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Understanding compensation trends is more critical than ever—whether you’re a hiring manager competing for top technology talent or an IT professional navigating today’s evolving job market. While overall salary growth has moderated compared to recent years, opportunities continue to expand for those with the skills that drive innovation and transformation.
The 2026 Salary Guide From Robert Half reveals that technology and IT salaries are projected to rise an average of 1.6% year over year, reflecting steady, sustainable growth across the sector. What matters most is not just the percentage increase but where employers are investing in specialized talent—driven by AI, cloud computing, data modernization and cybersecurity—and how professionals can align their career paths to meet that demand.
While overall growth has moderated from recent years, pay for professionals with these specialized skills remains highly competitive. Employers are responding to a persistent talent shortage by offering above-market compensation and enhancing benefits and perks to attract and retain top performers.
Heading into 2026, technology leaders’ critical priorities, like AI and data readiness, security and modernization, are shaping their pay strategies. These initiatives are fueling salary growth for professionals who bridge innovation and implementation and guiding where employers invest most in compensation and career development.
Tech Salaries 2026: Roles and Skills in High Demand
Technology salary growth in context
Looking back shows how the market has shifted—and where new opportunities are emerging.
In 2023, technology salaries rose 3.5%.
In 2024, growth moderated to 2.9%.
By 2025, salaries increased 1.6%.
Now, heading into 2026, technology and IT roles are projected to rise 1.6% again on average.
Although overall growth has steadied, this moderation signals a more sustainable hiring landscape, one that rewards professionals with expertise in emerging technical areas like AI, data science and engineering, and cybersecurity. For employers, success depends on knowing where to invest compensation. For job seekers, it means targeting the roles and skills that command higher pay and long-term career growth.
Roles driving higher salaries in technology
Several technology and IT positions stand out for above-average projected growth:
AI/ML Engineer—+4.1%
Data Scientist—+4.1%
Software Developer—+2.3%
DevOps Engineer—+2.3%
Data Engineer—+1.7%
Cybersecurity Specialist—+1.7%
These roles represent where employers are willing to pay more and where skilled professionals can find meaningful advancement. The common thread is clear: experts who drive AI innovation, protect systems and data and build the infrastructure powering modernization are in the highest demand heading into 2026.
The value of specialized tech skills
In technology, expertise commands a premium. According to the Salary Guide, 87% of technology leaders offer higher pay to candidates with specialized skills.
Top tech skills driving higher pay in 2026 include:
AI, machine learning and data science
Cybersecurity
Cloud computing, security and architecture
Software and applications development
Data analytics, business intelligence and reporting
These capabilities power automation and innovation and define the future of tech work. Professionals who connect legacy and next-gen expertise will be in especially high demand.
Industries paying more for tech skills
Technology is the backbone of nearly every sector, yet some industries are moving fastest to secure top talent:
Financial services—Increasing reliance on AI-driven analytics, fintech solutions and cybersecurity.
Healthcare—Rising need for cloud infrastructure and data protection.
Professional services—Expanding automation and ERP systems to improve efficiency.
Employers in these sectors are competing aggressively for professionals with the right mix of technical and business skills.
Emerging roles redefining the tech workforce
The rise of generative AI and automation is creating new positions that merge creativity, coding and strategy:
Agentic AI engineer/developer—Builds AI agents that act autonomously to complete tasks.
AI strategy consultant—Guides organizations through responsible AI integration.
AIOps engineer—Designs AI-powered systems that automate and improve IT operations.
LLM engineer—Develops and refines large language models, including prompt engineering and data management.
As these roles evolve, employers are looking to market data and recruiter insights to ensure pay remains competitive and aligned with demand.
Managing compensation expectations
Hiring competition remains high and so do candidate expectations. Sixty-nine percent of technology leaders are concerned about keeping pace with pay demands, especially for in-demand roles.
For critical positions tied to modernization or security, many employers are stretching budgets or fast-tracking offers, while those offering below-market pay risk losing candidates to companies with stronger hybrid options or total compensation packages.
To stay competitive, organizations are rethinking offers by:
Adding new benefits and perks
Increasing starting salaries
Including salary ranges in job descriptions to attract qualified talent faster
Total compensation matters in technology
Salary is only part of the package. In tech, where competition for specialized talent is strong, total compensation often determines who attracts and keeps top professionals.
For employers, that means going beyond pay. Tech teams value flexibility, growth and well-being as much as innovation. Companies that combine hybrid work with strong perks and benefits—from certification programs to wellness stipends—show real commitment and stand out in the market.
For many job seekers, opportunities offering mentorship, development and balance can outweigh a higher paycheck. In a field built on innovation, the smartest compensation strategies invest in people as much as technology.
Upskilling and contract talent: Meeting the moment
Seventy-six percent of technology leaders report skills gaps within their departments and most say the impact has grown over the past year. With innovation moving faster than internal hiring cycles, many organizations are turning to contract talent, especially for AI governance, automation and cloud initiatives, and upskilling programs to close the gap.
These can also be effective solutions when budgets are tight and full-time hiring isn’t feasible. Contract professionals help maintain progress by providing needed skills and experience, managing heavy workloads and keeping transformation projects on track.
Upskilling employees in cloud, automation and AI tools both bridges skills gaps and strengthens retention. Many programs now also focus on AI fluency, data literacy and cybersecurity awareness, ensuring teams can support modernization projects and the safe adoption of new tools.
Opportunities ahead in technology
Technology in 2026 is focused on sustainable progress, not short-term trends. Employers are refining compensation strategies, investing in upskilling and embracing flexible talent models. For professionals, expanding technical and business skills opens the door to higher pay and long-term growth.
While salary increases are moderate, opportunity is strong for those ready to shape what’s next. In an industry defined by transformation, success comes from the people who know how to turn technology into progress.
