Top Machine Learning careers 2024

Machine Learning (ML) is a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that uses algorithms to train AI to imitate the way humans learn.

If you've ever used a language translator, mobile voice-to-text, facial recognition, or a dynamic website like Amazon or Netflix, you've already interacted with ML first-hand.

In the age of AI, Machine Learning is an exciting career path with demand for professionals expected to grow by 40% by 2027. What jobs could someone get in ML?

Here are the top Machine Learning careers in 2024.

10. Data Scientist

One of the most popular jobs at the moment, Data Scientist is a unique profession for those who enjoy analysing data to predict trends.

Typical job responsibilities include wrangling, cleaning, and analysing data, conducting data mining and development, building and developing data models, visualizing data, and experimenting.

According to the UK Government, Data Scientist roles are in high demand and can fetch salaries between £35,000 and £50,000, with Machine Learning scientists clustered at the higher end of the scale.

To become a Data Scientist, consider a university degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics and learn programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL.

9. Machine Learning Engineer

If Data Scientists prepare data for Machine Learning, Machine Learning Engineers (MLEs) are even closer to the magic, using this data to design, train, and optimize ML models. These ML professionals are in demand across a vast span of industries, from tech and manufacturing to health, transportation, and finance.

Machine Learning Engineers typically have a university degree in Computer Science, a strong foundation in coding (Python, C++ are the most popular), and considerable hands-on experience acquired through internships and projects.

In the UK, the average salary for a Machine Learning Engineer is £72,500.

8. Software Engineer

A mainstay of the IT industry, Software Engineering roles create code to solve problems, spanning from analysing requirements to designing, developing, testing, and debugging this work.

In the age of AI, Software Engineers can further specialise in Machine Learning, which requires a deep understanding of math and statistics, Machine Learning theory, neural networks, Deep Learning, data wrangling, debugging for Machine Learning (which is quite different from the debugging they're used to), and more.

As above, having a solid foundation in Computer Science and coding is a great place to start; get involved in professional projects that use ML and create yours on the side to learn more and develop your CV.

In the UK, the average Software Engineer salary is £62,000.

7. Natural Language Processing Engineer

Also known as NLP Engineers, these professionals have a strong background in Computer Science, programming, Linguistics, data visualization, and more.

NLP Engineers acquire and preprocess data and build, train, evaluate, and optimize language models, driving research and innovation. Their work creates intelligent systems that interpret, analyze, and generate human language in order to communicate with us.

According to BCC Research, the NLP market is set to surge from $29.1 billion in 2023 to $92.7 billion by 2028, driving demand for NLP Engineers and related professions.

In 2024, the average UK salary for such roles is £52,000.

6. Business Intelligence Developer

Advances in Machine Learning are driving enhanced Business Intelligence and, with it, the need for BI Developers.

BI Developers have a keen insight into their industry and company; they understand which data would be most useful and create tools to pull and organize it in dashboards, visualizations, and reports. Depending on the structure of their company, they can work closely with Data Scientists and Data Engineers.

Integrating Machine Learning into Business Intelligence enables organizations to access deeper insights and make informed decisions.

Many BI Developers have a Computer Science degree and a strong background in programming. In addition, their knowledge is attested by industry-recognised certifications such as ITIL® Foundation or CompTIA Project+

In the UK, the average BI Developer salary is £51,000.

5. Data Analyst

In larger companies, Data Analysts work closely with Machine Learning Engineers to curate actionable insights for their stakeholders.

While Data Analysts focus on analysing and presenting these insights, ML Engineers create and optimise models that can work with increasingly complex data sets and make accurate predictions.

For Data Analysts, honing ML skills helps automate repetitive tasks such as data cleaning, preprocessing, segmenting, and manual data manipulation, as well as present their data in more engaging visualizations.

In the UK, the average salary of a Data Analyst will Machine Learning skills is £40,000.

4. Research Scientist

ML Research Scientists focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible, either working in the business world or for major research universities.

They normally have a university degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Data Science, and specialise in ML at the graduate level. These strong programmers expand their skill set by pursuing certifications such as the IBM Data Visualisation and Machine Learning with Python or the Certified Machine Learning Specialty (MLS-C01) from Amazon AWS.

The age of AI is driving demand for Research Scientists who can experiment with ML; in the UK, these roles can attract salaries over £80,000.

3. AI Product Manager

The age of AI is taking the world by storm as companies seek to integrate this fascinating technology into their internal processes and the products they offer consumers. This, in turn, drives demand for Product Managers specialised in AI.

AI Product Managers define the vision for AI-powered products and collaborate with engineers, data scientists, designers, and other stakeholders to bring this vision to life.

Competent AI Project Managers have a strong understanding of AI, Data Analysis, Statistics, problem-solving, and are confident communicators and leaders.

In the UK, the average AI Product Manager salary is £60,000.

2. Robotics Engineer

At the crossroads between Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Engineers develop and maintain robotic systems from mechanical design to programming, testing, and data analysis.

Most Robotics Engineers have university degrees in Robotics, Computer Science, or Mechanical Engineering, as well as a lot of practical experience.

In the UK, Robotics Engineers are in high demand, with average salaries around £40,000.

1. AI Engineer

AI Engineers create, implement, and maintain AI solutions, transforming the way businesses run and interact with their customers.

Typical AI Engineer job responsibilities include developing AI models, designing Machine Learning systems, feature engineering, training AI models, AI deployment, and AI automation.

To become an AI Engineer, you need a solid and varied skill set, from ML and Deep Learning to Programming, Statistics, and Cloud Computing. Consider starting your journey with a university degree or an apprenticeship to hone these skills.

In the UK, the average AI Engineer salary is £55,000.

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