How To Become an AI & Machine Learning Engineer In 2025: A Complete Roadmap

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are the next big terms transforming the field of technology in the current decade. With the market landscape seeing rapid transformations in the form of automation, AI assistance, chatbots, etc. taking up diverse functions, the domain of AI & ML as career fields has also seen a boom, which is only expected to grow further. 

In this light, India is emerging as one of the hubs of AI and ML professionals, and providing a myriad of diverse opportunities to explore in this domain to tech professionals. Paired with the lucrative compensation offered in this field, students are increasingly turning to training for a career in AI and machine learning. In this blog, we walk you through the details of a career in artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with details like the career trajectory, courses to take up, opportunities in the field, and so on. 

Why Choose a Career in AI & ML?

Before we learn the details about the nature of this field, it is important to reflect on the prospective benefits of pursuing a career in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML). Herein, we have elaborated upon the most appealing reasons to look for a career in AI & ML. 

•  Growing Demand in Current Market: In the current Indian economy, the demand for AI and ML-trained professionals is on the rise, with India becoming a hub of opportunities in this field, accounting for nearly 4.1% of the global opportunities (source: Entrepreneur India).  

• Lucrative and Competitive Compensation: AI and ML are some of the most fairly compensated domains in the IT and technology fields, with starting salaries in the range of INR 6 to INR 7 LPA, with a growth potential of nearly 3x in a few years. 

• Diverse Career Options:  Professionals who have attained formal training in AI and ML can also explore a number of related fields including data engineering, data architecture, deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and so on, allowing the professional to explore a number of options before venturing into one as a stable career choice. 

• Job Security & Expected Boom in the Sector: With automation on the rise and numerous industries integrating AI technologies into their practices, the field of AI and ML as a career is only expected to boom further in the upcoming years. As a result, the job security and prospects in this field are expected to grow further. 

• Global Scope of Professional Opportunities: AI and ML are technological developments taking the world by storm. As a result, the scope of a career in this field is not just prosperous in India but across the globe. An AI/ML specialist can resultingly explore career opportunities in not just the nation but internationally as well. 

As can be seen, there are a number of prospective benefits of exploring a career in the AI and ML domain. 

Roles & Responsibilities of an AI & ML Specialist

An AI and ML engineer essentially works with data collection and management along with programming to come up with AI models and software that can emulate human intelligence and perform various functions smartly and efficiently, reducing the need for human intervention. AI and ML specialists have to look at a number of areas as part of their role, including processing of available data, developing robust AI models, refining and fine-tuning their algorithms to enhance machine learning, regularly monitoring the performance of those models, and further testing for framework proficiency. Represented below are a few of the key responsibility areas that an AI & ML engineer looks at. 

Key Skills Needed for AI & ML

Being a technical role, AI and ML engineers need to be highly proficient in technological skills and functional competencies in addition to having a strong repertoire of soft skills. These skill areas have been detailed below. 

1. Technical Skills & Knowledge to Succeed as an AI & ML Specialist

Some of the key technical skill areas and knowledge that an AI and ML specialist must possess include proficiency in programming languages, conceptual clarity in maths and statistics, data management skills, and knowledge of domains such as deep learning, machine learning, NLP, and so on. The further details of the same are provided below.

Key Skills	Specifications
Programming Languages	Being able to proficiently program in languages like Java, Python, R, etc. as well as be able to manipulate data using libraries like Madpotlib, etc.
Mathematics & Statistics	Having a strong foundation in mathematics as well as statistics including areas like calculus, algebra, statistics, etc.
Data Management & Processing	Being able to navigate data libraries like Madpotlib, SQL, etc. for the purpose of data gathering, data cleaning, basic processing, and interpretation.
Deep Learning	Having a conceptual understanding of deep learning architectures like CNNs, RNNs, data webs, and other neural networks.
Machine Learning Frameworks & Libraries	Being able to develop robust and sound machine learning models and navigate platforms like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, etc. for the development of such models.
Big Data Analytics	Having the skill and proficiency to handle large datasets, clean and process them as well as use Hadoop, Spark, or Apache Kafka etc. for the same.

2. Soft Skills to Succeed as an AI & ML Specialist

Soft skills and interpersonal competence also form a crucial part of the required skills for an AI and ML specialist. Be it analytical aptitude, critical thinking skills, or effective communication, a professional in this domain must possess considerable proficiency in the same. Further details of important soft skills needed for this role are provided below. 

Key Skills	Specifications
Attention to Detail	Being able to identify and analyze minute details as well as ensure thoroughness in one’s work and project outputs.
Adaptability	Having a flexible and adaptable approach towards addressing problems and unforeseen challenges experienced in work situations.
Critical Aptitude	Being able to analyze and devise solutions to problems from a critical standpoint, considering multiple perspectives, and identifying potential setbacks that can be encountered in each solution.
Problem-Solving Ability	The ability to understand and address problems that impact task completion and come up with novel as well as feasible solutions depending upon the nature of the problem.
Communication Skills	Being articulate, clear, and comprehensible in one’s communication, both in verbal/oral and written means.
Ethical Orientation	Having ethical integrity as a central guiding force in one’s work decisions, evaluating the potential implications of various AI systems and models from a critical and societal standpoint.

What are the Career Opportunities for AI & ML (Types of Options available in AI & ML)

As highlighted earlier, one of the factors that make this career domain appealing is its diverse roles and options available to be explored. One can pursue a generic role of an AI engineer gaining exposure in diverse domains of the field, or venture into further specialized domains of deep learning, machine learning, NLP, and so on. Some of the potent job domains related to artificial intelligence and machine learning are enlisted below along with their current compensation in India for your reference. 

Career Option	Average Salary (Per Annum)
AI Engineer	INR 10.11 LPA
Machine Learning (ML) Engineer	INR 9.28 LPA
Data Scientist	INR 9.99 LPA
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer	INR 10 LPA
AI Consultant	INR 13.75 LPA
Deep Learming Engineer	INR 9.75 LPA
AI Business Analyst	INR 10 LPA
Robotics Engineer	INR 5.5 LPA
AI Operations Specialist	INR 10.5 LPA
Data Engineer	INR 9 LPA

Career Analysis: Scope of AI & ML

Understanding the nature of the career domain along with exploring its industrial value is essential before deciding to venture into the domain. Here, we have delved into the industry trends as well as projected career trajectories in AI and ML domains. 

1. Demand for AI & ML Specialists: Industry Trends

Some of the pertinent industrial trends and insights that provide information about the career prospects of a career in AI and ML have been provided below. 

• As of 2024, India has emerged as a leader or hub in job opportunities available for AI and ML professionals, accounting for nearly 4.1% of the global openings in this domain, surpassing nations including Germany, Japan, and the USA. 
• The demand for mid-level trained professionals is higher in this domain, as trends suggest that a majority of the openings focus majorly on individuals with 2-7 years of professional experience.
• Some of the up and coming roles in this domain include a machine learning expert, a data engineer, an AI engineer, and data scientists.  
• As the Indian IT sector is looking to rebound in 2025, there is a strong emphasis on proficiency in skills like AI and data science, making it one of the potent job domains in the technical fields. 

2. Fees & Costs Involved in Becoming an AI & ML Specialist

To become an AI and ML specialist in India, one must pursue formal education in the field at the undergraduate level in the form of a relevant degree (e.g. B.Tech/BCA/B.E./B.Sc, etc.). A graduate can then make the decision of whether to pursue postgraduate education or start exploring professional opportunities in the field. Being a course in the technological domain, the fee range for courses in this specialization is on a relatively higher end at both the UG and PG levels. However, there are a number of options including online courses (carrying equivalent credibility and validity as an offline course), options for easy monthly EMIs and so on which allow students and aspirants from diverse financial backgrounds to easily pursue a course in AI and ML. 

Enlisted below are a few of the popular online courses at the UG, PG, and executive levels to start a career in AI and ML. 

AI & ML Courses	Approximate Course Fees
Online BCA in AI & ML	INR 2,00,000
Online BCA in Computer Science & IT	INR 1,50,000
Online B.Tech in Computer Science	INR 3.00,000
Online B.Sc in IT	INR 3,50,000
Online MBA in AI & ML	INR 2,00,000
Online MBA in Business Intelligence & AI	INR 3,50,000
Executive MBA in AI & ML	INR 2,50,000
Online Executive MBA in IT Management	INR 1,50,000
Online Advanced Diploma in AI & ML	INR 50,000
Online MCA in AI & ML	INR 1,50,000

Career Growth Trajectory of AI & ML

Compensation is one of the central factors making this field appealing, students and professionals can expect handsome pay packages in this domain right from the start of their careers. While freshers and entry-level professionals can earn anywhere between INR 5  to INR 6 LPA, with a few years of experience, this package is expected to accelerate multifold. 

Represented below is the approximate career trajectory that a professional can expect in this domain based on the latest statistics and figures. Please note that the presented statistics are approximate figures and are liable to vary as per role, organization, and time. 

Career Navigator: What Course to Pursue for a Career in AI & ML?

To start practicing as an AI/ML engineer or specialist, one must at least hold a valid UG degree such as a B.Tech/BCA/B.Sc/BBA/B.E etc. in a relevant specialization. These include computer science, IT, systems engineering, AI & ML, etc. After attaining a UG education, one can also look to explore professional opportunities right away. Conversely, one can pursue further education such as a PG degree (e.g. MBA/MCA/M.Sc/M.Tech, etc.) or a PG diploma/certification. There are a number of online and offline course options available to pursue based on one’s convenience, budget, and career goals. The overall career navigation pathway for this role has been outlined below. 

Find below a few of the eminent institutions of India which provide education in the field of AI and ML. 

Conclusion 

A career in artificial intelligence and machine learning is a promising domain with a rapidly growing demand. Not only is the field prosperous, but it also offers diverse exposure to the professional along with lucrative packages. With prosperous growth potential and career escalation prospects, this can be a fulfilling career domain for technology enthusiasts interested in contributing cutting-edge innovation to society.