A salary study of IT professionals working with data showed that the median salary of Data Science, Data Engineering, and AI/ML specialists has decreased slightly.
A salary study of IT professionals working with data showed that the median salary of Data Science, Data Engineering, and AI/ML specialists has decreased slightly.
This is stated in a study by the DOU publication, which indicates that in the second half of 2025, the median salary of analysts reached $2,200 (+$100). However, the monetary compensation of specialists in Data Science, Data Engineering, and AI/ML slightly decreased by $264 in half a year and amounts to $3,175.
«In the Data Science and AI fields, a significant decrease in median salaries was recorded in this wave: Data Scientist — $2,700, AI Engineer — $2,375, and ML Engineer — $2,350,» the study notes.
Analysts believe that there is a small group of «very high-paid professionals» among AI Engineers, but on average they earn less than a Middle Data Engineer (median — $3200) and about the same as an ML Engineer ($2350).
Over the past six months, the median salary of an AI Engineer has decreased by $325, but the number of specialists who participated in the survey has increased.
«This may indicate that companies continue to hire AI Engineers, but on average are not willing to pay them as much as they did six months ago,» the study says.
Recall that over the past six months , the median salary of IT managers has not changed and as of December 2025 was $3,000. Negative dynamics are observed for Project and Product Managers, as well as Scrum Master. The median salary increased the most for Delivery Manager.
