Need Better AI Results? Here’s Why You Should Hire a Prompt Engineer

Making AI Work Smarter: What an AI Prompt Engineer Actually Does

AI prompt engineers can command salaries of over $300,000 a year simply by knowing how to talk to a chatbot. Sounds wild, right? But when you understand what an AI prompt engineer actually does, it starts to make sense.

A prompt engineer creates, refines, and tests the inputs that drive generative AI systems like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Midjourney, and others. These tools respond to human language, but how you phrase a prompt can completely change the output. A prompt engineer’s job is to figure out how to ask in order to get the best possible answer.

Think of it this way: anyone can type a question into ChatGPT. An AI prompt engineer knows how to turn that question into a well-structured command that delivers consistent, accurate, and high-quality results.

As businesses increasingly rely on generative AI for content creation, coding, design, customer support, and more, the role of a prompt engineer for AI is becoming less niche and more essential.

If your company is already exploring AI tools but isn’t seeing the productivity gains you expected, hiring an AI prompt engineer might be the missing piece. It’s a specialized role, but one that can drive serious value. One that becomes even more powerful when paired with an AI engineer.

What’s the Difference Between an AI Engineer and an AI Prompt Engineer

Think of it like this: an AI engineer builds the car, and a prompt engineer learns how to drive it to get the best performance.

The AI engineer designs the systems and models under the hood—while the prompt engineer figures out how to steer, accelerate, and fine-tune the ride to get where you need to go efficiently and reliably.

An AI engineer is invaluable for developing and maintaining the machine learning models that power generative AI tools. They handle the code, the algorithms, and the systems behind the scenes.

A prompt engineer works on the front end, crafting, refining, and testing prompts that make those models respond in smarter, more useful ways. 

Each role solves a different part of the AI puzzle. If you’re still building your team, it’s worth understanding how and when to hire AI engineers and prompt engineers based on your needs.

Why Companies Are Hiring Prompt Engineers

A recent report from KPMG showed that 78% of business leaders at companies with a billion dollars or more in revenue expect ROI from their generative AI investments in just one to three years. 

But here’s the thing—those companies have the resources to make it happen. They’ve got dedicated teams, including prompt engineers, ensuring their AI initiatives deliver results.

For mid-sized businesses and startups, achieving the same level of value from AI can feel out of reach without that kind of support.

That’s because, for many companies, the issue isn’t the tools but how they’re being used. Teams rely on ChatGPT, Claude, or DALL·E for content creation, customer service, and more, but often end up with inconsistent, low-quality results. Instead of saving time, they’re stuck editing AI outputs or redoing the work manually.

These are precisely the kinds of businesses that need a prompt engineer to fine-tune how their team interacts with AI so the tools deliver reliable, high-quality results that drive actual productivity gains.

A prompt engineer writes and tests inputs that help generative AI tools respond in a way that’s clear, reliable, and aligned with your goals. But their value goes far beyond the prompt itself.

AI prompt engineers can:

• Fine-tune workflows in content, support, product design, and analytics.
• Help non-technical teams use AI effectively without constant oversight.
• Improve accuracy and consistency in AI-generated work.
• Reduce the trial-and-error loop that slows down productivity.

Hiring a prompt engineer isn’t just a technical decision. It’s a strategic one. This is especially true if you’re trying to scale smarter and faster with limited resources. 

If you’re investing in generative AI and its development but not getting the ROI you expected, it might be time to bring in someone who can make the tools actually work for your team.

Is It Time to Hire a Prompt Engineer? Here’s How to Know

Prompt engineering is still a relatively new role, but demand is skyrocketing, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 27.8% through 2034. More businesses are realizing that while AI tools are accessible to everyone, getting reliable, high-quality outputs requires a specialist.

So, how do you know when to bring in help?

At first glance, prompt engineering might seem like something your team can handle on its own. After all, with a little practice, anyone can learn to write more detailed, structured prompts. But that’s not what high-level prompt engineers are hired for.

Prompt engineers build systems. They don’t just write one good prompt—they create scalable frameworks that work across different AI models and use cases. They develop repeatable processes that ensure your AI tools consistently deliver high-quality, reliable outputs, whether you’re generating content, analyzing data, or automating customer interactions.

For example, instead of writing a one-off prompt to summarize financial data, a prompt engineer might design a template that automatically adjusts based on the type of data, the intended audience (executive, marketing, finance), and the level of detail required. They’ll test it across various scenarios, refine it for edge cases, and make sure it works seamlessly every time.

Here are some key signs it’s time to bring in that level of expertise:

• AI outputs are inconsistent, inaccurate, or require too much manual cleanup. If your team spends more time fixing AI outputs than benefiting from them, you’re missing the point of automation.

• You’re using generative AI at scale across multiple teams or functions. When different departments are relying on AI for content, reporting, customer service, or design, you need systems that deliver consistent results—not ad-hoc prompts.

• Your AI tools impact customer-facing or high-stakes decisions. Whether it’s marketing copy, financial analysis, or customer interactions, high-stakes outputs demand reliability. A prompt engineer ensures the AI meets that bar.

• The cost of inefficiency is stacking up. If AI-generated mistakes or inconsistencies are slowing down your workflows or risking your brand’s reputation, the investment in a prompt engineer starts to pay for itself.
• You want to automate and scale AI-driven processes. Prompt engineers help you move beyond manual, one-off interactions to automated, scalable systems that can run across platforms, teams, or projects.

In short, if AI is becoming a core part of your operations—but you’re not getting the consistent, scalable results you need—it’s time to consider hiring a prompt engineer. Their role isn’t about crafting a perfect sentence—it’s about building reliable processes that unlock the full potential of AI in your business.

Industries seeing the most value from prompt engineering with generative AI include:

• SaaS and tech for product development, user support, and automation.
• Fintech for financial summaries, reporting, and compliance workflows.
• Healthcare for summarizing patient data, creating knowledge bases, and improving internal processes.
• Retail and e-commerce for chatbot scripts, product descriptions, and customer service responses.
• Marketing and copywriting for email campaigns, SEO and ad copy, and branded content.
• Design and creative teams for AI-generated visuals, image editing prompts, and layout ideas.
• Engineering and coding for generating code snippets, debugging help, and technical documentation.

Projects like chatbots, automated emails, data analysis for executive dashboards, design assets, and internal tools become far more effective when handled by someone with gen AI prompt engineering experience.

A prompt engineer helps your team work smarter without needing a bigger budget or headcount.

Key Skills to Look For in a Great Prompt Engineer

A strong prompt engineer understands how generative AI models interpret language and how to shape that input to get the most accurate and useful results.

Here are the core skills of an AI prompt engineer to look for:

• Proficiency with multiple AI models, including text generators like GPT and Claude, as well as image tools like Midjourney or DALL·E.
• Excellent language skills, with a focus on clarity, tone, and intent—especially in English.
• Creativity is particularly important when AI is used in marketing, design, or product content environments.
• Experience crafting and refining effective prompts, including testing variations and documenting what works.

• Ability to document prompt strategies clearly so your team can build on proven approaches.
• Background in UX, linguistics, or data science, which helps with both user-focused thinking and technical reasoning.

Soft skills matter too. Logical thinking, cross-team collaboration, and a deep curiosity for how language influences machine behavior are all valuable traits.

If you’re wondering about the cost of hiring someone with this mix of skills and hands-on experience, you’re not alone. In the next section, we’ll look at AI prompt engineering salary benchmarks and how to find top talent at an accessible rate.

How to Hire a Prompt Engineer Without Breaking the Bank

Hiring a skilled, prompt engineer in the US can get expensive quickly. But if you’re open to building your team outside the country, there’s a smarter and more affordable path forward.

By hiring from nearby countries with a lower cost of living, such as those in Latin America, you can access highly skilled AI prompt engineers at a fraction of US rates. This approach, known as nearshore hiring, allows startups and mid-sized businesses to compete with much larger organizations without sacrificing quality or real-time communication.

It also supports a more inclusive future for AI. Nearshore hiring brings data-driven decision-making and advanced prompt engineer AI support to companies that might not have the resources of Silicon Valley giants. It enables smaller businesses to access advanced AI talent, fostering broader participation in AI innovation beyond large tech hubs.

Here’s how the salary comparison stacks up:

These savings come without compromising on quality. Many AI prompt engineers in Latin America are fluent in English, experienced with major AI models, and are located in time zones that align well with US teams.

Final Thoughts

Prompt engineers are the missing link for many businesses struggling to get value from AI tools. With the right hire, you can improve efficiency, increase output quality, and start seeing real returns from your generative AI efforts.

And the best part? You don’t need a massive budget to make it happen.

By hiring from Latin America, companies of all sizes can access skilled prompt engineers at a much lower cost than US-based roles. This makes the role accessible to mid-sized businesses and startups that need to move fast and grow sustainably.

At Near, we help companies like yours find top prompt engineering talent in LatAm so you can get the support you need to use AI effectively.

Ready to see better results from your AI investments? Book a free consultation, and let’s get started finding you the talent you need.