By Kim Rittberg
As AI becomes ubiquitous, the only thing as large as its impact is its paycheck. In a recent survey, Heidrick & Struggles says an AI Officer can pay above $1 million.
In a recent McKinsey survey, one-third of survey respondents say their organizations are using generative AI regularly in at least one business function. Chris Brown, a Former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) turned Executive Coach for technology leaders at New Cyber Executive, isn’t surprised that AI roles are so lucrative.
“People are willing to pay a lot of money in areas where they have uncertainty. Companies will pay to reduce their uncertainty around risks in cybersecurity. There’s also a lot of uncertainty around AI, but it’s in the realm of opportunity. I’m hearing about 30% productivity increases, and so there’s an anxiety around that they are going to miss out.”
But AI Officer isn’t the only high-paying job out there. Here are a few more that might not always pull a million-dollar paycheck but do make in the high six figures.
Chief Information Security Officer: $400,000 to $800,000 and up
Beyond AI-centic roles, there are other high-paying senior roles with strong compensation you may not be familiar with, like the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role Chris had previously held at Independent Health Association.
A CISO at a multibillion-dollar company can earn “from $400,000 to $800,000 pretty easily,” he says. “A CISO can make over a million dollars at a Fortune 500. These roles help reduce that uncertainty around cybersecurity.”
Executive Assistants: up to $175,000 (no degree required)
Another surprisingly high paying role is that of Executive Assistants. Alison Taffel-Rabinowitz, Career Coach and Founder of The Finishing School, says Executive Assistants to high-profile clients earn both high compensation and the opportunity to build a strong network. However, she says the downside is that “this results in ‘golden handcuffs,’ where people are so attached to their paycheck that they are fearful of leaving for a job that has a better growth trajectory and aligns with their passions because of the paycheck cut.” These jobs can pay up to $175,000 according to Zip Recruiter. The even better news: some Executive Assistant roles don’t require a degree.
Legal Tech: $50,000- $100,000 and up (no degree required)
Legal Recruiter and Founder of KC partners Robert Hanna says there are several Legal Tech roles that don’t require a degree because they prioritize practical skills and experience over formal academic qualifications. Entry-level positions could start in the range of $50,000 to $70,000 annually, with more experienced roles or those with specialized skills potentially reaching $100,000 or higher.
Content Creator: Starting at $250-$450 per 10,000 followers (no degree required)
We would be remiss to leave out the role of content creator. Goldman Sachs predicts the creator economy to hit $480 billion by 2027. It requires no formal education though you must have deep skills in writing, videography, photography, and have a great on-camera presence and personal brand.
According to Later Social Media Management, for brand partnerships, many brands will adhere to $250-$450 per 10,000 followers as a starting point. According to a report by the Creative Earnings Benchmark Report, 92% of creators earn most of their revenue through brand deals. And, if a creator has multiple streams of income, like social media consulting, downloadable templates, or a course, they could be making a lot more.
Thinking outside the box can reap big rewards financially.
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