The previous yr was tough for the tech trade, with many corporations reporting layoffs and the specter of recession looming. However regardless of a bumpy yr, demand for IT expertise stays, at the same time as common salaries for sought-after roles have taken successful. A lot of this may be attributed to unprecedented progress within the tech sector between 2019 and 2021, with salaries rising almost 9% general throughout that point, in response to Cube. As salaries stage out, and the mud settles following huge tech layoffs, the typical annual wage within the tech trade has dropped from $111,348 in 2022 to $111,193 in 2023.  

However companies proceed to spend money on key technical expertise equivalent to information analytics, safety, and cloud. And digital transformation efforts proceed to infuse expertise into almost each side of enterprise and daily-life, guaranteeing continuous an ever-growing want for technical execs with the correct mix of expertise to assist companies survive and thrive.

[ See also: The 10 highest-paying industries for IT talent ]

And in response to the most recent 2024 Cube Tech Wage Report, you don’t should be a CIO to earn a six-figure wage. The demand for specialised expertise has boosted salaries for software program builders, system directors, and program analysts and managers. Listed here are the highest 15 IT occupations with the very best common salaries, in response to Cube.

1. IT administration

It’s little shock that IT govt positions earn among the many highest common salaries. These working in IT administration, together with the roles of CIO, CTO, VP, and IT Director, maintain high-level positions that oversee a whole firm’s expertise infrastructure. The CIO usually ranks highest in an IT division, accountable for managing the group’s IT technique, sources, operations, and general objectives. In the meantime, the CTO focuses on expertise analysis and improvement efforts, usually working carefully with the CIO to develop a robust IT technique. VPs of IT are accountable for overseeing particular facets of the group’s IT operations, whether or not it’s infrastructure, safety, information administration, or functions. Lastly, administrators of IT are tasked with managing particular groups or departments inside IT operations, usually together with improvement groups and assist desk assist.

Common wage: US$163,526

Lower since 2022: -0.8%

2. Options architect

Options architects are accountable for constructing, growing, and implementing programs structure inside a corporation, guaranteeing that they meet enterprise or buyer wants. They’re additionally charged with assessing a enterprise’ present system structure and figuring out options to enhance, change, and modernize it. The position usually requires not less than a bachelor’s diploma in IT, software program engineering, laptop science, or associated area. Related expertise embody Java, JavaScript, organizational and management expertise, technical information, mission administration, and structure design.

Common wage: US$157,768

Enhance from 2022: 1.2%

3. Program analyst/supervisor

Working carefully with mission managers, program analysts and managers oversee packages and tasks inside a corporation to make sure they’re on observe and on price range. The position is accountable for coordinating carefully with crew members, stakeholders, and different mission managers concerned to establish potential dangers, remedy points, monitor compliance and regulation points, and maintain observe of the continuing progress. Related expertise for the position embody a technical background in IT and a robust working information of IT infrastructure, databases, networks, {hardware}, and software program, together with information of knowledge analytics, change administration, vendor administration, and management and crew administration expertise. 

Common wage: US$148,173

Enhance from 2022: 6.1%

4. Principal software program engineer

As a senior-level technical position, a principal software program engineer is accountable for main a crew of engineers and guaranteeing that the crew builds and implements high-quality, scalable software program, whereas following greatest practices. The position requires not solely technical expertise, but in addition management and communication expertise to work throughout departments and handle groups of engineers. These leaders are accountable for reviewing code written by different engineers, designing structure for advanced software program programs, figuring out the correct expertise for enterprise wants, and staying on high of the most recent trade developments.

Common wage: US$145,206

Lower from 2022: -5.3%

5. Cybersecurity engineer/architect

Cybersecurity engineers and designers require a lot of the identical information, experience, and expertise. However whereas engineers are accountable for constructing and sustaining cybersecurity infrastructure, architects are accountable for designing cybersecurity programs. These IT execs work carefully with builders to make sure safety measures equivalent to firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection programs are included in software program, programs, networks, and functions. Cybersecurity engineers and designers may be accountable for responding to safety incidents, information breaches, cyberattacks, and different potential safety dangers that companies face. 

Common wage: US$140,656

Lower from 2022: -3.4%

6. Product supervisor

The position of product supervisor is significant for companies, guaranteeing that the services they launch are as much as buyer requirements and align with enterprise wants and trade developments. Product managers want to collect buyer necessities, create a product roadmap, conduct market analysis, collaborate with related groups throughout the group, establish the important thing options that should be prioritized, and maintain observe of how the merchandise carry out after launch. Whereas product managers have grow to be more and more essential as extra companies shift to product-based IT fashions, it’s a job that noticed an general lower within the common annual wage since 2022. 

Common wage: US$129,814

Enhance from 2022: -6.7%

7. MIS supervisor

A administration info programs (MIS) supervisor is accountable for overseeing a corporation’s IT technique and programs and figuring out new expertise and instruments that may assist the group meet its enterprise and operational objectives. MIS managers are tasked with managing a crew of IT professionals and planning, growing, implementing, and sustaining IT programs and guaranteeing that they continue to be scalable, safe, environment friendly, and dependable. This position requires information of IT safety, information privateness, encryption, compliance, and the power to handle budgets, establish probably the most cost-effective options, and keep programs with troubleshooting and updates.

Common wage: US$124,774

Lower from 2022: -5.5%

8. DevOps engineer

DevOps engineers are tasked with managing IT infrastructure, figuring out necessities, overseeing software program testing, and monitoring efficiency of software program and companies after they’re deployed. The position requires a robust give attention to automation, particularly round software program improvement processes, and guaranteeing steady integration and supply pipelines are applied to assist improvement groups. After seeing a increase in demand up to now few years, in addition to rising salaries, issues have slowed down a bit, with the typical wage for DevOps engineers dropping just below 9% since 2022. It’s a multifaceted position that was created to bridge the hole between improvement and operations. Related expertise for a DevOps engineer embody coding and scripting expertise, safety, analytics, automation, information administration, and IT operations expertise.

Common wage: US$124,071

Lower from 2022: -8.8%

9. Programs engineer

For organizations operating advanced {hardware}, software program, and community programs, the position of a programs engineer is a crucial a part of every day operations. Programs engineers are tasked with designing tasks, collaborating with key stakeholders to establish mandatory necessities and potential constraints, and guaranteeing that the corporate’s IT programs are functioning successfully. This position helps oversee the event of recent programs, working alongside software program builders and {hardware} engineers with a watch on high quality management measures and sustaining a gradual tempo towards established milestone objectives. These IT execs even have a hand in system testing, guaranteeing that the ultimate product meets expectations, and analyzing check outcomes to establish points or discrepancies.

Common wage: US$123,437

Enhance from 2022: 2.2%

10. Software program developer

Software program builders proceed to be an important position within the expertise trade, comprising two fundamental varieties: those that work on functions and people who work on programs. Utility software program builders are usually centered on constructing databases and packages for use internally or on cell units, whereas programs software program builders are centered on creating software program for customers or purchasers exterior of the group. The position requires a robust information of the right way to design, create, check, program, and replace software program, whereas additionally adhering to and accommodating end-user wants and necessities. The demand for software program builders stays robust as extra corporations embrace digital transformation and start creating their very own inside or exterior software program programs.

Common wage: US$123,067

Enhance from 2022: 6.5%

11. Cloud architect/engineer

The roles of cloud architect and cloud engineer share quite a lot of similarities, with architects accountable for designing cloud programs, and engineers accountable for constructing and sustaining cloud infrastructure. This position has taken one of many largest hits of any on this checklist, with the typical annual wage dropping almost 16% since 2022. Cloud architect expertise embody an understanding of cloud applied sciences and architectural rules, information of the right way to scale cloud functions at value, and the power to collaborate and talk with others within the group. Each roles require a information of cloud companies, equivalent to Amazon Internet Companies, in addition to expertise with ITSM, I&O, governance, automation, and vendor administration.

Common wage: US$122,509

Lower from 2022: -15.8%

12. Venture supervisor

Venture managers are tasked with overseeing the group, planning, and execution of tasks with a give attention to budgets and schedules. They’re accountable for main groups, working with stakeholders, defining necessities, and guaranteeing a mission goes easily from begin to end. It’s an in-demand position throughout each trade as organizations acknowledge the necessity for having a point-person to make sure tasks involving completely different departments run easily. That constant demand has helped maintain salaries for mission managers have held regular since 2022.

Common wage: US$121,110

Enhance from 2022: 0.4%

13. Again-end software program engineer

Again-end software program engineers are integral to serving to organizations keep the construction of server-side info by optimizing servers, implementing safety measures, and growing information storage options. These IT execs are tasked with configuring front-side functions, writing server scripts and APIs for front-end engineers and UX designers, sustaining steady servers and a backup library, and inspecting server codes.

Common wage: US$121,037

Lower from 2022: -6.3%

14. Knowledge engineer

Corporations deal with extra information than ever earlier than, making information engineers an important position within the trade to assist organizations deal with and handle huge quantities of knowledge. These IT execs are tasked with constructing, designing, and sustaining the instruments and software program required to research and course of information units within the enterprise. They construct programs to handle information which are scalable, dependable, and safe, whereas additionally serving to the group with decision-making by means of information. Related expertise for this position embody information processing, software program improvement, database administration, and cloud-based information processing.

Common wage: US$120,248

Lower from 2022: -2.1%

15. .NET developer

As organizations begin to embrace synthetic intelligence and machine studying, the position of .NET developer has grown more and more essential. These builders are centered particularly on the design, improvement, and implementation of clever software program functions. Much like a software program developer, they’re accountable for figuring out and defining necessities, programming functions and platforms utilizing .NET, and overseeing the long-term upkeep and effectivity of the packages. That is one other position that has seen a rise in common annual salaries, rising just below 5% since 2022, probably due to the current push to implement AI and ML within the enterprise.

Common wage: US$119,551

Enhance from 2022: 4.8%