Highest-paying jobs in tech
The 15 tech occupations BLS publishes, ranked by national median pay, with the education each typically needs to enter.
The highest-paying tech occupation is IT Manager, with a BLS national median of $175,140 a year (May 2025). 11 of the 15 tech occupations BLS publishes have a median of $100,000 or more; the best-paid one that typically needs less than a bachelor's degree is Computer Network Support Specialists ($76,220).
All 15 occupations
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national median annual wages.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT Manager | $175,140 | $84.20 | Bachelor's degree | 670,570 |
| 2 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | $140,300 | $67.45 | Master's degree | 37,200 |
| 3 | Database Architect | $139,500 | $67.07 | Bachelor's degree | 67,140 |
| 4 | Software Engineer | $135,980 | $65.38 | Bachelor's degree | 1,687,890 |
| 5 | Network Engineer | $134,050 | $64.45 | Bachelor's degree | 179,740 |
| 6 | Cyber Security Analyst | $129,180 | $62.11 | Bachelor's degree | 190,650 |
| 7 | Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | $50.89 | Bachelor's degree | 519,530 |
| 8 | Database Administrator | $104,620 | $50.30 | Bachelor's degree | 69,990 |
| 9 | QA Tester | $104,300 | $50.14 | Bachelor's degree | 186,740 |
| 10 | UX Designer | $104,000 | $50.00 | Bachelor's degree | 113,330 |
| 11 | Computer Programmer | $100,390 | $48.26 | Bachelor's degree | 92,230 |
| 12 | System Administrator | $99,130 | $47.66 | Bachelor's degree | 314,340 |
| 13 | Web Developer | $92,650 | $44.54 | Bachelor's degree | 70,190 |
| 14 | Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | $36.64 | Associate's degree | 146,190 |
| 15 | IT Support Specialist | $61,860 | $29.74 | Some college | 717,190 |
Best-paid tech jobs that typically need less than a bachelor’s degree
Data Typical entry-level education from BLS Employment Projections: no formal credential, high school, some college, a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | Associate's degree | 146,190 |
| 2 | IT Support Specialist | $61,860 | Some college | 717,190 |
Pay versus size
Data The largest tech occupation by employment is Software Engineer (1,687,890 employed, median $135,980). The median of the 15 occupation medians is not a BLS figure and is not shown; each row is the occupation's own BLS median.
How this page is built
Occupations in BLS computer occupations (SOC 15-1200) and computer and information systems managers (11-3021), ranked by BLS national median annual wage (OEWS May 2025); BLS residual “all other” categories are left out. Education is the BLS typical entry-level education, not a legal requirement.
- Pay at a specific employer or in your state.
- Starting pay: medians include experienced workers.
- Which job fits your goals: pay is one factor among many.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; public domain): typical entry-level education, work experience, on-the-job training, projected change and annual openings.