How to Land an AI/ML Job in Nepal: A Practical Guide
Break into the growing AI and ML job market in Nepal with this comprehensive guide covering skills, companies, salaries, and actionable steps to build your career.
Pramesh Bhandari
AI Career Coach and Machine Learning Mentor at Knowlary, guiding young Nepali talents into data-driven careers.
Nepal is witnessing a quiet revolution in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. With tech startups, outsourcing firms, and international remote opportunities expanding rapidly, AI/ML has become one of the most promising career paths for Nepali youths. This guide offers everything you need to start and succeed.
Why AI/ML Jobs Are Growing in Nepal
- Digital transformation across key sectors like finance, agriculture, education, and healthcare
- Rising demand for automation and data-driven insights
- Remote-first work mindset unlocking global job access
- AI education initiatives by local and global institutions (e.g., Fusemachines, AI4Development)
In-Demand AI/ML Job Roles in Nepal
1. Junior Machine Learning Engineer
- Implements supervised learning models and supports model deployment
- Requires Python, Scikit-learn, Pandas, Git
- Typical salary: NPR 30,000 to 60,000 per month
2. Data Analyst with ML Exposure
- Performs business data analysis and prediction
- Requires SQL, Excel, PowerBI/Tableau, basic ML knowledge
- Typical salary: NPR 35,000 to 70,000 per month
3. AI Intern / Trainee
- Supports ML pipeline, data cleaning, basic modeling
- Requires Python, Jupyter Notebooks
- Typical stipend: NPR 10,000 to 25,000 per month
4. Remote AI Freelancer
- Offers services like NLP, computer vision, model tuning
- Works on Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal
- Income range: USD 500 to 2,000+ per month
Leading AI/ML Employers in Nepal
- Fusemachines – AI education and applied AI solutions
- Verisk Nepal – Data analytics for insurance and finance
- Leapfrog Technology – Software development with embedded AI
- CloudFactory – Data labeling and workforce automation
- Deerhold Ltd. – Outsourced AI and SaaS products
- eSatya – Blockchain meets AI experimentation hub
Key Skills Employers Look For
Technical Skills
- Python (primary), R (optional), SQL
- ML models: classification, regression, clustering
- Deep learning basics (CNNs, Transformers are a plus)
- Tools: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Git
- Cloud: AWS, GCP, or Azure basics
- DevOps: Docker, version control, basic CI/CD
Career & Soft Skills
- Clear communication (especially in English)
- Problem-solving approach and curiosity
- Portfolio with real projects and GitHub links
- Collaboration via tools like Notion, Trello, Slack
Step-by-Step Roadmap to Land a Job
Step 1: Build the Basics
- Learn Python, statistics, and data analysis
- Start with beginner-friendly courses on Coursera, Fast.ai, Kaggle
Step 2: Work on Projects
- Build apps like movie recommenders, Nepali sentiment analysis
- Document them on GitHub with READMEs and visuals
Step 3: Apply for Internships
- Reach out to Fusemachines, Verisk, Deerhold, or AI4D
- Use your GitHub as a portfolio
Step 4: Freelance or Contribute
- Take small jobs on Upwork or Fiverr
- Join Kaggle competitions or contribute to open-source ML tools
Step 5: Resume + Interview Prep
- Keep your resume short and project-focused
- Practice coding and behavioral interviews on platforms like Pramp
Certifications That Add Value
- Coursera – AI for Everyone by Andrew Ng (non-tech)
- Udacity – Machine Learning Nanodegree (paid, intensive)
- Kaggle – Free micro-courses (Intro to ML, Pandas, DL)
- DataCamp – Structured career tracks (subscription-based)
Salary Expectations (2025 Estimates)
Local (Nepal):
- Interns: NPR 10,000 – 25,000/month
- Junior: NPR 30,000 – 60,000/month
- Mid-level: NPR 70,000 – 120,000/month
- Senior: NPR 130,000 – 250,000+/month
Remote (International):
- Junior: $400 – $1,200/month
- Mid-level: $1,000 – $2,500/month
- Senior: $2,500 – $6,000+/month
Factors affecting salary include skill specialization, company type, and remote vs local employment.
Success Stories from Nepal
Priyanka (Butwal):
Completed Coursera courses, built sentiment analysis projects in Nepali, and now works remotely for an Indian AI startup.
Nirajan (Pokhara):
Started with a math background, joined Leapfrog as an intern, now leads a fraud detection team.
Ram (Chitwan):
A farmer who built a rainfall and pest prediction tool using basic ML. Now helping 30+ farmers in his region.
Final Tips
- Start small — even basic projects are better than none
- Don’t wait for perfection — start applying early
- Learn from others — attend AI meetups or join Discord/LinkedIn groups
- Share your learning journey — on blogs or YouTube
- Keep improving — AI is fast-evolving, stay curious
Conclusion
Getting into AI/ML from Nepal is absolutely possible — even without an Ivy League degree or a fancy computer. With passion, internet access, and persistence, you can build a career that’s impactful, well-paid, and future-ready.
You don’t need to move abroad to work on AI — Nepal is becoming a launchpad for smart talent. Whether you work with local startups, global clients, or on your own innovation, this is the best time to start.