While the term “AI prompt writer” may mean very little to you even now, you can pretty much guarantee that virtually no one had heard of this concept just a few years ago.
But given the lightning speed with which artificial intelligence has evolved, even the most niche AI-adjacent jobs are becoming increasingly common.
Type “prompt writer” into the search bar on a job board like Indeed, for example, and you’ll likely find hundreds of results. And with many businesses planning to increase spending on AI in the future, these opportunities will only surge in the coming years.
Thinking of becoming an AI prompt writer? Perhaps you’ve seen a vacancy advertised and you’re wondering if you have the skill set to apply. In this article, we break down the skills needed to become an AI prompt writer in 2025.
First, let’s start with what an AI prompt writer actually does.
What is an AI Prompt Writer?
A “prompt” is the input you provide to an AI tool to elicit a particular response, and a prompt writer is the individual who creates that input. This sounds remarkably simple (“do X”, “answer Y”, “create Z”), but whether it involves text, images, code, or something else, the quality of the AI’s output depends heavily on the quality of the prompt.
Imagine a director on a movie set: without clearly articulating their vision for the movie, steering the actors and crew towards the desired output, the end result might be disjointed — performances that belong in different films, lighting that sets the wrong mood, and so on.
Well, unlike Spielberg or Scorsese, few prompt writers will have a foldable chair with their name on it — but there are vague similarities.
In the simplest terms: feed an AI tool a vague, messy prompt, and expect vague, messy results. Clear and structured prompts equal better outcomes, and that’s why many companies are now hiring professionals who can “speak” AI fluently.
Prompt writers might work in marketing, tech development, education, design, customer service — pretty much any field where AI tools are used. They fine-tune prompts to get consistent, useful, sometimes creative outputs from AI systems like ChatGPT, DALL-E, Claude, Midjourney, and the Kittl AI Image Generator, which excels at delivering high-quality visuals with exceptional stylistic precision.
Why become an AI Prompt Writer?
First off, this is a role that’s going nowhere but up. As AI becomes more embedded in the day-to-day operations of many of the world’s businesses, the need for experts who can guide AI effectively will continue to expand.
Secondly, it’s a flexible, future-proof skill set. Good prompt writing is part creativity, part technical knowledge — you don’t necessarily need a programming background to get started, just a strong grip on language and an understanding of how AI “behaves”.
Plus, the pay isn’t bad either: as of early 2025, the average salary for a prompt engineer or writer is $136,141, with highly-skilled experts often pulling in even higher pay. Depending on experience and industry, prompt writing can be a lucrative career.
Another major advantage is the flexibility. As a career, it’s very conducive to remote work, meaning it can theoretically be done anywhere, particularly now Employer of Record (EOR) platforms like Deel (or Remote, generally considered the best alternative to Deel) allow companies to easily hire prompt writers globally.
7 Essential AI Prompt Writing Skills
1. Strong command of language
At the heart of every good prompt is precise, intentional wording. You need to be able to write clearly and concisely, leaving ambiguity at the door.
Plus, it’s about knowing how different phrasing can steer AI responses rather than simply having a good grasp of grammar. Choosing the right words at the right time is critical. If you’ve got copywriting, content creation, or even technical writing experience, you’re already on the right track
2. Critical thinking
AI is literal. Unlike perhaps some of your closest friends and family members, it can’t “guess” what you mean — and therefore, you have to think through the prompt logically and anticipate how the AI might misinterpret it.
Good prompt writers approach each task like a problem to solve. They consider possible interpretations and double-check that the output matches expectations, tweaking or refining the wording if they don’t get quite the outcome they intended.
3. Basic understanding of AI and machine learning
No, as a prompt writer, you don’t have to build AI models from scratch, so you needn’t possess in-depth knowledge of programming languages. But at the very least, you should understand how they work at a high level.
Learn the basics: what training data means, what fine-tuning is, why hallucinations sometimes happen. Having just a broad understanding of these concepts helps you set realistic expectations and troubleshoot bad outputs — and fortunately, there are plenty of AI courses for beginners out there.
4. Research skills
Sometimes, you’re going to be writing prompts on topics you’re not familiar with: perhaps you’re asking an AI tool to identify traffic patterns for an online store, for example, but you’re no expert in the e-commerce industry.
For this reason, you need to be able to quickly research new subjects and pick up enough context to craft accurate yet relevant prompts.
This matters even more when working in technical or specialized fields like healthcare or finance, where inaccuracies can be dangerous rather than just inconvenient.
5. Creative problem-solving
Prompt writing often means finding new ways to “ask” for something. Just as you might have to re-explain a request to a colleague if they don’t quite understand it the first time, you may have to refine your prompt (and refine again) if a direct approach doesn’t work.
Creativity here isn’t about writing poetry (yet let’s not completely rule it out as a technique) but rather thinking of different approaches when the obvious path doesn’t get you the output you want.
6. Attention to detail
Even a slight change to a prompt can dramatically change the output you receive — for example, a request to “explain quantum computing” will provide very different results to “explain quantum computing to a beginner”.
When writing prompts for AI, little things like switching the format or asking for steps instead of a summary can make a huge difference.
A good prompt writer is meticulous — they spot even the tiniest errors and inconsistencies so they can optimize prompts for even better results in future.
7. Iteration mindset
Even if you’re an experienced prompt writer, you won’t always nail it on the first try. In fact, most prompt writers iterate a lot.
Being an effective AI prompt writer means being comfortable refining, testing, adjusting and reworking your prompts until the output is exactly what’s needed. It’s a cycle: Write. Test. Adjust. Repeat.
Patience and a willingness to experiment are essential.
Whether you’re looking for a flexible remote role or a lucrative career opportunity, AI prompt writing can be an exciting and future-proof path — but it demands a very unique skill set. By mastering the essential skills outlined here, you can position yourself to thrive in this emerging field.