There are many compelling reasons to learn AI in Los Angeles. An increasing number of employers are demanding that their employees have AI fluency, making this a valuable skill to learn. A World Economic Forum report titled “AI is Shifting the Workplace Skillset. But Human Skills Still Count” discusses AI trends. The author maintains, “AI literacy skills are a key differentiator for job seekers: Professionals who embrace AI will get ahead of the competition and effectively set themselves up for long-term career success.” She explains that more than half of hiring managers say that they will not hire someone who doesn’t have AI literacy. She says, “Demand for these types of skills has increased more than sixfold in the past year.” Professionals looking to stay ahead in competitive markets may want to consider why learning AI is strategic for career growth.
AI skills can also give you access to a wide range of job opportunities in Los Angeles. California’s tech sector–where a lot of AI activity is currently taking place–is huge, and it generates billions of dollars and supports tens of thousands of jobs. The Los Angeles area has 4,345 tech jobs per 100,000 people, which is more than many other large metropolitan areas, according to a 2024 report by the California Foundation for Commerce & Education. CBRE finds that the share of tech job postings for AI jobs has been growing steadily over the past five years. A significant percentage of AI positions are for Software Developers and Programmers, according to its “Scoring Tech Talent 2024.” AI startups are also generating jobs. Los Angeles recently broke a record for funding AI startups, with $1.8 billion in venture capital investment in AI startups in the third quarter of 2024.
Finally, AI jobs in Los Angeles pay very well. CompTIA is a nonprofit organization that publishes a yearly “State of the Tech Workforce.” Tech wages in the Los Angeles area are 129 percent higher than the median wage nationally, according to the most recent CompTIA report. This includes wages for tech positions. You can also find salary information for AI-related jobs on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website. Wages for AI roles are significantly higher than average in Los Angeles, according to BLS. For example, it finds that the national mean wage for a Computer and Information Research Scientist is $145,000 per year, while in Los Angeles, it is a lot higher, at $166,000. A Los Angeles Software Developer's salary is $151,000, compared to the national average of $130,000, and a Data Scientist earns $124,000, compared to $108,000.
What Los Angeles industries are hiring in AI?
AI experts are needed in almost every Los Angeles industry. Healthcare is one of the largest industries in Los Angeles, and AI is being used to improve diagnosis and treatment, streamline administrative tasks, and personalize and enhance the experiences that patients have. It is also being used for research and to help develop new drugs and medical treatments. “Robin the Robot” is one example of a recent use of AI in healthcare. Robin was developed by Expper Technologies, headquartered in Los Angeles. Robin works in pediatric facilities and can help explain diagnoses and medical procedures to children. It even tells stories and plays games to help them feel more comfortable. According to the recent “Los Angeles County Regional Report” posted on the Labor & Workforce Development Agency website, healthcare is one of the biggest industry clusters in Los Angeles and supports more than 510,000 jobs. Healthcare is also one of the most common industries for veterans to enter after their service, making AI certificate programs for veterans an excellent way to break into this field.
Los Angeles is also a popular destination for tourists. Visitors enjoy its mild weather, world-famous amusement parks, and hundreds of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. As a result, Los Angeles has a sizable hospitality industry. Like almost every other industry in the city, the hospitality industry is utilizing AI to improve its operations. Specific uses include automating routine tasks and helping to personalize the visitor experience. On its “Hospitality & Tourism” page, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) reports, “Hospitality and tourism are at the heart of the Los Angeles economy.” It says, “The region is on track to greet 50 million visitors a year, and these visitors spent more than $18 billion on our economy.”
The aerospace and defense industry also needs AI experts in Los Angeles. According to the Regional Report, “Los Angeles County remains a key player in aerospace engineering and manufacturing, with employment in this sector being significant due to the presence of large defense contractors and a network of suppliers.” The authors note that employers are actively looking for experts in this field, with demand consistently outpacing supply. Surveillance and defense are two notable uses of AI in aerospace. Anduril Industries, which is headquartered in the Los Angeles area, uses AI for drones, missiles, and software. These are used by the U.S. military. Anduril recently made Forbes’ “AI 50” list of top AI companies in the country.
The Los Angeles entertainment industry is world-famous and is incorporating AI to create visual effects, analyze audiences, suggest new content, help with casting, and improve marketing. The Los Angeles motion picture and video production industry employs more than 128,000 people, according to the Regional Report.
There are many more Los Angeles industries looking for employees who know how to work with AI. Marketing employers are looking for AI experts to help them create more personalized and effective campaigns. AI is being used to automate tasks in education and to adapt instruction to diverse student needs. AI is also being used in real estate and construction. It can help professionals in these fields evaluate markets, find investment and development opportunities, and improve business operations.
Will I need to learn to code to work in AI?
If you want to work in AI, coding is not essential; however, it can be advantageous. Certain non-technical AI-related jobs don’t require coding. Product management, quality analysis, compliance, and some data analysis roles are examples. There are many roles, however, where coding skills are needed. AI models are created and trained with code, so researchers and engineers who build and work with these systems must learn coding. Coding is also used to analyze and manipulate data, another typical part of AI. Even if coding isn’t a mandated part of your job description, if you plan to work in AI, some coding knowledge can help you better understand how this technology works.
If you do learn coding, there’s a good chance you’ll start with Python. This is one of the most popular coding languages for AI jobs. Python is used for machine learning and data analytics in particular. Uses say that they find it intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to read. This can make it a good first coding language. Other coding languages that are common for AI are C++, Java, and R.
How much do AI classes cost in Los Angeles?
AI learning cost varies depending on the type of class you take. College is one of the most expensive educational options. The average in-state tuition for a public college in the United States is $9,750 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. A degree takes an average of four years of full-time study. The California average for tuition is slightly lower, according to the Education Data Initiative, at about $8,600. A tech school is another way to learn AI. There are both in-person and online tech classes in Los Angeles. Tuition at these types of schools is usually cheaper than college. For instance, you’ll find AI certificate programs and bootcamps for around $5,000, with most programs costing less than $20,000 overall. These types of classes are also quicker than college and take months, not years, to complete. If you're not sure where to get started, you can review how to learn AI in Los Angeles to get a better idea of your options.
You also need to consider your living expenses when estimating the cost of learning AI. In Los Angeles, these are higher than average. For example, housing expenses are 137% higher than the national average, according to Payscale. It finds that transportation expenses are 33% higher, and groceries cost 12% more. This means that attending school in Los Angeles can be expensive. On the other hand, there are many job opportunities for AI experts in this city, and while living expenses are higher than average, so are salaries.
How hard are AI classes?
Most people find that AI classes are challenging. While you don’t need a background in data, math, or programming to learn AI, having these technical skills can make the learning process a lot easier. If you don’t have these skills, an AI class designed for beginners might help. This type of class will start with the basics and give you a strong foundation to build on. Looking for mentorship within the AI community is another expert tip for learning AI. When you connect with experienced professionals, you can get valuable guidance and industry insights. Los Angeles has a large existing community of AI professionals, providing many resources for those who are new to AI.
How long does it take to learn AI?
The process of learning AI is different for every student. Most find that they can learn basic skills, like fundamental programming and statistics concepts, within months. More advanced skills like working with natural language processing and machine learning are typically more time-consuming. These could take a year or longer. After they learn basic AI concepts, many people decide to specialize. Robotics, computer vision, and deep learning are some examples of specialization. It can take a year or more to become a professional in one of these areas. If you’re thinking about a long-term career in AI, you can explore a step-by-step look at how to become an AI professional in Los Angeles. Since the field of AI is constantly evolving, working in AI requires ongoing learning so that you can stay up-to-date with current technologies and trends.
