Women and AI: Strategies To Increase Your Earning Power in 2026

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Artificial intelligence is transforming how Americans work, earn and grow their careers. While headlines often focus on job displacement, many experts say AI can actually help women increase their incomes — especially in a job market where pay equity gaps persist.

In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Becky Heidesch, author of “The Career Masterclass for Women,” about how women can leverage AI to earn more, advance faster and stay competitive in an evolving economy.

How can AI help women increase their incomes?

Everyone can harness AI to boost earning potential today, but for women, it is especially important as they continue to lag in pay equity. AI provides an opportunity for women to get ahead. AI can:

• Automate mundane administrative tasks
• Provide an opportunity for women to build expertise
• Free up time to focus more on leadership, networking and revenue-producing tasks, like sales and business development

Women are often overloaded with building a career and being the primary caretakers in a family — thus, any way to advance their careers by doing more with less time is something every woman can benefit from.

By mastering the AI tools in their career lane, women can elevate toward management and leadership roles faster. One way to do this is for women to become experts in the AI tools used or needed in their organization or department.

Now is a great time for women to utilize AI to get hired, promoted or gain visibility.

What key skills should women build to stay competitive?

Women increase earnings fastest when they intentionally upgrade their STEEP Qualifications framework — Skills, Tools, Education, Experience and Personal Qualifications:

• Skills: Especially in AI, data literacy, leadership and digital tools
• Tools: Modern platforms, software and systems that increase productivity
• Education: Certifications, micro credentials or advanced degrees
• Experience: Stretch assignments, cross-functional projects and measurable wins
• Personal qualifications: Confidence, communication, negotiation and executive presence

This is the foundation for becoming more marketable, promotable and harder to replace.

What high-growth roles should women consider in the AI economy?

Women who intentionally target tech-enabled roles, leadership positions, revenue-generating functions (sales, business development and product), and high-growth industries tend to see the fastest earnings increases.

If internal opportunities have plateaued, then it is a good time to consider switching companies — a move can result in a larger salary jump than staying put. Women should consider a move when:

• They’ve outgrown their role
• Their pay is below market
• Advancement is slow or comes to a halt
• Their skills are in high demand

How can women protect their careers from AI-related risks?

Women face many risks in staying employed: the rapid pace of AI, economic shifts, discrimination and reputation damage — not to mention time off for child rearing and caretaking.

Increasing earnings requires:

• Staying ahead of industry changes
• Protecting online reputation
• Keeping skills current
• Having a backup plan

Career risk management is income protection.

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