AI Skills Command Higher Salary Premiums Than Certifications, Study Shows
ADTmag, Monday, September 8th, 2025
Employers are paying significantly higher salary premiums for practical artificial intelligence skills than for formal AI certifications, according to new research that tracked compensation data from nearly 5,000 companies.
The study from Foote Partners' IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index found that 23 non-certified AI skills command salary bonuses ranging from 19% to 23% of base pay. In contrast, the ten highest-paying AI certifications averaged premiums of only 9% to 11%.
The research, based on data from 4,722 employers, suggests a fundamental shift in how companies value AI expertise as the technology moves from experimental projects to operational deployment.
"AI is beginning to shift from experimental to operational for many employers," said David Foote, chief analyst and research officer of Foote Partners. "Now, employers are thinking about jobs more as tasks, not titles."