Learn in-demand AI skills to earn more in the field you already work in

The idea

Learn in-demand AI skills to earn more in the field you already work in.

Who the evidence applies to: People already in work who can add AI skills relevant to their field, especially in sectors where employers are advertising for them.

PwC published its 2026 Global and UK AI Jobs Barometers in June 2026, reporting higher AI wage premiums than the previous year.

How we checked

This is an evidence check: we looked for large studies, official statistics and published datasets, opened every source, and had a second researcher check each figure against them. 6 sources, listed below.

Costs

Start-up cost: £0 (free courses exist)
Effort: medium

What the evidence shows

Several large job-advert studies find that roles asking for AI skills advertise noticeably higher pay. PwC's 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer, based on over one billion job ads in 27 countries and territories, found an average 62% wage premium for AI skills, ranging from 16% in government and the public sector to 118% in consumer markets. In the UK, PwC put the average premium for workers with AI skills at 34.2%, and an Oxford Internet Institute study of over 10 million UK vacancies found AI skills attract a 23% premium, compared with 13% for a master's degree. Lightcast found job postings including AI skills offer 28% higher salaries, nearly $18,000 more per year.

What to expect: The evidence shows employers advertise more for jobs that ask for AI skills, but these are averages from job adverts, not a guaranteed pay rise for any individual, and the premium varies a lot by sector and country (PwC's UK figure is much lower than its global one). Expect the benefit to come mainly through moving into or being promoted into roles that require these skills.

First steps

Search job adverts in your own field for roles that mention AI skills and note which specific tools or tasks they ask for
Try the UK government's free AI Skills Boost short courses on the AI Skills Hub (aiskillshub.org.uk); courses that meet Skills England's benchmark award a virtual badge you can add to your CV
Apply what you learn to real tasks in your current job so you have concrete examples to show an employer
Raise the skills in appraisals or when applying for internal roles that list AI requirements

Limitations

Studies report averages: your own result depends on your field, skills and where you live. Figures come from the sources below and may be updated as new evidence appears.

VerdictWorks with limits

Works for some, not most.