Tech Pro Pivots to AI, Earns $6.4K/Week, Prioritizes Relevance
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence continues to reshape the technological landscape, creating new opportunities and demanding a proactive approach to career development. Mostofa Adib Shakib, a 28-year-old software engineer, exemplifies this shift, having successfully pivoted his career to focus on AI and now commanding an impressive $6,400 a week. His journey underscores a critical trend in the tech industry: staying relevant often outweighs monetary gains in the long run.
Shakib’s career trajectory began after he moved to the U.S. in 2017 from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to pursue higher education. He earned two bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics, along with a minor in electrical engineering, from Texas Tech in 2021. His initial professional experiences included roles at Snap Inc., where he started in June 2021 with a base salary of $125,000, and later at ZipRecruiter, starting in December 2022 with a base salary of $145,000. However, the advent of generative AI, particularly with the release of ChatGPT, served as a pivotal moment for Shakib. Recognizing the profound shift in the industry, he made the strategic decision in 2024 to depart from traditional software engineering and dedicate himself to acquiring advanced AI skills.
Today, Shakib works as a contractor for an AI-driven company, a role that not only offers substantial weekly earnings but also affords him the flexibility to further cultivate his expertise in this burgeoning field. His focus has particularly gravitated towards “agentic AI software engineering,” a cutting-edge domain that is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of future automation. Agentic AI refers to sophisticated artificial intelligence systems designed to operate autonomously as “agents.” Unlike conventional AI that primarily responds to prompts or fixed rules, agentic AI systems can perceive their environment, make independent decisions, plan actions, and adapt to achieve complex goals with minimal human intervention. In software development, this translates to AI agents autonomously handling tasks such as writing code, debugging, refactoring, testing, and deployment, fundamentally transforming developer workflows.
Shakib’s foresight aligns perfectly with the current demands of the AI job market. The sector is experiencing unprecedented growth in 2025, significantly outpacing general employment trends. Over 82% of companies are either implementing or exploring the use of AI, driving a massive demand for specialized talent. Recent data indicates a 32% year-over-year increase in AI job vacancies as of April 2025. This surge has led to a “split job market,” where traditional roles may see reductions, while positions requiring AI expertise are in high demand and command premium salaries. For instance, AI Engineers are now averaging $206,000 annually, a notable increase from the previous year, and median salaries for all AI roles have risen to $156,998. Senior and executive AI roles, in particular, offer significantly higher compensation.
The skills most coveted in this evolving landscape include strong programming foundations (especially in Python), proficiency in machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, understanding of neural networks, and expertise in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Beyond technical prowess, there’s a growing emphasis on skills related to model interpretability, performance optimization, robust system integration, and the development of ethical AI frameworks. Professionals who can combine these technical skills with domain-specific knowledge in industries like healthcare, finance, or manufacturing are particularly valued, often commanding 15-25% higher salaries.
Mostofa Adib Shakib’s story serves as a compelling testament to the power of continuous learning and adaptability in a rapidly changing technological world. His unwavering belief in “betting on myself,” a philosophy he attributes to figures like Elon Musk, fuels his drive to embrace change and constantly upskill. As AI continues to embed itself across every industry, the ability to pivot and specialize in cutting-edge areas like agentic AI is not just a path to financial success but a crucial strategy for long-term career relevance.