Growing up, my vision of the future was shaped by Disney channel original movies. Unfortunately Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century wasn’t as prescient as my childhood brain hoped it would be. But Smart House, the movie about a family whose entire life is enhanced (then taken over) by technology, was pretty spot on. From entertainment to healthcare, it’s hard to think of an area of our lives that hasn’t been touched by technology in the years since I watched Zenon save the space station from a flash-animated computer virus and rock out with Proto Zoa.
Unsurprisingly, all this innovation has made technology one of the most exciting areas to work in as well. If you want to be part of creating the “next big thing” or have a job that’s constantly evolving, tech is the place to be. And if the deal needed to be sweetened, many jobs and careers in tech also pay pretty well.
DICE recently determined the highest paid jobs in the industry as part of its 2023 Tech Salary Report, based on a survey of 7,098 of its users. Read on to find out the best-paid jobs in tech for 2023, the careers that’ll lead you to those plum gigs, and some tips for your tech job search.
34 best-paying jobs in technology for 2023
Here are the 34 highest-paid jobs in tech, according to DICE, along with the average salary for each based on their survey and links to apply to openings right here on The Muse.
- IT management (CEO, CIO, CTO, VP, Director): Average salary: $164,814
- Solutions architect ($155,934)
- Principal software engineer ($153,288)
- Systems architect ($151,364)
- Cybersecurity engineer/architect ($145,512)
- Cloud architect/engineer ($145,416)
- Program analyst/manager ($139,683)
- Product manager ($139,100)
- DevOps engineer ($136,017)
- MIS manager ($132,094)
- Back-end software engineer ($129,150)
- Data engineer ($122,811)
- Systems engineer ($120,800)
- Project manager ($120,653)
- Scrum master ($118,815)
- Data scientist ($117,241)
- Full-stack developer ($116,856)
- Business/management consultant ($116,547)
- Software developer ($115,569)
- .NET developer ($114,120)
- Database administrator ($107,828)
- Business analyst/intelligence analyst ($100,025)
- Network engineer ($99,103)
- Systems analyst ($97,774)
- UX/UI designer ($97,716)
- Application support engineer ($96,961)
- QA engineer/tester ($96,641)
- Cybersecurity analyst ($96,379)
- Computer/mainframe programmer ($95,845)
- Technical writer ($89,239)
- Web developer ($87,194)
- Systems administrator ($85,037)
- Data analyst ($80,946)
- Technical support engineer ($77,228)
10 of the highest-paying tech career paths
So the salaries above have piqued your interest—how do you get some of that in your bank account? It should come as no surprise that positions like CTO and principal software engineer are unlikely to be your first stop in tech. So how do you get on the path to the highest-paying positions?
We’ve got descriptions of the highest-paying tech career paths—leading to the highest-paid jobs—below. Keep in mind that for any of these job functions, you can also choose to specialize in a certain type of tech—such as cybersecurity, web development, cloud computing, hardware, video games, or databases just to name a few.
1. Software engineering
Software engineers and developers write computer code, which is the backbone of all things tech. The code they create is used to build or update applications, websites, or other technical programs and tools. If you love solving problems and working as part of a team, software engineering may be a good fit for you. In addition to being one of the highest-paid jobs in tech on its own, working as a software engineer is a stepping stone to more senior positions that pay even more, whether you want to manage people, have more technical and creative input on products, or master a specific type of coding, for example.
2. Systems administration
While engineers and developers write the code that dictates what any given tech does, IT (information technology) professionals, like systems administrators (sometimes called sysadmins) make sure that the code is running correctly, a company’s hardware and networks are functioning properly, and users can access the company’s tech and all its features. Sysadmins may be responsible for setting up hardware and software, troubleshooting issues for employees or customers, optimizing performance, and maintaining security. Network administrators and database administrators are similar to sysadmins, but they unsurprisingly focus on networks and databases respectively.
3. DevOps
Short for development operations, “DevOps is a set of practices revolving around bringing software development and IT operations closer together, ideally within a single team,” according to Muse writer and software engineer Joy Ebertz. There are a wide variety of DevOps jobs, but most will include some aspect of both coding and IT operations. For example, a DevOps engineer may be responsible for identifying ways that a tech company’s product could operate better and coding a fix for that issue.
4. Systems architecture
You’re probably familiar with the architects who design buildings and other offline structures. In a similar fashion, systems architects conceive of, plan, implement, and manage the different computer systems and networks that admins oversee. For example, systems architects might design a database that securely and efficiently stores a company’s data, figure out how all the components of a new application will fit together, or be responsible for managing and overseeing the servers of a tech company.
5. Data science
For better or worse, we’ve all had those times when we thought about how some product might be cool to maybe consider possibly buying sometime and then had an ad for that product pop into our social media feeds. This happens because tech companies have massive amounts of data (and not all if it is used this creepily!). Data science professionals are the ones who figure out the best ways to collect, track, analyze, and use this data to answer questions and solve problems for businesses in the tech sector and beyond.
6. Project management
Project managers plan, coordinate, and oversee initiatives from start to finish—and tons of them work in tech. They’re responsible for using resources—including budget, time, and other tech workers—in the best way possible to reach goals and build new features and products while taking into account the input of stakeholders across a company or even among multiple companies. They also ensure a project stays on track and respond to changes and issues along the way. Some project management professionals, like Scrum masters, focus on the more technical aspects of a project using certain methodologies.
7. IT and computer support
Technical support specialists maintain systems and help users with hardware, software, network, and other technical issues. Some support workers focus on helping coworkers—think of the colleague you call when your computer keeps freezing or left your laptop charger at home (guilty!). Other technical support workers help clients of a company over the phone, in a text chat, or even in person.
8. Quality assurance
Those who work in quality assurance test and analyze technical products to identify issues and ensure they’re working properly. They identify risks and bugs so that they can be fixed before they affect users. They’re also responsible for identifying what’s causing issues, but if you like the idea of using tech knowledge to intentionally break things, QA could be for you (but, you know, remember the ultimate goal is to make those things you’re trying to break better).
9. Systems analysis
Like the name implies, systems analysts monitor and evaluate different technical systems to look for issues, vulnerabilities, and areas for improvement. They may also work with other parts of a company to come up with requirements and figure out how new products or initiatives fit into an existing network, tech stack, or other system.
As with many of the careers on the list, you can specialize in certain kinds of analysis, but one of growing importance is information security. Information security analysts make sure that an organization’s network and software are secure and that any private information belonging to the company, their clients, or their customers can’t be hacked. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the demand for information security analysts will grow 35% over the next 10 years—compared to 5% for all occupations and 15% for all computer occupations.
10. Design
Put simply, designers are responsible for how things look. A graphic designer might create logos, layouts, templates and the other visual elements for anything from marketing campaigns to software products. There’s also user experience design (or UX design) which specifically focuses on creating interfaces that make it easy and intuitive to use a piece of technology.
Top tips for landing a tech job
Here are some pointers for getting a high-paying job in the technology industry:
- Make sure you have the necessary education and/or training: If you’re looking to move into an engineering, IT, or other highly technical role, a degree in computer science or a related field is one of the most common credentials. But you can also learn to code by attending a bootcamp or using online resources to teach yourself. You should also do your research to see if there are any common certifications employers look for when hiring for the job you want such as a project management professional (PMP) certification or a CompTIA A+ certification.
- Consider non-coding jobs: Engineering and IT jobs are far from the only roles in the technology industry. Every company needs employees with other skills and training in order to run successfully. Check out our guide on tech jobs that don’t require coding to learn more.
- Be aware of the applicant tracking system. Not to sound like the least original Black Mirror episode, but technology is literally everywhere nowadays—including in the hiring process. When you submit an application, your resume is likely to pass through an applicant tracking system (or ATS)—software that scans and parses application materials to show employers candidates with the most relevant qualifications for the role. To make it past the ATS you’ll need to tailor your resume for every application, include relevant keywords from the job description, and format your resume in an ATS-friendly way.
- Don’t neglect your soft skills. While technical skills are of course important to landing a job in technology (it’s right in the name, yes, I know), how you work—both on your own and with others—is equally important. While tech workers may have a reputation in pop culture for working alone in a dark room slash cave, many technology jobs, like software engineering, are actually highly collaborative, so you’ll need to show employers that you can communicate well and work effectively as part of a team.
- Be ready to show off your portfolio. Whether you’re a designer, technical writer, or developer, tech companies are going to want to see examples of your work before they hire you. This is especially important if you learned your skills through less traditional means. You can link to your GitHub page, online portfolio, or other examples of your work directly on your resume.
- Prepare for the technical interview. Before getting hired for a tech job, you may have to face a technical interview, which might mean coding something on the spot, doing a take-home assignment, or answering highly technical trivia questions. Brush up on the skills and knowledge you’ll need for the job you want, and if it’s a take-home assignment give it the time and attention it deserves.