AI Classes & Bootcamps Cleveland

Cleveland is emerging as a regional tech hub, with its AI market driving this development. Cleveland’s tech industry has grown by more than 5% since 2018, and there are currently about 60,000 people employed in this industry in the Greater Cleveland area. The city of Cleveland and local organizations are working to expand the area’s AI and tech development. For instance, local organization JumpStart supports tech startups and small businesses, and they tout their success of bringing more than $13 billion to the region since 2010. Other organizations, like the Northeast Ohio Software Association, also work to draw talent to the region, and there are additional tech incubators such as Bounce Innovation Hub and LaunchHouse, that grow and offer support to the tech community.

Some of the area's top tech growth sectors are AI, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and FinTech. The Cleveland area is home to strong legacy industries such as manufacturing, finance, and healthcare, which are innovating through the use of AI. This includes the manufacturing and industrial base of the city, which has traditionally been known for iron, steel, and automotive manufacturing and is now incorporating AI and robotics into its operations. Another strength of the area is its local universities and research institutes, including Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University, which not only help to create a talent pool in the area but also partner with businesses and organizations in the Cleveland area on specific tech projects.

Cleveland’s AI Industries

Healthcare and manufacturing are two of Cleveland’s top industries for those with AI training. Cleveland is considered a medical hub, and healthcare is the region’s top employer. The region is home to over 700 biomedical companies, and the Cleveland Clinic, in particular, is considered one of the best and most innovative medical research facilities in the country. Cleveland is part of what is considered a Health-Tech Corridor, which includes not only the local healthcare services, research institutes, and business incubators but also around 170 different healthcare-related tech companies working to develop new ways to understand, detect, and treat medical concerns.

Manufacturing is another of Cleveland’s top industries, and this sector has worked to embrace AI and new technological innovations through what is often called smart or advanced manufacturing. A recent report by the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) shows that manufacturers in Northern Ohio have an 80% new technology adoption rate. This suggests that many Cleveland area manufacturers are embracing advanced manufacturing, and it also indicates that there is still growth potential within this sector. Manufacturers need assistance implementing new technologies in the workplace and are hiring data professionals with AI experience to assess performance.

Top AI Careers in Cleveland

AI experience is in-demand in the Cleveland area, where one’s specialization is often rewarded. Those with experience in manufacturing and healthcare will find that these skill sets are especially needed. The salaries in the area are similar to the national averages, though some can skew lower than average. Clevelanders find that the low cost of living compared to other tech hubs around the country will make up for any average salaries for tech roles.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst: BI Analysts are specialized Data Analysts who use BI software like Tableau and Power BI to visualize data for companies. BI Analysts in Cleveland earn an average yearly salary of $84,000, according to Glassdoor. This role does often come with additional pay, and all-inclusive BI Analyst salaries range from around $86,000 to $136,000.
• AI Developer: AI Developers often program the algorithms that AI models and programs run on, though this role can also sometimes be interchangeable with that of an AI Engineer. According to Glassdoor, AI Developers in Cleveland earn $102,000 per year. This can range from as low as $114,000 to as high as $195,000.
• Data Scientist: Data Scientists are in-demand around the country, and this is true of Cleveland, as well. Someone in this role makes around $112,000 annually in Cleveland. According to Glassdoor, once any additional pay is factored in, Data Scientists stand to earn from $123,000 to $203,000 a year.
• Machine Learning Engineer: Another in-demand career in Cleveland is that of the Machine Learning Engineer. These professionals earn around $114,000 in Cleveland, not accounting for any bonus pay. According to Glassdoor, a Machine Learning Engineer’s pay can range from $120,000 to $194,000 in the region.

Cleveland Companies for AI Professionals

• The Cleveland Clinic: The Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit research medical center that serves the area. Like many healthcare researchers and providers, they hire analysts and scientists to use AI to measure and predict healthcare metrics and performance. The Cleveland Clinic also partners with IBM, local universities, and other companies on projects using AI to advance medical research and care. One of their notable past partnerships helped to develop Explorys’s population searching technology, widely considered a breakthrough in sorting and handling health data. Explorys would eventually be acquired by IBM and rebranded.
• Progressive Insurance: Progressive is a major home and auto insurance company whose headquarters are located in Mayfield Village, just outside of Cleveland. In addition to its regular services, Progressive also has a business incubator, Level20, in Cleveland that works to develop new business initiatives. This company houses data science teams, so those with AI training can often find open and specialized roles at Progressive.
• Eaton: Eaton is a power management manufacturing company with a large, 53-acre corporate office in the Cleveland suburbs. They have products and services across different power sectors, including aerospace, electrical, hydraulic, and vehicle systems. Eaton, like many manufacturers, hires AI and data professionals to optimize their manufacturing and operations processes and to assess the performance of their products and services.
• Tech Startups: Those with AI and machine learning experience will find many opportunities in local startups and smaller companies. Pandata, an AI consulting company for high-risk operations, is one of Cleveland’s tech startup success stories. They were recently acquired by Atlanta-based company Further. Picture Health uses AI to detect disease in medical images and they hire for both remote and in-office positions. Boundary Labs uses AI to digitize the workforce for their manufacturing clients.

Future Outlook for AI in Cleveland

When it comes to the future of the tech industry and AI in the Cleveland area, there are a lot of regional strengths that are priming the area for further development. A recent report titled “Jump-Starting America” even ranked Cleveland #6 out of 102 U.S. cities with the most growth potential and ability to become the next tech hub. The cost of living is lower in comparison to many other major cities and tech hubs in the U.S., making it an appealing place to live and work for top tech talent.

The city of Cleveland and the local county, Cuyahoga, are working on growing the tech workforce. Recently, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, county officials, Cleveland State University, and Case Western University started a three-year initiative to create 500 STEM internships to develop the area’s talent base and future workforce. The city’s active investment in STEM careers and supporting tech startups together should help the city develop the necessary tech workforce and grow sustainable jobs for these workers.

Along with continued growth in the region and the development of local talent, another sector to pay attention to in the coming years is healthcare and biotechnology. Verdynt, a biotech company based in Boston, recently signed a deal to renovate an old car dealership in East Cleveland, and they plan to spend $12 million to open a biomedical research facility in its place. This opportunity alone looks to create roughly 100 jobs in the area, and some of those jobs will be for individuals with AI and machine learning experience.