AI Jobs in Leeds
UK — Live Listings 2026
Leeds has developed into a significant UK AI centre, driven primarily by financial services, the NHS and public sector digital transformation, and media and broadcasting. The city's lower cost base and growing tech talent pipeline make it increasingly attractive for AI teams building at scale in domains where data richness matters.
Live AI Jobs in Leeds
Why Work in Leeds AI?
Leeds's AI ecosystem is anchored by financial services (First Direct, HSBC, Leeds Building Society, Moneysupermarket), the NHS AI and digital health cluster, Sky Betting and Gaming (Flutter Entertainment), and Channel 4's data and AI team, which relocated its HQ to Leeds.
NHS and public sector AI — high-impact work at scale
NHS Digital and NHSX have significant Leeds presences, and the city is home to some of the most consequential AI work in the UK: predictive models for patient outcomes, NLP for clinical notes, and AI tools that inform resource allocation across NHS trusts.
Financial services depth and data richness
Leeds has an unusually high concentration of financial services companies relative to its size. First Direct, Leeds Building Society, Asda Money, and a growing fintech cluster create strong opportunities for ML engineers in fraud detection, credit risk, personalisation, and insurance pricing.
Growing tech scene with low competition for talent
Leeds's tech scene is growing faster than the local talent supply, which means hiring companies are competitive on package and offer more opportunities for faster promotion than comparable roles in London.
Channel 4 and media AI
Channel 4 moved its national HQ to Leeds in 2023, bringing significant data, AI, and technology roles to the city. Media AI — content recommendation, audience intelligence, advertising optimisation, and production automation — is a niche that Leeds now has.
Salary Context
Leeds AI salaries typically run 20–30% below London, but with housing costs significantly lower, the real-terms difference is smaller than it appears. Financial services and public sector AI roles often have strong benefits and pension packages that partially offset headline salary differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for an AI professional in Leeds?
Mid-level AI engineers in Leeds typically earn £52,000–£75,000. Senior AI engineers earn £75,000–£110,000. Public sector NHS roles often come with defined benefit pension schemes that add significant value. Financial services roles at HSBC and Sky Betting can reach £130,000+ at senior levels.
What industries hire AI professionals in Leeds?
Financial services (banking, insurance, price comparison), public sector and NHS digital, retail and e-commerce (Asda, Morrisons), media and broadcasting (Channel 4, Sky), and government digital services (HMRC) are the main AI employment sectors.
Is Leeds a good city for NHS and health AI roles?
Yes — Leeds is probably the best UK city outside London for NHS and health AI roles. NHS Digital has a large Leeds presence, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is a national leader in clinical AI implementation.
Are there AI startups in Leeds?
The Leeds startup scene is growing, supported by Platform (Leeds' tech hub), Nexus at the University of Leeds, and a developing VC community. The AI startup ecosystem is smaller than Manchester's but is expanding, particularly in healthtech and fintech AI.
How does Leeds compare to Sheffield for AI jobs?
Leeds has a significantly larger AI job market than Sheffield, driven by the financial services and public sector clusters. Sheffield has strengths in manufacturing AI, advanced robotics, and materials science AI.
Salary ranges and employer mentions are based on publicly available job listing data aggregated from Adzuna and other UK job boards, supplemented by industry salary surveys (e.g. TotalJobs, Glassdoor UK). Employer lists reflect companies with a known presence in the city at the time of writing and are not exhaustive. Figures are approximate and may vary by role, seniority, and company. Last reviewed May 2026.