Career Change in 2026? The “easiest” AI jobs to enter

Using a computer. Image by Tim Sandle.

Many people are keen to jump onto the AI bandwagon and begin a new career based on using the technology in shape or form. How easy is this? A new study by a digital learning platform called EIT Campus has revealed the easiest AI jobs in Europe to get in 2026. This reveals that some roles require as little as 3-6 months of training and no computer science degree.

With demand for AI professionals increasing by 74% year-over-year according to LinkedIn, and the global AI market projected to reach £1.5 trillion by 2030, career changers are discovering lucrative opportunities in roles that prioritize practical skills over traditional qualifications.

The ten most accessible AI career entry points

AI Prompt Engineer

These roles craft precise instructions that make AI systems produce exactly what businesses need.

• Average UK salary: £65,526 per year (up to £87,500 for top performers)
• Training time: 3-6 months via online courses
• Entry barriers: Low – requires strong writing skills and logical thinking
• Job demand: 209% year-over-year increase in UK job postings
• European demand: High across Germany (€71,000 avg), France (€67,000 avg), Netherlands (€72,000 avg)

AI Training Data Specialist

This job requires workers to label images, text, and videos to teach AI systems what they’re looking at.

• Average UK salary: £88,300 per year
• Training time: 1-3 months of on-the-job training
• Entry barriers: Very low – attention to detail and subject knowledge required
• Job demand: 15% annual growth projected

AI Customer Support Specialist

People train AI assistants by showing them how to handle difficult customer queries.

• Average UK salary: £28,000-£35,000 per year
• Training time: 2-4 weeks
• Entry barriers: Very low – customer service experience transferable
• Job demand: Growing rapidly as companies deploy AI chatbots

AI Content Moderator

Protect online communities by enforcing content policies AI can’t fully understand.

• Average UK salary: £25,000-£40,000 per year
• Training time: 1-2 months
• Entry barriers: Low – requires judgment and policy understanding

AI Sales/Business Development

Identify business problems that AI solutions can solve profitably.

• Average UK salary: £45,000-£75,000 per year (plus commission)
• Training time: 3-6 months to understand AI products
• Entry barriers: Low – existing sales experience highly valued
• Job demand: High demand for AI-literate sales professionals

AI Implementation Consultant

Train employees to work alongside AI tools rather than fear replacement.

• Average UK salary: £55,000-£85,000 per year
• Training time: 6-12 months
• Entry barriers: Medium – business analysis or project management experience helpful
• Job demand: Surging as companies adopt AI solutions

Chatbot Designer/Trainer

Test chatbots with real users to identify frustrating dead-ends.

• Average UK salary: £45,000-£72,000 per year
• Training time: 4-8 months
• Entry barriers: Low-medium – UX writing or conversation design background useful
• Job demand: Growing across retail, finance, and healthcare sectors

AI Ethics Compliance Officer

Assess privacy risks when AI systems process personal data.

• Average UK salary: £60,000-£135,000 per year

• Training time: 6-9 months (certifications available)
• Entry barriers: Medium – ethics, law, or policy background advantageous
• Job demand: Rapidly emerging role as regulation increases

AI Documentation Specialist

Write release notes explaining new AI features and their benefits.

• Average UK salary: £35,000-£55,000 per year
• Training time: 3-6 months
• Entry barriers: Low – technical writing experience beneficial
• Job demand: Steady growth for clear communicators

Low-Code AI Developer

Empower non-programmers to solve problems with AI-powered automation.

• Average UK salary: £50,000-£80,000 per year
• Training time: 6-12 months
• Entry barriers: Low-medium – platforms like Make, Zapier require minimal coding
• Job demand: Explosive growth in automation roles

The analysis reveals significant opportunities across Europe, with Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands leading in both salary offerings and job availability. Eastern European markets including Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary offer competitive entry-level positions (€58,000-€120,000 for Artificial intelligence/machine learning roles) with lower living costs.

The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report 2025” anticipates that AI will substantially alter 22% of existing jobs by 2030 while creating new roles that require human insight, creativity, and ethical judgment, qualities that cannot be automated. However, there will also be many conventional roles that disappear – the full impact of AI on the workplace remains uncertain.