18 Highest-Paying Tech & IT Jobs for 2024

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As technology continues to play a crucial role in our daily lives, the demand for skilled information technology (IT) professionals continues to rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the IT field is projected to grow 15% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

With this growth, there is also an increasing demand for highly paid professionals who possess the necessary skills and expertise to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation. In this article, we present the essential guide to the highest-paying IT careers, outlining the necessary education, skills, and certifications required to pursue these lucrative opportunities. Whether you are just starting out in the field or looking to advance your current career, this guide provides valuable insight into the top-paying IT jobs and the steps you can take to achieve your professional goals.

Let’s start with the median salary for “Computer and Information Technology Occupations,” as reported with recent data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The median annual wage for this group was $100,530 in May 2022, which is more than double the median annual wage for all occupations ($46,310).

Key Takeaways

- As technology evolves, IT professionals are in high demand—so much so that they earn, on average, double the annual wage of other occupations.
- IT offers various sub-specialties like cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, and more.
- Individuals can strategically advance their career with certifications, networking, and tailored job-seeking strategies.

IT Career Paths: Sub-Specialties and Top Employers

Information technology (IT) is a diverse field with a wide range of career paths and sub-specialties. To help you navigate the vast landscape of IT careers, we’ve broken down some of the most in-demand and highest paying IT jobs by sub-specialties. From software development and cybersecurity to data analysis and cloud computing, each IT sub-specialty requires a unique set of skills and expertise. By exploring these sub-specialties, you can gain a better understanding of the different paths available within the IT field and identify which area may be the best fit for your interests and career goals.

Here is just a partial list some of the notable specialties within IT:

Cybersecurity
Data science and analytics
Cloud computing
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Network and systems administration/telecommunications
Web development
Mobile application development
Software development
Database administration
Project management
User experience (UX) design
Technical writing and documentation
Technical support
Digital marketing and e-commerce
IT consulting
IT auditing and compliance

Each of these specialties requires a unique set of skills and knowledge, and may require specific certifications or degrees. However, they all offer opportunities for career advancement and high salaries in the growing field of information technology.

And since information technology now encompasses every sector of the economy, top employers across nearly all industries are on the lookout for IT talent.

Companies that regularly make the lists of top IT employers include:

Alphabet (Google)
Cisco
Salesforce
NVIDIA
Intuit
Adobe
Citrix Systems
Apple
Microsoft
Accenture
Meta
Intel
Ultimate Software
Workday
World Wide Technology

IT Career Outlook, Jobs and Salary Ranges

Let’s take a closer look at a handful of some of the best IT jobs — with job descriptions, educational requirements and median salary compiled by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Occupation	Description	Salary	Education Needed
Software Developer	A software developer is responsible for designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software programs and applications.	$124,200	Bachelor’s
Computer and Information Research Scientists	Computer and Information Research Scientists are responsible for inventing and designing new computing technologies and finding innovative uses for existing technologies in order to advance fields such as business, science, medicine, and engineering.	$136,620	Master’s
Computer Network Architects	Computer Network Architects are responsible for designing and implementing data communication networks for organizations, ensuring that the networks are secure, efficient, and meet the organization’s needs.	$126,900	Bachelor’s
Information Security Analysts	An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization’s computer networks and systems from cyber threats by developing and implementing security measures and protocols.	$112,000	Bachelor’s
Computer Systems Analysts	A Computer Systems Analyst is responsible for analyzing an organization’s computer systems and procedures and recommending solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively.	$102,240	Bachelor’s
Database Administrators and Architects	Database Administrators and Architects are responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining an organization’s database systems, ensuring that they are secure, efficient, and meet the organization’s needs.	$112,120	Bachelor’s
Computer Programmers	Computer Programmers are responsible for writing and testing code for software applications and programs, troubleshooting errors and bugs, and collaborating with software developers to ensure programs meet client needs.	$97,800	Bachelor’s
IT Manager	An IT Manager is responsible for overseeing an organization’s technology infrastructure, including hardware, software, and networks, and ensuring that the technology aligns with the organization’s goals and objectives.	$164,070	Bachelor’s

The Best Paying IT Jobs

The field of Information Technology (IT) offers high salaries, job security, and opportunities for career advancement in a constantly evolving field. Whether you’re just starting out in IT or looking to advance your career, pursuing one of these top-paying IT jobs can be a smart investment in your future.

Comprehensive.io lists these as some of the most popular jobs in tech right now for 2024:

Occupation	Salary Range	Education Needed
Software Engineer (Staff – Senior Levels)	$132,000 – $210,000	Bachelor’s
Product Designer	$123,000 – $188,000	Bachelor’s
Data Scientist	$154,000 – $212,000	Master’s
Site Reliability Engineer	$120,000 – $175,000	Bachelor’s
Senior Data Analyst	$125,000 – $174,000	Bachelor’s
Product Manager (Staff – Senior Levels)	$130,000 – $202,600	Bachelor’s
Engineering Manager	$187,000 – $241,700	Bachelor’s
Technical Program Manager	$131,750 – $195,000	Bachelor’s
Data Engineer	$135,900 – $190,150	Bachelor’s
Machine Learning Engineer	$158,575 – $254,250	Bachelor’s

IT Career Advice: How Can You Earn a High-Paying Job?

Whether you’re launching an IT career by searching for entry-level jobs, looking to advance to a higher-level role or seeking to switch to a new specialty, here are a few job search tips and best practices for IT professionals.

Earn a Certification

Relevant work experience is the gold standard, but the IT industry has a wealth of certification opportunities, the best of which demonstrate that you possess advanced skills and a commitment to learning. The wide variety of certifications means you can gain skills that are highly relevant to your areas of interest or even to specific jobs you aspire to. Here is a quick rundown of some of the most valuable IT certifications.

Do Some Networking

Attending industry conferences (physically or in some cases virtually), linking in to relevant groups on LinkedIn, joining industry associations, participating in local/regional events, reaching out for informational interviews — these are all great ways to make important contacts, sharpen your people skills and boost your profile as an IT professional.

Complete an Internship

For entry-level IT professionals, internships don’t have to be at Apple or Google to be immensely valuable as a way to gain experience and build your skill sets. Especially helpful if you’re just starting out, IT internships are a great way to build your confidence as well as your resume.

Tailor Your Resume

Speaking of your resume, a little extra work goes a long way when it comes to differentiating yourself from the competition in the eyes of potential employers. You may dream of being a videogame designer; but if you’re applying for a job as a web developer, develop a customized version of your resume that is tailored to the position.

Prepare For The Interview

This means doing your homework to know the organization you’re applying to and the market it competes in. Demonstrating such knowledge marks you as bright, diligent and motivated. The same goes for knowing the technical requirements of the position and demonstrating your aptitude for the skill sets required to succeed on the job.

IT Degree Options: Earning Your Master’s Degree Online

Information technology is well-known to be one of those fields where you don’t need a degree to be successful. And sure, there are plenty of programming pros who’ve dropped out of high school, honed complex skills that for some reason come easy to them, and jumped straight into a high-paying career at a tech giant that serves free poké bowls and seared scallops for lunch.

But that’s obviously not a realistic pathway for everyone. And as the IT jobs landscape continues to get more competitive, having an academic degree in a sought-after specialty is likely to give you a competitive edge — just as it does in countless other careers.

Among the many other helpful advancements in information technology, it is now easier than ever to earn an IT degree online. Whether it’s a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or master’s University of Cincinnati Online IT programs feature robust curriculums in many of the areas discussed above, and enable you to work on a flexible schedule and earn your degree in as little as one year*.

*Program completion times will vary based on multiple factors including degree level, previous education, and full- or part-time status.