Highly Prized AI Position Earned Up To 345,000 Euros, Now Struggling to Find Takers - Dramatic Decline in Demand for Overhyped AI Role
AI's Rise Leads to High Demand for Prompt Engineers, but the Future May Be Changing
The AI world was buzzing with the idea of Prompt Engineers being a top future job, but according to recent reports from the "Wall Street Journal", that might not be the case anymore. Microsoft has revealed that in the next year and a half, AI trainers and security specialists are expected to be in higher demand, pushing Prompt Engineers down the list.
Prompt Engineers are responsible for crafting instructions for AI tools like ChatGPT. The role was heralded as an essential one, as knowing the right tricks could lead to optimal results. In 2024, the job market was ablaze with the need for Prompt Engineers, with many companies chasing after these experts who could snag annual salaries of up to €345,000.
But times have changed, and the hype is starting to fade away. The Wall Street Journal reports that when Microsoft surveyed 31,000 employees in 31 countries about their company's planned job openings, Prompt Engineers ranked second to last. On the other hand, AI trainers, data specialists, and security experts were near the top of the list.
Even job search platforms like Indeed are showing a downturn in interest for Prompt Engineering compared to the boom in 2023.
The shift is due to two significant trends:
- Chatbots are getting smarter, and they can now comprehend what users want from their search queries. In some cases, they might even ask or suggest questions themselves. This reduces the need for Prompt Engineers.
- Companies are ensuring that employees across all departments are AI-savvy. Rather than relying on a central role dedicated to prompt engineering, employees are being trained to be self-sufficient with AI tools.
Though Prompt Engineers might cease to be a necessary role in the future as AI technology advances, their skills will still be valuable in AI-focused organizations, potentially evolving into specialized roles or tasks in the broader AI industry.
According to recent insights, Prompt Engineers are still in high demand, with salaries ranging from $95,000 to over $270,000 in 2025. Companies are actively seeking experts who can optimize large language models and tap into the full potential of AI-powered automation[2]. Moreover, LinkedIn reports a 434% increase in job postings mentioning prompt engineering since 2023[4]. However, there are concerns about the future obsolescence of the role due to advancing AI technology[1][3].
In summary, while Prompt Engineers remain an in-demand role with lucrative salaries, their future in the AI industry may be evolving as companies increasingly focus on training employees to be AI-savvy and as chatbots get smarter. As the AI landscape continues to develop, the role of Prompt Engineers may shift into other specialized roles or tasks within the broader AI industry.
Despite the recent reports suggesting a diminished demand for Prompt Engineers, their skills remain valuable in certain AI-focused organizations. Although AI trainers, data specialists, and security experts are forecasted to be in higher demand for the near future according to Microsoft, Prompt Engineers are still sought after by companies for optimizing large language models and tapping into the full potential of AI-powered automation. In contrast, the shift towards employees across all departments being AI-savvy could lead to a decreased need for centralized Prompt Engineering roles in the future. On job search platforms like Indeed, there has been a reported decline in interest for Prompt Engineering compared to the boom in 2023.
