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Navigating your career in today’s rapidly changing tech job market can feel overwhelming.
Although we have lost a few traditional job titles along the way, they were replaced with a litany of new roles: Data Scientists, Mobile App Developers, Social Media Managers, Cloud Architects, Digital Content Marketers, SEO Specialists, and Community Managers. It’s an entirely different tech job market in 2024.
Among other factors, the tech world is facing skilled worker shortages, as we discussed with ServiceNow, ranging from developers to cybersecurity experts. So it is unsurprising that many of the highest-paying IT jobs have increased salaries in the six months to September 2024.
It is a changeable world, especially as we approach a future driven by artificial intelligence (AI). So we ask: What are the highest-paying tech jobs in 2024, and how can you future-proof your career?
Key Takeaways
- These 10 tech jobs are our highlights for roles that are fairly future-proof — and offer fascinating careers and lucrative pay opportunities.
- Based on publicly available data, salaries for many IT roles increased in the six months to September 2024, particularly in roles where there is a shortage of skilled workers.
- Predictably, cybersecurity, AI, and blockchain roles make the highest-paying tech top jobs list as we move even deeper into a digital world.
- Be careful, though — despite being a booming sector, 2023 and 2024 have both seen round after round of tech layoffs.
- Show Full Guide
10 Best Paying Tech Jobs 2024
10. Computer Network Engineer
Computer network engineers ensure an organization’s technology infrastructure functions seamlessly. Their responsibilities encompass an array of crucial tasks—designing, implementing, and managing networks, ensuring network security through firewalls and cryptographic tunneling, and continuously optimizing the flow of data within an organization.
Given the rise in cyber threats, the increased need for remote collaboration, and the growing importance of data in decision-making, network engineers are gatekeepers to an organization’s operational integrity.
The salary of a network engineer reflects not just their foundational importance to an organization but also the scarcity of professionals who possess such a broad and updated skill set.
Salaries vary significantly based on experience, skills, location, and the employer’s scale. For instance, expertise in high-demand skills like software development and telephony can substantially boost a network engineer’s earning potential.
When we first looked at salaries in September 2023, computer network engineers could expect to earn between $62,881 and $81,733. However, this has jumped to $70,165 – $86,342 in September 2024, making this one of the top jobs in 2024.
9. Product Manager
Product managers bridge the gap between customer needs and the company’s objectives.
Unlike specialized roles like software engineering, product managers build a broad range of competencies, from market research to strategic planning. Though coding isn’t a prerequisite, the role can be an excellent career pivot for software engineers looking to transition into a more business-oriented position. Technical product managers, who usually possess engineering backgrounds, add another layer of specialization by directly managing development teams and incorporating advanced methodologies like Agile and Scrum.
Predictably, salaries reflect the high demand for these professionals.
In September 2023, they ranged from $86,936 to $111,465, but in six months, the range has risen to between $112,999 and $139,568 a year, depending on experience.
8. Front End Developer
Front-end developers are the tech-savvy artists behind the websites and apps we use and take for granted daily. Using coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, they not only make these platforms visually appealing but also ensure they work seamlessly across all our devices. The role is a blend of creativity and technical skill with a heavy focus on design and functionality.
The demand for these professionals is high, meaning senior front-end developers can earn between $106,922 and $130,083. Specialized skills in modern frameworks like React can push those earnings even higher.
7. AI/Machine Learning Engineer
The winning combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) has become the bedrock of modern technological advancement. AI is the nucleus of innovation in the corporate landscape, powering solutions that once seemed unimaginable. This growing demand has inevitably led to an explosion of job opportunities in AI.
However, the rapid pace of growth has also birthed a unique challenge: while positions are plentiful, there is a noticeable talent gap. This imbalance creates an unprecedented opportunity for qualified individuals, making careers in AI not only lucrative but also stable.
These are just a few of the many reasons AI engineers can earn between $102,852 to $138,556 in the United States.
6. Cyber Security Engineer
Few sectors offer as compelling an opportunity as cybersecurity. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global demand for cybersecurity professionals has experienced a meteoric rise, soaring 350 percent from 2013 to 2021. Within the United States alone, over 750,000 positions in cybersecurity are currently vacant. Security experts have also predicted there will be 3.5 million unfilled positions in the industry by 2025, making it one of the best tech jobs.
Despite ongoing industry initiatives to source new talent and mitigate professional burnout, the chasm between supply and demand persists. However, securing an in-demand cybersecurity certification could turn the unemployment rate in the industry into a lucrative opportunity and career pathway.
With an average annual range of $120,488 and $149,477.119 and potential earnings up to $162,000 for experienced professionals, cybersecurity engineers command one of the most lucrative pay scales in the tech sector, emphasizing the field’s critical importance and high demand.
5. Data Scientist
In today’s world, where data is king, and artificial intelligence is changing the game, data scientists are like the star players on a sports team. They do way more than play with numbers. These are the folks helping companies make smarter decisions, find new business opportunities, and even create better products.
On average, they make a salary ranging from $109,504 and $134,375 a year.
It’s not just because they’re good with numbers and computer programming but also because they can help a company succeed with their insights. And they’re not just stuck in one industry; these data whizzes make enormous contributions everywhere — from healthcare and shopping to banking and even making our cities smarter.
4. Cloud Engineer
A cloud engineer is a tech professional responsible for designing, managing, and maintaining cloud-based systems and services. This includes roles such as cloud architects, cloud security engineers, and cloud software developers.
Cloud engineers have become pivotal in facilitating business scalability, innovation, and secure data management. Their expertise extends across many industries, including highly regulated sectors like healthcare and government. Additionally, the field’s ever-evolving landscape, featuring trends like hybrid cloud solutions and emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, ensures continual opportunities for professional development.
The confluence of these factors—high demand, impact on critical business operations, and an ever-advancing technological landscape—makes cloud engineering one of the most financially rewarding and professionally enriching career paths in the tech industry, with an average annual salary range of between $92,645 and $118,957.
3. Cloud Security Engineer
A Cloud Security Engineer predictably plays an indispensable role in safeguarding an organization’s cloud infrastructure against a myriad of cyber threats, unauthorized access, and potential data breaches.
Their expertise is especially critical as businesses increasingly migrate to cloud solutions for scalability and operational efficiency, making them a hotbed for potential cyberattacks. The engineer’s deep familiarity with complex security frameworks and cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, combined with their ability to provide actionable security recommendations, justifies the high compensation associated with the role.
With an average salary range of $83,049 and $108,191 and the potential to earn up to $180,000 for experienced professionals, a career as a Cloud Security Engineer not only offers lucrative financial incentives but also serves as a testament to the crucial role these experts play in defending an organization’s digital infrastructure against a constant barrage of cyber threats.
2. Blockchain Engineer
Who said there wasn’t money to be made in crypto? On the investment side, large corporations and burgeoning startups recognize blockchain‘s revolutionary potential. Financial services, supply chain logistics, and healthcare are just some industries actively investing in blockchain initiatives.
In the United States, a career in blockchain development is not just promising — it’s lucrative. With an average annual salary of $146,250 or an impressive $70.31 per hour, this field is fast becoming a goldmine for tech talent. But that’s just the starting point. The initial compensation for those entering the sector is an enticing $123,925 per year.
And for seasoned professionals? You can command a staggering salary of up to $185,250 annually.
1. Cloud Solutions Architect
In an increasingly cloud-centric business environment, Cloud Solutions Architects also hold a pivotal role and command a high salary due to their specialized expertise in designing and orchestrating cloud-based infrastructure.
With comprehensive knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, these architects are the linchpin for optimizing performance, ensuring scalability, and facilitating cost-effective solutions.
The breadth of their role, often requiring more than a decade of experience in high-performance computing and big data platforms, demands a robust skill set that includes technical understanding and strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Earning an average salary between $115,564 and $142,412 per year, with the potential to reach up to $200,023 for industry veterans, Cloud Solutions Architects are not only among the top earners in the tech sector but also stand as pivotal figures enabling businesses to maximize the vast potential of cloud computing. And it’s why it’s right up there as one of the best paying jobs in technology.
The Bottom Line
The opportunity for high-paying and impactful work is abundant in navigating today’s ever-evolving technological landscape. Cybersecurity and cloud engineering fields offer financial incentives and serve as pillars for safeguarding our digital future.
Roles like Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers are becoming the linchpins of decision-making and innovation across industries. Additionally, emerging technologies like blockchain are carving out new, lucrative pathways for those adept at grasping their complexities.
So, as you consider future-proofing your career and working out what technology jobs pay in 2024, remember: the most rewarding jobs will be those that not only pay well but enable you to be an integral part of this extraordinary era of technological advancement.
