AI and Automation Jobs in Greece: Opportunities, Skills, and Where to Start

Current landscape: demand, key sectors and where jobs are concentrated

AI and automation adoption in Greece has accelerated across both private and public sectors. Finance, shipping, tourism, health tech and manufacturing are the biggest adopters: banks and fintechs use ML for credit scoring and fraud detection; shipping companies deploy predictive maintenance and optimization models; tourism platforms use recommendation systems and chatbots; healthcare startups focus on diagnostics and patient data analytics. Geographically, Athens is the main hub for startups, accelerators and multinational tech teams, while university towns such as Thessaloniki and Patras contribute research talent. EU and national funding programs are also fueling AI projects, meaning more openings in R&D, applied AI and digital transformation teams. For jobseekers, this means a mix of roles in established companies and rapidly scaling startups, plus consulting gigs for automation and RPA implementations.

Top roles, required skills and salary expectations

Common AI and automation roles in Greece include machine learning engineer, data scientist, data engineer, MLOps engineer, AI researcher, RPA developer and automation consultant. Employers typically look for experience in Python, SQL, ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), containerization and CI/CD for MLOps. For automation and RPA jobs, skills with UiPath, Automation Anywhere or Blue Prism are valuable. Soft skills such as domain knowledge (finance, shipping, healthcare), product thinking and communication are often decisive. Salary ranges vary by experience and company size: junior positions often start at competitive local levels, mid-level roles command higher wages especially in Athens or for international firms, and senior ML/MLOps specialists or lead AI engineers can earn significantly more — with remote or contract opportunities sometimes paying at pan-European rates. Continuous learning, published projects or Kaggle portfolios help candidates stand out.

How to break in: training, networking and remote or freelance paths

To enter the AI and automation job market in Greece, combine practical projects with targeted training. Start with structured courses in machine learning, data engineering or RPA tools, then build a portfolio of end-to-end projects: data cleaning, model development, deployment and monitoring. Participate in local meetups, hackathons and university tech events — Athens hosts many AI meetups and startup events that connect talent with hiring companies. Consider internships or part-time roles at startups to gain production experience. For those outside major hubs, remote roles are increasingly common; freelancing platforms and specialized staffing agencies place Greek talent on international contracts. Finally, leverage government and EU-funded reskilling programs that subsidize training in digital skills — these can accelerate the transition into automation and AI careers.