No degree needed: This new job pays up to €300,000 a year—here’s why everyone’s talking about it
Move over, astronauts and unicorn trainers: the professional world has a new superstar, and you don’t even need a degree to join the party. The job? Prompt engineer. The paycheck? Up to €303,000 a year. No, you haven’t accidentally tuned into a fantasy novel—this is the reality of today’s artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.
What does a prompt engineer actually do?
Let’s set the stage. Artificial intelligences—or AIs—are getting pretty fabulous at generating everything from dazzling texts to beautiful images. But there’s a twist: getting relevant and useful results out of these digital marvels isn’t as easy as throwing words at the screen. You have to know how to use them and, more importantly, how to send the right requests—the “prompts.” Change just one word, and your AI BFF might give you something completely different from what you expected.
This is exactly where the prompt engineer comes in—known in French as the “ingénieur de saisie.” This job is all about crafting the perfect instructions for AIs, so they deliver exactly what’s needed. Just a few months ago, this job didn’t even exist. Now? In a couple of years, it’s likely to be as common in companies as coffee machines and endless meetings.
Don’t go looking for a diploma, though. There’s no official university course or night school designed for prompt engineers yet. For now, the future prompt-engineering rock stars are sharpening their skills on their own—often testing strategies on platforms like ChatGPT.
Working with AI: Where creativity meets clarity
The latest AI tools are nothing short of impressive—and free! Names like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Dall-E might not ring a bell yet, but they generate a vast range of content from just a few keywords. ChatGPT, for instance, can whip up dialogue; Midjourney drafts articles; Dall-E brings illustrations to life.
However, not everyone will get mind-blowing results just by talking to an algorithm. If you want the AI to respond in a way that’s crystal clear and useful, your own instructions need to be just as sharp. We’re talking about well-crafted, precise language—not a rambling word salad. Mastering the art of prompt engineering is something learned with practice, over time, often by testing countless ways of communicating with the AI.
And if you’re feeling a little lost, you’re not alone. Even the Washington Post has put together a handy guide to help readers communicate with ChatGPT. So, there’s hope for us all!
A job that touches every industry
Here’s where things go from interesting to extraordinary: prompt engineers aren’t just limited to tech startups or IT departments. Their skills are already shaking up almost every industry. Journalism, advertising, design, education—these are just a few of the fields that stand to be transformed as AIs sweep through the creative and business landscapes.
Take Microsoft, for example: they’ve integrated AI into their Office suite. Now, whether you’re a consultant on a deadline or simply need to jazz up a presentation, you can feed a few commands to the AI and—voilà—it produces an entire PowerPoint for you, from scratch.
The role of the prompt engineer isn’t just about making new content, either. They’re instrumental in checking or improving material that’s already been created. In other words, prompt engineers help bridge the gap between what machines can do and what humans actually want.
The pay, the prospects—no degree needed
Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter: why is everyone suddenly talking about this job? In short, the money. According to the first job offers spotted by Bloomberg, prompt engineers can bring home about $335,000 a year (roughly €303,000). And according to one American magazine, it could become the most sought-after job within two years.
Best of all, it requires no special diploma. All it takes is time spent experimenting with each AI, getting to grips with their quirks, and learning how to speak their language. That means this job is accessible to just about anyone willing to dive in and practice.
- No expensive education required
- Suitable for any industry
- Highly competitive salary
- Ever-increasing demand
So, what now?
The rise of the prompt engineer is a signal that a new era is starting in the world of work—one where creativity and clear communication are worth just as much as advanced degrees, if not more. If you’re keen, start experimenting with platforms like ChatGPT. Who knows? One carefully crafted sentence could open the door to an entirely new (and very well-paid) career.
