Salesforce professionals are no strangers to change — but the rise of AI is redefining the game in ways we haven’t seen before. In a conversation on The Salesforce Career Show, I spoke with industry leaders about what AI means for the admin role going forward.

Here’s the bottom line:
AI isn’t replacing admins — it’s redefining what success looks like.

If you’re a Salesforce Admin (or hiring one), now’s the time to shift from tactical execution to strategic enablement. Let’s take a look at how the role is evolving, what skills matter most, and how to stay relevant in a world where Einstein GPT, AgentForce, and other AI tools are becoming the norm — not the exception.

AI Is Your New Co-Worker — Whether You’re Ready or Not

There’s no slow rollout here. AI is already capable of handling a significant portion of what many admins used to do manually:

• Managing user permissions
• Generating reports
• Building workflows and flows
• Updating metadata via prompts

We’re not talking about hypothetical use cases — we’re talking about features either available today or just a few releases away.

But here’s the good news:
Admins aren’t being automated out — they’re being invited up.

The job is shifting from configurator to strategic orchestrator. That means helping teams adopt AI tools effectively, guiding automation strategies, and becoming a go-to expert on where AI fits into business processes.

The Admin Skill Set Is Expanding (And That’s a Good Thing)

From my experience recruiting Salesforce talent, here’s what I’m seeing: the admins who are thriving right now are the ones who lean into change.

What does that look like in practice?

Key Competencies for the Modern Admin:

• AI Awareness: Understanding what tools like Einstein GPT actually do — and what they don’t.
• Prompt Engineering: Writing clear, actionable prompts that produce reliable outcomes.
• DevOps Familiarity: Admins who know the basics of version control, change sets, and SFDX are standing out in a big way.
• Strategic Thinking: Asking “why” before building anything — and aligning automation with business outcomes.
• Stakeholder Communication: Explaining complex AI capabilities in plain English for executives and users.

The ability to speak both “AI” and “business” is now one of the most valuable skills an admin can have.

For Admins: Where to Start (and How to Stand Out)

You don’t need to become an AI engineer. You do need to be fluent enough to make informed decisions, guide your organization, and stay relevant in your role.

Here’s where I recommend starting:

1. Certify and Re-Certify

The latest Salesforce Admin certs are more AI-inclusive. If you’ve been putting it off, now is the time to get current — or go after the AI Specialist cert to deepen your skill set.

2. Explore AI Trailhead Modules — Twice

Run through all Einstein GPT and Agent-related Trailhead modules. Then do them again. Don’t just check the badge — aim for true understanding.

3. Practice Prompt Engineering

Experiment with tools like ChatGPT, Salesforce Prompt Builder, or even internal GPTs. Start simple. Build prompts. Break them. Learn by doing.

4. Dig into DevOps

You don’t need to master Git overnight, but understanding DevOps workflows — especially how changes move through environments — is increasingly critical.

For Hiring Managers: The Admin Role Has Evolved — Has Your Job Description?

If you’re hiring Salesforce Admins right now, it’s time to revisit your criteria.

You’re no longer just looking for someone who can manage profiles or tweak page layouts. You’re hiring a strategic partner who:

• Understands Salesforce’s AI roadmap
• Can assess AI readiness across business units
• Knows when to deploy automation (and when not to)
• Can translate AI potential into actual outcomes

And here’s the reality:
Admins with AI and governance experience are already commanding higher salaries. Recent data suggests a 20–25% compensation bump for candidates with proven AI fluency—and the gap is likely to widen.

Looking Ahead: Embracing the Challenge

Adapting to AI isn’t about learning a single tool. It’s about embracing an entirely new way of working. That might sound daunting, but it’s also a massive opportunity.

We’re at the part of the curve where early adopters pull ahead. The admins who lean in now — who make AI part of their day-to-day thinking — will quickly become the most valuable players in their organization.

And here’s the truth:
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You just have to be the one who started.

Invest in What’s Coming Next

There’s no turning back the clock on AI. But there’s also no reason to be overwhelmed.

This is your opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a Salesforce Admin — and to do work that’s more strategic, more impactful, and more aligned with where the platform (and the world) is going.

• Admins who adapt will lead.

• Admins who don’t will get left behind.

Choose to lead.

Want to future-proof your Salesforce career — or your team?

• Start with AI Trailhead modules
• Explore prompt engineering with ChatGPT or Salesforce tools
• Or reach out to our team — we help businesses and professionals get ahead in this next wave of Salesforce talent

Let’s build smarter — together.