🔥 Red hot
AI/ML Engineer
45K+ open roles nationally
$168K
median
▲+18% last 12mo
Red hot
Generative AI drove a step-change in demand. Every Fortune 500 is hiring.
PyTorchLLMsMLOpsCUDARAG
🔥 Updated Q1 2025 — Live Market Data
The hottest jobs
right now
Which roles are surging in salary, which are cooling, and which skills separate the top earners from the rest.
2026 salary heat map
Hot score = composite of 12-month salary growth, job opening volume, and demand/supply gap.
🔥 Red hot
Cybersecurity Engineer
60K+ open roles nationally
$138K
median
▲+12% last 12mo
Red hot
AI-powered attacks are forcing every org to upgrade security posture.
Cloud SecuritySIEMZero TrustSOARThreat Intel
📈 Rising fast
Cloud Architect
38K+ open roles nationally
$170K
median
▲+10% last 12mo
Red hot
AI compute demands are forcing architectural overhauls across all cloud platforms.
AWSTerraformKubernetesFinOpsMulti-cloud
📈 Rising fast
Physician Assistant
40K+ open roles nationally
$130K
median
▲+8% last 12mo
Red hot
Primary care physician shortage is driving scope-of-practice expansion for PAs.
Primary CareEMR SystemsTelehealthDiagnostic Reasoning
📈 Rising fast
Data Scientist
55K+ open roles nationally
$138K
median
▲+9% last 12mo
Red hot
LLM integration and real-time analytics are expanding the role beyond traditional modeling.
PythonSQLLLM APIsSparkA/B Testing
📈 Rising fast
Electrical Engineer (Grid)
35K+ open roles nationally
$112K
median
▲+7% last 12mo
Rising
IRA-funded grid modernization and EV charging buildout are driving a multi-decade boom.
Power SystemsSCADABattery StorageEV InfrastructureAutoCAD
📈 Rising fast
Registered Nurse
200K+ open roles nationally
$85K
median
▲+6% last 12mo
Rising
Nursing shortage is at a historic level. Travel nurse premiums are 40-80% above baseline.
ICUERMed-SurgTelehealthEMR/EHR
📈 Rising fast
DevOps / Platform Engineer
42K+ open roles nationally
$140K
median
▲+8% last 12mo
Red hot
Platform engineering is evolving DevOps into a product discipline with higher leverage.
KubernetesGitHub ActionsArgoCDPrometheusBackstage
❄️ Roles showing caution signs
These roles aren't disappearing — but AI and automation are softening demand and compressing salary growth.
12-month salary growth by role
+18% last 12mo
+12% last 12mo
+10% last 12mo
+9% last 12mo
+8% last 12mo
+8% last 12mo
+7% last 12mo
+6% last 12mo
+0.8% last 12mo
-0.5% last 12mo
Source: BLS OES, LinkedIn Salary Insights, H-1B disclosures Q1 2025. YoY = year-over-year median salary change.
Not just roles — full industry analysis
See which entire industries are growing, which are at risk from AI, and where to position your career over the next 5 years.
View Industry Insights →Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest growing salary in 2025?
Machine Learning / AI Engineers are seeing the fastest salary growth in 2025, with median salaries rising 18% year-over-year. Cybersecurity Engineers (+12%) and Cloud Architects (+10%) are also among the fastest growing. All three are driven by generative AI adoption and the security threats it creates.
Which jobs are being replaced by AI in 2025?
Roles most at risk from AI automation include accountants and bookkeepers (AI accounting tools automating core workflows), marketing copywriters (AI content tools), financial analysts (AI data analysis), and customer service representatives. These roles haven't disappeared but salary growth has stalled and headcount is declining at many employers.
What skills are worth the most in 2025?
The highest-premium skills in 2025 are: LLM/AI integration (Python, PyTorch, RAG), cybersecurity (Zero Trust, SIEM, SOAR), cloud architecture (Kubernetes, multi-cloud, FinOps), and healthcare clinical skills (particularly nursing specialties). Each of these commands a 15-40% premium over generalist roles in the same category.
Is Texas a good place to find high-paying jobs?
Yes. Texas combines above-average salaries in technology, energy, and healthcare with zero state income tax and a cost of living index of 87-110 (below the US average of 100 in most cities). Houston in particular offers elite petroleum engineering salaries, a growing tech sector, and the largest medical center in the world.