AI Talent by the Numbers: What Hiring Looks Like in Dallas, Austin, and Denver

While the broader tech job landscape is in flux, the AI Engineer market is telling a very different story. While many roles have stalled over the past year, demand for AI Developers is heating up, and fast.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what we’re seeing in the Denver, Austin, and Dallas metro areas:

Denver

• ~616 candidates

• 20% changed jobs in the last year

• Average salary: $135K

Austin

• ~205 candidates

• 24% changed jobs in the last year

• Avg. salary: $158K ($20K above the national average)

Dallas

• ~3,259 candidates

• 16% changed jobs in the last year

• Avg. salary: $140K

For hiring managers navigating the AI talent market, it's important to tailor your strategy to the realities of each city. In Austin, salaries are steep—averaging $158K—so be prepared to pay a premium to secure top-tier talent. Dallas offers a much larger pool of candidates, with over 3,200 professionals in the market, making it an attractive option for companies looking to scale teams. However, competition remains high, especially for candidates with recent AI project experience. If budget is a limiting factor, expanding your search to include remote talent can help you access highly skilled engineers at a more sustainable cost, without sacrificing quality.

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