The Surprising States Hiring the Most AI Workers Right Now—and What You Need to Get Hired

If you think you need to move to Silicon Valley to land a high-paying AI job, think again. An analysis of more than 45,000 LinkedIn job postings by Resume.ai shows that states like Louisiana, Wyoming, and Illinois are becoming unexpected leaders in AI hiring. These are the states where you can land an AI job right now.

States Where You Can Land an AI Job Right Now

According to the Resume.ai report, the top three states hiring AI talent are Louisiana, Wyoming, and Illinois. Louisiana had the most AI job listings, with more than 1,600 open roles.

Montana tops the list for average compensation with over $220,000 a year, but it has one of the smallest job pools, so a few senior positions may skew the data. Other high-paying states include Alaska, New York, and Massachusetts.

The trend reveals a clear shift: AI job growth is spreading into industries like energy, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, not just software and finance.

Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopResume, cautions that job seekers should look beyond paychecks. Many of these new markets have fewer employers, meaning relocating for one high-paying job could be risky.

“If that company was to fold or it was to close that location or relocate its headquarters, would that force you to move? And would you be okay with that?” she asked. “I would just caution everyone to look and see, in addition to the employer that you’re interested in, is there anyone else in that area that would hire you if this didn’t work out?”

What You Need to Know to Land a Job in AI

Breaking into AI doesn’t require a Ph.D., but it does demand genuine, demonstrable skills.

The top-paying roles are senior-level positions, such as AI research scientist, senior machine learning engineer, and AI architect. According to the report, the average annual salaries for these roles are $182,450, $176,870, and $171,630, respectively.

If you’re just starting out in your career, there are still good paying jobs in AI. These entry-level positions require strong Python and data analysis skills, plus experience with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch. Familiarity with large language models and generative AI platforms like ChatGPT or Claude is becoming increasingly valuable.

But there are no shortcuts.

“Flat-out lying about skills you don’t have is going to backfire,” Augustine said.

Instead, take online courses or build portfolio projects to prove your capabilities. Hiring managers expect candidates to show evidence of learning and adaptability, not perfection.

Your resumé and LinkedIn profile should be leveraged, but Augustine wants everyone to remember they are marketing tools, not autobiographies. Recruiters spend less than 10 seconds on an initial scan, so relevance and clarity matter more than volume.

She recommends applying only when you meet about 80–85% of a role’s must-have requirements and tailoring your experience to highlight measurable impact, such as how you saved time, improved accuracy, or automated processes.

In addition, interviews are not one-way evaluations.

“Treat every interview as a two-way street,” she said. “Ask your own questions to make sure it’s the right fit.”

Questions like “What does a typical day look like?” or “How is success measured in this role?” show genuine interest and analytical thinking, which are qualities that employers value.

The Bottom Line

AI jobs are no longer confined to coastal tech centers. Whether you’re in Louisiana or Massachusetts, employers are searching for professionals who can pair technical know-how with strategic thinking and authenticity. The best opportunities will go to those who not only build the right skills but also approach their job search as both analysts and marketers—strategic, prepared, and honest about what they bring to the table.