A new Wall Street Journal report says start-ups competing for top AI talent are increasingly using higher base salaries rather than relying mainly on equity, reflecting a market in which candidates have more leverage.
The numbers back this up. With AI-related job postings up 257% since 2015, demand is outpacing supply. This is creating a seller’s market in which AI engineers often command six-figure salaries straight out of college, according to a report from the global payroll platform Rise.
While this might sound like a tech-industry-only problem, Rise found that more than half of AI roles are now outside traditional tech companies, spreading across every major industry. This means HR leaders in healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and beyond are suddenly competing in a talent market they weren’t prepared for.
AI salaries are going up
What kind of money are we really talking about? The Rise report provides some salary benchmarks. Senior machine learning engineers are earning nearly $213,000 annually, on average. The very top tier of AI researchers receives total packages exceeding $1 million, with stock grants at mature, high-value Series D start-ups ranging from $2 million to $4 million.
Notably, large language model engineers are commanding 25% to 40% more than general machine learning engineers, and AI safety and alignment specialists have seen a 45% salary increase since 2023 alone. “As AI systems become more powerful, ensuring they behave as intended has become a critical and lucrative specialization,” wrote the report authors.
Additionally, the Rise research suggests that companies are discovering that adding AI capabilities to their teams carries a 28% salary premium over traditional tech roles. This insight could be factored into workforce planning and headcount budgeting. HR leaders who surface that math for their C-suite partners are doing their organizations a service.
“As the technology sector scrambles to secure top AI professionals, understanding the compensation landscape has become crucial for strategic workforce planning,” according to Rise report authors.
HR tech in the news
ZipRecruiter unveiled its ChatGPT app, letting job seekers discover roles and receive personalized career guidance directly within ChatGPT. The integration is designed to enhance AI-powered job discovery, connecting candidates with opportunities through natural conversation and real-time labor market insights.
SAP and SmartRecruiters launched a joint AI hiring solution connecting talent acquisition with SuccessFactors HXM. The integration aims to streamline recruiting workflows, improve candidate matching and offer unified analytics across HR systems.
ICIMS introduced Frontline AI, a new experience layer built for high-volume, frontline hiring. Designed for speed and simplicity, the solution streamlines candidate journeys and manager workflows. It is designed to reduce friction in hourly hiring across retail, healthcare and service industries.
Digital health company eMed secured $200 million in funding led by Aon Consulting, valuing the company at over $2 billion. Backed by investors including Tom Brady and Linda Yaccarino, eMed continues expanding its AI-enabled home diagnostics and telehealth solutions.
More HR tech product announcements
The Adecco Group deepened its partnership with Salesforce through a multi-year agreement for global access to Agentforce 360. The collaboration accelerates adoption of agentic AI across Adecco, LHH and Akkodis, connecting apps, data and AI agents on one trusted platform.
At its PowerUp 2026 event, learning platform Udemy unveiled Altus, its agentic AI solution. Altus uses specialized AI agents to help organizations identify critical skills, accelerate employee proficiency and measure the ROI of reskilling and technology adoption programs.
Talent platform Findem announced its acquisition of Glider AI to create an end-to-end AI hiring platform. The integrated solution autonomously sources, validates and verifies candidates’ skills, delivering hire-ready talent and transforming fragmented recruiting workflows.
Marking its seventh anniversary, HR platform Deel launched a unified operating model integrating hiring, compensation and workforce planning on its 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 newest interactive display, the RP05. Designed for classrooms and modern workspaces, it features AI-powered whiteboarding, transcription and multi-user collaboration tools.
HR tech people moves
KnitWell Group named Sarah Evans CHRO. Evans will oversee HR strategy, talent, total rewards and belonging initiatives across the company’s eight apparel brands. She joins the executive committee to advance culture and workforce innovation.
The Predictive Index appointed tech leader Lance Neuhauser as CEO to guide the company’s next growth phase. Neuhauser will combine PI’s behavioral science foundation with emerging AI tools, enabling HR leaders to solve complex people and performance challenges.
More from HR Executive
The nomination deadline for the 2026 Top HR Products of the Year has been extended. The awards spotlight the most innovative HR technologies driving transformation across talent, analytics and employee experience. Vendors can submit nominations through April 3, 2026.
HR Tech Europe 2026 takes place April 22-23 at RAI Amsterdam. The event brings together senior HR leaders, technologists and innovators to explore AI, workforce transformation and HR strategy. The event features expert sessions, practical insights and solution showcases. Get your ticket.
HR Tech Asia 2026 will be held May 4-7 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The four-day festival combines conferences, expo, awards and power talks, spotlighting AI, worktech and workforce transformation for Asia-Pacific HR leaders. Register now.
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