The technology sector takes up a big chunk of the current job market, especially post-pandemic. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and information technology (IT) will grow by 13 percent from 2020 to 2030. The following article covers the best-paying jobs in technology, technology careers, and other technology salaries.
Jobs in technology usually require a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field. However, the best-paying jobs in technology also require some level of related experience, relevant skills, and a graduate degree. So let’s explore the job duties, required education, and technology salaries for high-paying technology careers. Take our free tech career quiz to help get you started.
What Do Technology Jobs Pay?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for technology jobs was $91,250 per year in 2020. The annual wage for tech jobs depends on job type. For example, web developers earned a median salary of $77,200 in 2020, while computer research scientists earned $126,830. Managerial tech jobs are usually the best-paying jobs in technology, and according to BLS, they paid a median of $72.67 per hour or $151,150 per year in 2020.
Technology Job Outlook
The job outlook for technology careers is 11 percent higher than the average for all occupations between 2020 and 2030, according to BLS. The expected openings in managerial technology careers during this time are about 42,400 for computer and information systems. These new openings will result mainly from workers exiting the labor force through retirement or transfer to other technology occupations.
Technology Job Satisfaction
Technology jobs have one of the highest rates of job satisfaction in the US. According to a Glassdoor survey on the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022, seven out of the top 10 jobs on the list are technology jobs. The technology job topping this list is an Enterprise Architect, with a median salary of $144,997 per year. The career has 14,021 job openings in 2022.
Technology Salaries: Lucrative Technology Careers
| Technology Careers | Technology Salaries | Job Outlook | Minimum Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Architect | $151,689 | 5%* | Bachelor’s degree |
| IT Program Manager | $151,150 | 11% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Software Engineering Manager | $149,530 | 4% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Software Development Manager | $127,171 | 11%** | Bachelor’s degree |
| Data Architect | $123,052 | 8%*** |
Bachelor’s degree |
| Solutions Architect | $121,311 | 8%*** | Bachelor’s degree |
| Applications Development Manager | $117,571 | 11%** | Bachelor’s degree |
| Systems Architect | $117,165 | 5%* | Bachelor’s degree |
| Data Scientist | $97,140 | 22%**** | Bachelor’s degree |
| Cloud Engineer | $91,409 | 5%* | Bachelor’s degree |
* This is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data on computer network architects
** This is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data on computer and information systems managers
*** This is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data on database adminstrators and architects
**** This is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data on computer and information research scientists
Best-Paying Jobs in Technology: In Detail
Enterprise Architect
- Average Salary: $151,689
Enterprise architects make a six figure salary. To become an enterprise architect, you will need a wide range of soft and technical skills, including making information technology systems more efficient and developing enterprise architecture. The job also requires good managerial, business, and analytical skills.
IT Program Manager
- Average Salary: $151,150
The best program manager career path is in IT. IT program managers are tech experts who develop new ideas, products, and features to create revenue streams and make profits. They need soft skills to lead software and hardware design teams, oversee the software development process, and act as a liaison between a software developer and product management teams.
Software Engineering Manager
- Average Salary: $149,530
The software engineering manager career path is an alternate path for senior software developers to significantly improve their annual wage by progressing into a managerial role. They manage a team of software engineers, help on bigger projects, and train junior software developers.
Other duties for software engineering managers include analyzing, designing and developing test-automation suites, developing a processing platform, and the ongoing maintenance of existing systems.
Software Development Manager
- Average Salary: $127,171
These professionals aid in the design, development, and implementation of software, and handle the technical and design sides of software projects. This requires collaboration with team members and stakeholders to determine client needs. It also involves analyzing and testing products before launch, troubleshooting coding problems effectively, and ensuring software security.
Data Architect
- Average Salary: $123,052
One of the most in-demand jobs in the tech industry is data architecture. These professionals are responsible for leading the evaluation, proof of concepts, negotiations, and selection of products and tools to support data strategy. This role is also responsible for creating, managing, organizing, and analyzing a database for business insights into consumer needs, and making suggestions.
Solutions Architect
- Average Salary: $121,311
To become a solutions architect requires at least two years of practical experience in programming, and an ability to diagnose and solve technical problems, create a secure platform, and work with a team. It also requires a computer-related bachelor’s degree, great soft skills, experience with machine learning (ML), and proven knowledge of systems architecture.
Applications Development Manager
- Average Salary: $117,571
This tech career involves collecting customer input, business insights, and sales information to create, test, and implement software solutions and applications. It provides technical support, training, and expertise to customers on applications, manages the development team, creates data reports, and implements enhancements to meet client needs.
Systems Architect
- Average Salary: $117,165
The job of a systems architect is in demand in the tech industry. It involves design, operation, and maintenance of communication networks and systems on which a company’s infrastructure depends. Systems architects offer technical support to software teams, systems analysts, and system engineers to create, monitor, and implement end-to-end integrated systems.
Data Scientist
- Average Salary: $97,140
Data scientist salaries are one of the highest in the technology field. A data scientist should have a tech-related bachelor’s degree and at least two years of experience in creating data architectures. A knowledge of machine learning, advanced statistics, and data-mining techniques are also key, as is knowledge of programming languages like R, Python, and SQL.
Cloud Engineer
- Average Salary: $91,409
Another high-paying job in the tech field is that of a cloud engineer. Cloud engineers are responsible for repairing and recovering hardware, software, and process failures. They also give recovery and backup support for cloud resources, coach other engineers, and ensure quality of design systems and architecture.
Resources to Find the Best-Paying Jobs in Technology
- Online job boards: Online job sites, portals, and websites are great places to look for the best-paying jobs in technology. Job boards can be specifically designed for a niche tech field, or cater to a broader audience.
- Active events and conferences: Events, conferences, and talks related to the tech industry are a great way to explore new, upcoming, and high-paying opportunities in tech.
- Social media groups: There are many active and verified social media groups on social media platforms where job seekers can keep track of new tech jobs and salaries.
- Tech websites: Big tech companies like Apple and Microsoft constantly update and post available jobs on their websites, so it’s worth it to browse through these often for the best-paying jobs in technology.
- Networking and personal connections: Building strong connections throughout your career in technology and networking can lead to great opportunities in any field, and the technology field is no exception. Your highest-paying tech job might just be one great recommendation away.
Is Technology a Good Career Path?
Yes, technology is a good career path. The requirement for each career in tech is different. Tech professionals who are clear about their career paths and actively work toward their goals can surely land a high-paying technology job. Those who want to be a software architect, database administrator, or an IT product manager will need focus to achieve their desired career path.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for technology occupations is increasing more than the average growth for all other occupations. The BLS expects about 667,600 new jobs to be created between 2020 and 2030. The most in-demand tech careers in the near future are projected to be in cloud computing, big data, and information security.
Best Paying Jobs in Technology FAQ
Enterprise architects have the highest-paying tech jobs in the US. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an enterprise architect is $151,689. They’re closely followed by IT managerial positions in product, software application development, hardware, or data.
The highest-paying entry-level tech job in the US is an IT product manager. According to Statista, the average annual wage of an IT product manager is $102,156. Other high-paying tech jobs are those of a computer systems analyst, systems administrators, web developer, technical support analyst, information security analyst, and software developer.
In order to get a job in coding or tech, the usual minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree. However, you can also acquire the necessary knowledge through the best coding bootcamps. This type of program provides you with the necessary skills to secure a job in the tech field.
According to Statista, tech companies that pay the highest in tech jobs include Google, Palo Alto Networks, and NVIDIA. As of 2022, most tech companies are investing the most in cyber security and cloud migration, so security analysts, security engineers, and the like are bound to earn a higher annual wage.
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