Many Americans are worried about how artificial intelligence will disrupt the job market. Should you be worried about your job?
LinkedIn’s annual Jobs on the Rise 2026 list identified the 25 fastest-growing roles in the U.S. over the past three years. The list shows a rise in technical and strategic AI roles, with AI engineers taking the top spot.
While AI-forward jobs continue to grow, many rely on human-led skills to bridge the gap, like AI consultants and data annotators. These roles require unique human abilities and understanding that train AI.
There are still job opportunities that demand human interaction and hands-on work that AI cannot replace—like jobs in real estate, fundraising, and healthcare reimbursement.
These are the 10 fastest-growing jobs in 2026, according to LinkedIn research:
1. AI engineers
Most common skills: LangChain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PyTorch
Where most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Dallas
Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Full Stack Engineer
2. AI consultants & strategists
Most common skills: Large Language Models (LLM), MLOps, Computer Vision
Top roles transitioned from: Founder, Software Engineer, Product Manager
3. New home sales specialists
Most common skills: Residential Real Estate, Real Estate Transactions, Buyer Representation
Where the most jobs are: Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Fla.
Top roles transitioned from: Real Estate Agent, Sales Manager, Property Advisor
4. Data annotators
Most common skills: SEO Copywriting, Content Marketing, Content Production
Where the most jobs are: Austin, Texas, New York City, San Francisco
Top roles transitioned from: Content Manager, Editor, Data Analyst
5. AI/ML researchers
Most common skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning, Computer Vision
Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Boston
Top roles transitioned from: Data Scientist, Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer
6. Healthcare reimbursement specialists
Most common skills: Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement, Prior Authorization, Managed Care
Where the most jobs are: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles
Top roles transitioned from: Account Manager, Medical Biller, Sales Specialist
7. Strategic advisors & independent consultants
Most common skills: Executive Advisory, Go-to-Market Strategy, Strategic Partnerships
Where the most jobs are: New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.
Top roles transitioned from: Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Chief Operating Officer
8. Advertising sale specialists
Most common skills: Media Planning, Social Media Optimization (SMO), Paid Social Media Advertising
Where the most jobs are: New York City, Detroit, Atlanta
Top roles transitioned from: Account Executive, Sales Director, Advertising Manager
9. Founders
Most common skills: Start-up Leadership, Brand Development, Software Development
Where the most jobs are: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Managing Director
10. Sales executives
Most common skills: C-Level Management, International Sales, Sales Strategy
Where the most jobs are: Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas
Top roles transitioned from: Vice President of Global Sales, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Business Development