and modern workspaces, it features AI-powered whiteboarding, transcription, and multi-user collaboration tools.
Movement of HR tech talent
KnitWell Group names Sarah Evans as CHRO. Evans will oversee HR strategy, talent, total compensation and affiliation initiatives across the company’s eight apparel brands. She serves on the executive committee to drive culture and workforce innovation.
Predictive Index has appointed technology leader Lance Neuhauser as CEO to lead the company’s next phase of growth. Neuhauser combines PI’s behavioral science foundation with new AI tools to help HR leaders solve complex people and performance challenges.
See more Human resources officer
The deadline for nominations for the top HR products of 2026 has been extended. This award focuses on the most innovative HR technologies that are driving transformation across talent, analytics, and the employee experience. Vendors can submit nominations until April 3, 2026.
HR Tech Europe 2026 will be held at RAI Amsterdam on April 22-23. This event brings together senior HR leaders, technologists, and innovators to explore AI, workforce transformation, and HR strategy. The event will feature expert sessions, practical insights, and a showcase of solutions. Get your tickets.
HR Tech Asia 2026 will be held from May 4th to 7th at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The four-day festival is a combination of conferences, exhibitions, awards, and power talks focused on AI, worktech, and workforce transformation for HR leaders in Asia Pacific. Register now.
