What Can You Do with an AI Master's Degree?

What cutting-edge technology is changing the workforce as we know it? Whether you work in IT, health care, or marketing, you’d probably give the same answer: 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm and making an impact within every industry.  

With this shift comes a stronger motivation to upskill—which can help you climb the corporate ladder or forge a new career path entirely. Some ways to do this include certifications, bootcamps, or just experimenting with AI tools in your workflow. 

What if you want to dive deep into AI and stand out amongst the crowd? A master’s degree in AI may be perfect for you.  

Universities have provided opportunities to learn about AI for decades, initially with projects that prioritized AI research over full-time coursework. Industry demand has led to hundreds of formal artificial intelligence degrees. Students in every state are declaring an undergraduate major in AI. Some are even pursuing an AI PhD. 

AI master’s degrees are still at the forefront of this surge.  

According to eWeek, a longstanding IT publication, 2025 ended with 310 AI graduate programs available in the US—more programs than many specialized or niche fields offer. But why are AI master’s degrees so sought after?

For one thing, an AI master’s can be leveraged to grow professionally or navigate a career pivot. In a rapidly changing economy, graduates have a highly valued and transferable skill set. And opposed to a bachelor’s degree, an AI master’s allows grads to combine professional experience with AI upskilling, then translate those new skills into virtually any field. 

You might be wondering what skills you’ll learn through these programs. While it can vary depending on your program’s area of focus, an AI master’s curriculum may cover: 

• Generative AI for Business

• Machine Learning Design for Business 

• AI Strategy and Operational Transformation

• Data Mining for Business Intelligence 

• AI Applications for Supply Chain Management 

• Algorithmic Trading 

• AI and ML Applications in Decision Modeling

• AI in Healthcare Operations, and more 

Additionally, an AI master’s program is an excellent option regardless of your educational background; many programs either don’t require a background in STEM or provide a pathway to take any crucial prerequisite courses. You don’t need years of computer science under your belt to succeed—just an interest in AI and a desire to apply it in your career. 

When it comes to hiring AI graduates, several industries are leading the charge: business, health care, manufacturing, consulting, and information technology.

While career opportunities are constantly emerging, here are the top five careers for AI graduates:

1. AI Engineer or Machine Learning Engineer
2. Business Intelligence Developer
3. AI Consultant
4. AI Policy Analyst
5. Fraud Detection AI/ML Engineer

Similar to software engineers, AI engineers specialize in designing and building AI models. Their purposes may vary—some prioritize image recognition while others perform AI product design—but they all mimic human intelligence in some way. 

AI engineers typically are experienced with software engineering and data science, which allows them to build models and then monitor them for troubleshooting and potential improvements. On the AI side, they bring knowledge of machine learning frameworks and its subfields, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP). 

According to one study, the average entry-level salary can range from $114,000 to $187,000 depending on location, experience level, and specialization. 

The work of BI developers is the foundation of data-driven decision-making in many organizations. While collaborating with data scientists, they’re responsible for developing interactive data dashboards; extracting and combining complex data from multiple sources; and designing and maintaining data models. 

However, AI has allowed BI developers to become even more efficient. Not only can AI streamline the data analysis process, but it also makes large swathes of data more accessible for analysis, even to users who aren’t familiar with SQL querying. These tools result in more data-driven decisions across the organization.  

Indeed reports an average salary for business intelligence developers of $106,526 annually. 

For professionals who have mastered both AI and business, a career as an AI consultant is well within reach. AI consultants do more than advise companies on the best uses of AI for their needs. They serve as a company’s AI guide—walking them through what to use and how to use it. And because businesses want to see the ROI for using AI, the demand for AI consultants has skyrocketed. 

AI consultants have the potential for high salaries, though they may be able to earn even more through freelancing. According to Stack, most full-time AI consultants earn between $95,000 and $160,000 annually. For independent consultants, earning $200,000 annually isn’t uncommon—particularly if they consult within a specific niche or have regular monthly income through retainers.  

With innovation comes the potential for misuse and harm. Unfortunately, AI is no different. As AI becomes commonplace in fields like health care, manufacturing, and education, guidelines and regulations for AI use become crucial. That’s where an AI policy analyst comes in. 

AI policy analysts work within a variety of contexts—government, nonprofits, private corporations—but their focus remains consistent: developing policies for AI usage and ensuring organizational compliance. The goal of policy analysts isn’t to bog down employees with red tape, but to facilitate AI use in a way that’s strategic and ethical. 

Policy analysts also overlap with AI ethics specialists, who focus on ethical concerns within AI projects themselves (such as bias or data privacy).

ZipRecruiter shows an average annual salary of $100,949 for AI policy analysts, with the top 10% earning $116,500 annually. 

AI adoption is on the rise across industries, with eCommerce, finance, and banking particularly valuing the skills an AI master’s brings. In the finance sector, a fast-growing AI opportunity uses machine learning to improve fraud detection. 

These machine learning engineers develop machine learning models that recognize behavior patterns and identify fraudulent transactions with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow and Pytorch often factor into their work as well. If your interests lie at the intersection of finance and AI, this role is well suited to your skill set. 

While mid-level ML engineer salaries can range from $89,000 to $135,000, senior engineers in the fraud risk/detection niche often earn over $200,000 yearly. 

While earnings with an AI master’s degree can vary depending on industry, experience, and location, the ROI looks overwhelmingly positive. DataUSA reports an average salary of $124,488 annually with a master’s in AI. 

If you break it down a bit further, you’ll see the immense room for growth as your career progresses: 

• Entry-level: $90,000-120,000

• Mid-career: $120,000-160,000 

• Advanced/C-suite: $160,000-200,000

These salary ranges are broad, but not exhaustive. In fact, with how quickly every field is integrating AI, you’ll see more opportunities to leverage your master’s and increase your earnings.  

More than ever before, employers aren't just dipping their toes into AI—they’re actively searching for employees who possess AI skills.

Some key AI skills that employers value include:

• AI strategy and governance

• Project management

• Business intelligence and analytics

• Data ethics and risk management

• Communication and stakeholder engagement

Technical AI skills are the primary focus, such as data modeling, machine learning frameworks, and programming (mainly Python and SQL). However, soft skills are also crucial to AI use. 

Many employers prioritize business acumen and communication skills just as highly as technical aptitude with AI. Soft skills are the key to explaining AI to skeptical stakeholders or offering AI solutions when issues arise. 

Ultimately, only you can decide if a master’s in AI is worthwhile for you. Don't pursue a degree just because it’s what everyone else is doing. Instead, reflect on your unique professional background, skill set, and goals for the future. 

For example, an AI master’s can help you get your foot in the door. Even if you don’t have experience in computer science, a master’s degree shows you’re eager to work with cutting-edge technology. Your master’s also allows you to pivot into the growing AI sector.  

If you just want to move up within your current field, an AI master’s will position you for that, too. Especially for industries that have embraced AI wholeheartedly, your practical knowledge and vision for AI use will help you stand out—especially in roles that require strategy, data analysis, or just an innovative mind. 

You’ve seen the doors that an AI master’s can open for you. You’re ready to dive in, but you don’t know how to get started. Luckily, the University of Cincinnati can help. 

Through UC’s online Master of Science in AI Management, you’ll grow your AI expertise and apply it in business environments. This 30-hour, 100% online program is designed for numerous career paths in mind—whether you aim to work in business, tech, or AI itself. If a master’s isn’t your priority right now, start with UC's online AI in Business Graduate Certificate—those credits will count toward your master’s later on! 

Along the way, you can also combine our AI master’s degree with a number of graduate certificates in business. Upskill in a way that makes sense for your education and your career. 

AI can transform your work, your salary, and your career potential as a whole.

If you're not ready to apply, you can still connect with your Enrollment Services Advisor today! Our team can provide personalized guidance and help you begin your journey with AI management.

A master’s in AI secures opportunities to develop and leverage your AI expertise and pursue career advancement. It can also help you transition into a new field—without going back to square one. 

Depending on your specialization and skill set, you’ll be prepared for roles like AI engineer, AI consultant, AI policy analyst, and AI research scientist. Roles that heavily utilize AI are also a great option for AI professionals, such as business intelligence developers, marketing managers, data scientists, and software developers.

Many AI master’s programs are open to those with any undergraduate degree—no tech background required! Since some technical knowledge and aptitude is needed for AI coursework, students may be required to enroll in a prerequisite course or a bridge program to fill any STEM-related gaps. 

At UC, part-time students can complete the AI master’s program in approximately three years (nine semesters). Full-time students can complete the program faster, in as little as one year (three semesters.)