Highest-Paying Tech
Jobs: 2021 List
If you are a job seeker looking to break into the field of technology, this article is for you. We take a look at the highest-paying tech jobs in 2021. We also give you a list of the most lucrative technology careers that do not require coding and discuss the best ways of breaking into the tech sector.
A career in technology can be extremely satisfying. To learn more about the 10 highest-paying tech jobs, read on. To compile our lists of best-paid tech careers, we used statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Glassdoor, PayScale, and other authoritative sources.
Why Tech Is Booming
Tech jobs tend to have high salaries because companies today rely on professionals who can keep up with the fast pace of technological innovation. There is a wide range of jobs available for people with advanced tech skills, and these professionals are always in high demand.
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Tech careers are popular today because they pay handsomely, offer great benefits and perks, and, in many cases, can be done remotely. Taking all this into consideration, there is little doubt as to why the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that job openings for computer and IT professions will grow by 11 percent in the next decade.
What Do Technology Jobs Pay?
PayScale estimates that the average salary for professionals who work in IT is $81,000. However, it is hard to pin down the average salary for workers in the tech industry because it encompasses such a wide array of roles. In addition, as advancements in technology progress, new jobs in tech will continue to emerge.
Top 10 Best-Paying
Tech Jobs in 2021
The following list contains the 10 highest-paying tech jobs, together with detailed descriptions for each. These technology careers are arranged from highest to lowest paying.
Blockchain Engineer
A blockchain engineer is a software developer who specializes in blockchain technology. He must be familiar with concepts like distributed ledgers, proof of work and proof of stake, and networking. A blockchain engineer should also have data security skills and be comfortable with crypto libraries and functions.
According to a report from Cision PR Newswire, the overall spending on blockchain technology is expected to increase from $3 billion in 2020 to $39.7 billion by 2025.
This means blockchain engineers will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future, especially in the banking sector. The average salary for people with blockchain technology skills is $108,000.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer seeks to enhance a company’s production cycle by becoming a bridge between the operations and the development departments. They ensure that communication between these departments is smooth and that both teams follow standard procedures.
A DevOps engineer is also in charge of introducing new tools and methodologies to improve the production cycle and overseeing code releases. A key difference between DevOps engineers and software engineers is that the latter professionals work separately from the operations side of an organization. According to PayScale, the average salary for a DevOps engineer ranges from $65,000 to $139,000.
Cloud Architect
The role of a cloud architect is to design and implement strategies for the adoption of cloud platforms. These professionals are responsible for the installation of cloud environments and cloud management.
Don’t confuse this role with that of a cloud engineer. Cloud engineers focus on management, monitoring, and maintenance, whereas cloud architects have their sights set on the future as they create strategies and systems to satisfy clients.
The current average salary of a cloud architect stands at $134,934, which makes it one of the most lucrative technology careers. The reason these professionals are so well paid is that the demand for cloud services is skyrocketing. Companies need professionals that can help them transition from old in-site servers to a cloud infrastructure.
Big Data Engineer
A big data engineer is able to quickly process high volumes of unstructured data by implementing machine learning techniques. Traditional data processing software might not be enough for companies with exabytes of data. Larger volumes of data can only be processed with more advanced methods; this is where big data engineers come into play.
A large number of companies rely on big data engineering these days to help them draw insights from the data they collect from social media and other sources. This means these professionals enjoy high demand for their services. According to PayScale, the average salary for a big data engineer is $89,838.
Internet of Things Solutions Architect
An Internet of Things (IoT) solutions architect is a professional who develops products and services that can transmit data over the Internet. IoT solutions architects work closely with the software engineering team and the product manager to achieve a smooth development process.
The use of IoT services has drastically increased over the last couple of years and is expected to be even more popular in the future. That’s why the median salary for professionals with IoT skills is as high as $102,000, according to PayScale.
Product Manager
Product management is a leading role within the IT department. Product managers are in charge of developing a product strategy, analyzing the product’s performance by running user experience tests, and monitoring the entire production cycle.
They make sure everyone in the team is on track to meet the company’s budget and deadline goals. PayScale puts the median salary for a product manager at $98,469. According to Hired’s State of Salaries report, product managers were the highest-paid tech workers in 2018.
Artificial Intelligence Engineer
An artificial intelligence (AI) engineer is a software developer that builds innovative solutions using the latest advancements in AI. Artificial intelligence refers to a set of technologies used to program machines so that they can simulate human behavior.
According to IDC, global spending on AI is expected to hit $110 billion by 2024. The use of AI is always increasing, and so is the demand for AI engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the average salary for computer and information research scientists, which includes AI engineers, is $126,830.
Software Architect
The software architect designs strategies and structures for software development. They set up organizational standards that the development team must follow. They also work closely with both the executive and development teams.
The annual salary for software architects is $116,780, according to BLS. Software architects will suffer no shortage of job opportunities in the foreseeable future, with BLS placing the job outlook for these tech workers at 5 percent.
Full Stack Software Developer
Web development consists of front end and backend engineering. While front end engineering deals with the visual aspects of a product, backend development is more concerned with the structure of the website or app.
A full stack software developer integrates both areas to build a website or other type of system and may be in charge of supervising the entire software development process. This requires a high level of expertise, which makes full stack developers very valuable to any tech company. The average annual salary for a full stack developer is $78,951, according to PayScale.
Data Scientist
A data scientist is a computer information specialist who focuses on analyzing and processing data to find meaningful and actionable insights. A data scientist must collect, scrape, and analyze large datasets and share their discoveries using visualization techniques.
To become a data scientist you must learn Python, R, and SQL. For visualization purposes, you would also benefit from knowing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You must also have a strong background in mathematics. The average salary of a data scientist is $103,930, according to BLS.
Highest-Paying Tech Jobs That Don't Require Coding
People tend to assume that jobs in technology require coding, but this isn’t always the case. You do need to have an understanding of programming fundamentals, but coding doesn’t have to be a daily part of the job.
If you’re looking for a job in the tech industry, but don’t have a programming background and aren’t interested in code, then read on. The following list contains some of the best-paying tech jobs that don’t require coding. None of the technology careers below demand coding skills, although having programming abilities could help you progress in your field.
Systems Administrators
A systems administrator is an IT professional who installs, configures, and oversees a company’s computer systems. This includes local area networks (LANs), network segments, intranets, network communication systems, and wide area networks (WANs). The systems administrator also provides technical assistance when there are problems with the system.
You don’t generally need programming skills to become a systems administrator although knowing certain coding languages can make you a more valuable worker. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), the average salary for a systems administrator is $84,810.
Data Analyst
A data analyst is a common entry-level job in data science. These professionals gather, filter, and analyze data to discover meaningful information that can help a company improve its operations and increase revenue. Unlike more senior roles in the data science industry, data analysts don’t need advanced coding abilities, although programming skills always come in handy.
Data analysts can work in almost every sector but are most often found in the finance and banking industries and in businesses of various sizes. PayScale estimates that the average salary for a data analyst is $61,754.
UI/UX Designer
The role of a UI/UX designer is to evaluate digital products, such as mobile applications, desktop apps, and websites, to ensure a seamless user experience. Their ultimate goal is to create products that are as user-friendly as possible.
To do this, they perform multiple tests to spot anomalies and issues with the platform. They also need graphic design skills because they work on the different visual elements of the product to ensure it is attractive and memorable. According to Glassdoor, UI/UX designers earn on average $93,653.
Database Administrator
A database administrator’s role is to manage organizational data and enhance its accessibility. They manage access control and security measures in order to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. These professionals use specialized software to store and manage a company’s data.
Their technical skillset may include programming, but the average database administrator probably doesn’t use this skill in their day-to-day routine. According to BLS, a database administrator earns on average $98,860.
SEO Specialist
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process used to make websites more visible in the different search engines. SEO specialists have a suite of techniques and methods up their sleeve to help sites rank higher in Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other engines. These techniques include keyword research, link-building, and auditing.
This is a relatively new and thriving industry that pays well. An SEO specialist’s average salary is $46,783, according to PayScale. Because SEO parameters and techniques are constantly evolving, this profession is ideal for people who love to learn new things.
How to Break Into Tech
Technology jobs are more appealing than ever, and you don’t necessarily need a graduate degree to land one of the high-paying tech occupations discussed earlier in this article.
There are many ways to gain the knowledge and technical skills necessary to break into tech, but earning a university degree and attending a coding bootcamp are the most popular ones. Below, we take a closer look at these options.
Earn a Tech Degree
Earning a computer-related degree is a great education pathway for several reasons. Most employers still place a high degree of importance on college degrees, so earning a bachelor’s or a master’s degree will always improve your chances of landing a high-paying job.
A degree in computer science or a related field will help you gain the necessary skills to start a career in tech. However, keep in mind that the cost of traditional education is usually quite high and that many university degrees don’t have the most up-to-date curricula. In addition, university students don’t always graduate with enough practical experience.
Join a Coding Bootcamp
Joining a coding bootcamp is an excellent way of receiving the job training you need to succeed in the tech industry. Most coding bootcamp programs last around six months. They cost around $13,000, which is not much taking into consideration that one year studying for a university degree can set you back as much as $20,000.
Many coding bootcamps have online programs that anyone, from anywhere around the world, can join. This lowers the barrier to getting the education needed to break into the technology sector even further.
Today, many forward-thinking companies are looking to hire coding bootcamp graduates. In addition, many bootcamps have high-profile companies in their hiring networks, which means their graduates have an easy way into companies of the caliber of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. This makes coding bootcamps definitely worth it when it comes to job training for the tech industry.
The Bottomline
Tech occupations are rewarding careers that allow you to use abstract thinking and creativity to create innovative solutions for today’s problems. Even if you aren’t interested in being a software engineer, or learning to code, there are a wide variety of tech jobs available to you.
In this article, we’ve examined the 10 highest-paying tech jobs. If anything caught your eye, you have to dedicate sufficient time to develop industry-specific skills like programming, data processing, or data security. Soon you will be on your way to a successful career with a high salary in a sector experiencing rapid growth. If you are considering a career in technology, now it’s the time.
