Entry-level AI jobs: what exists and how to get one

Which entry-level AI jobs actually exist?

Four kinds of job take people with little or no AI experience. Internships, usually during a degree. Early-career full-time roles in software, applied AI or data. Residencies, which are paid, fixed-term programs inside research labs. And junior data, analytics or automation jobs where AI is part of the work but not the whole job. Very few postings carry the title junior AI engineer. Most people get in through a software, data or automation job and move toward model work from there.

OpenAI is a useful example of the frontier-lab route. Its Emerging Talent program covers internships, residencies and full-time roles in research, applied engineering and product, aimed at people with 0 to 3 years of experience. It says recent graduates and self-taught learners can apply. Its Residency runs for six months, pays a full salary, and takes people from AI or nearby fields such as math, physics and neuroscience. Applications for the 2026 cohort have closed.

Is a residency an entry-level job?

Sometimes. Read who a residency is for before you apply. OpenAI's Residency says it welcomes self-taught, non-traditional and early-career applicants who have a clear record of building things. Anthropic's Residency, open until November 22, 2026, is aimed at established technical leaders such as professors, technical founders and staff-level engineers. It pays the equivalent of $350,000 to $500,000 a year, with placements of six weeks to six months. It does not require a machine learning background, but it is not built for new graduates.

Residencies are small and hard to get into. Treat them as one application among many, not your plan. A lab residency takes only a small number of people, so it cannot be your only route in.

What do employers ask for at entry level?

For data scientists, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the usual entry requirement is at least a bachelor's degree in math, statistics, computer science or a related field. It adds that some employers require or prefer a master's or doctorate. For software developers, BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education and points to internships during college as a way to get experience. Research scientist roles set the bar higher. BLS says these typically need at least a master's, and some employers prefer a PhD.

Degrees get you screened in. Proof of work gets you hired. In NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey, industry experience and demonstrated skills were among the top factors employers weighed. A University of Pennsylvania career adviser told IEEE Spectrum that a good GPA is not enough without applying what you learn. In practice that means shipped projects, internship work and code someone can read.

How competitive is it right now?

It is hard. Revelio Labs data cited by the World Economic Forum shows US entry-level postings fell 35% over 18 months, largely because of AI. Employers in NACE's Job Outlook 2026 rated the graduate job market at its most pessimistic since 2020, though 49% still called it good or very good. Most employers in that survey, 61%, said they are not replacing entry-level jobs with AI.

The work itself is changing too. Junior staff spend less time on routine execution and more on judgment: reviewing AI output, flagging hard cases and routing them to experts. Some large employers are still hiring at volume. Cognizant says it hired 25,000 fresh graduates in 2025. If you can check and correct what a model produces, you fit the shape these jobs are taking.

What you need

Degree (usual, not universal)BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education for data scientists and software developers. Some data science employers prefer a master's or doctorate.
Research rolesBLS says computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master's degree. Some employers prefer a PhD.
Internship or industry experienceEmployers in NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey ranked industry experience among their top hiring factors. BLS names college internships as a common way into software development.
Demonstrated skillsA portfolio of working projects matters because employers want proof that you can apply what you learned.
Programming and mathBLS lists math and problem-solving skills for data scientists and a strong programming background for software developers.
Judgment about AI outputNew entry-level tasks include reviewing model output and escalating complex cases, so careful checking is a core skill.

How to get there

Year 0-2Build the foundationLearn programming, statistics and the basics of machine learning, through a degree or self-study. Ship small projects that work end to end.
Year 1-3Get an internship or first technical jobAim for internships during study, or a junior software, data analyst or automation role that touches data and models.
Year 1-3Apply to early-career and residency programsLab programs such as OpenAI's Emerging Talent roles target 0 to 3 years of experience. Apply, but don't count on getting one.
Year 2-4Take on AI work inside your roleVolunteer for model evaluation, data pipelines or automation projects. These give you the track record that AI job ads ask for.
Year 3-5Move into a named AI roleWith shipped work behind you, apply for machine learning, AI engineering or data science positions.

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Questions people ask

Can I get an AI job straight out of school?

Yes, though it is hard. OpenAI, for example, runs full-time research, applied engineering and product roles for people with 0 to 3 years of experience. Most graduates still start in a software, data or automation job and move into AI work later.

Do I need a master's or PhD for an entry-level AI job?

It depends on the role. BLS says data scientists typically need a bachelor's degree, though some employers prefer a master's or doctorate. Research scientist roles typically need at least a master's, and some employers prefer a PhD.

Are AI residencies for beginners?

Some are and some are not. OpenAI's six-month Residency welcomes early-career and self-taught applicants who have a strong record of building things. Anthropic's current Residency targets established technical leaders such as professors and staff-level engineers.

Is AI reducing entry-level jobs?

Postings have fallen. Revelio Labs data shows US entry-level postings down 35% over 18 months, largely because of AI. Still, 61% of employers in NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey said they are not replacing entry-level jobs with AI.

What makes an entry-level applicant stand out?

Proof you can apply what you know: internship work, shipped projects and readable code. NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey found employers weigh industry experience and demonstrated skills heavily.

What entry-level AI jobs are there?