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Position Title 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile Chief Information Officer (CIO) 221500 251750 302750 Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 191500 220750 278250 Chief Technology Officer (CTO) 188000 218750 275750 Vice President of Information Technology 160250 193500 223250 IT Director 133500 163250 194250
25th Percentile
The candidate is new to the role and building the needed skills, experience and autonomy.
50th Percentile
The candidate has the experience to perform core responsibilities without direct supervision and is comfortable with the role’s processes and subject matter.
75th Percentile
The candidate delivers value beyond the stated job duties, has advanced qualifications and experience, and is ready for the next career level.

Salary and Hiring Trends in Technology

Emerging technology is redefining the skills that managers seek. But hiring experienced professionals at the pay level they expect is difficult. Technology industry layoffs from early 2024 haven’t eased staffing challenges, keeping hiring managers in competition for skilled candidates. of technology managers will relax candidate experience requirements to accelerate hiring.

How much should I pay or earn?

of tech leaders are recruiting for different skills due to advancements in AI and automation.

Emerging AI technology roles

Think you know AI? Keep chasing these skills
Low unemployment and competitive hiring allow high-demand tech candidates to be selective about the jobs they pursue, putting the onus on managers to give compelling reasons to join their team. Almost half of technology managers are increasing starting salaries for hard-to-staff roles and professionals with specialized skills. of technology managers are increasing starting salaries to attract talent.

are adding new perks and benefits.

AI and
machine learning
Cybersecurity Cloud computing,
security and
architecture
Software and
applications
development
AI and
machine learning
Cybersecurity Cloud computing,
security and
architecture
Software and
applications
development

The hottest technology jobs, skills and industries

Skills and certifications AI and machine learning Amazon Web Services (AWS) Application development Certified information systems security professional (CISSP) Cloud development Cybersecurity Data analytics
Industries Financial services Government Healthcare Manufacturing Professional services Technology
AI and machine learning AI and machine learning

Security, privacy and compliance Security, privacy and compliance

Software and applications development  Software and applications development 

Data analytics, business intel and reporting Data analytics, business intel and reporting

Upskilling
employees
Reskilling
employees
for new roles
Engaging
skilled contract
talent
Implementing
mentoring
programs
Paying for
professional
certifications
Using
managed
services
Upskilling
employees
Reskilling
employees
for new roles
Engaging
skilled contract
talent
Implementing
mentoring
programs
Paying for
professional
certifications
Using
managed
services

Higher pay often given for in-office work

For jobs that can be done remotely, 78% of technology managers are willing to increase starting salaries for new hires to work in the office full or part time. Of those, 48% are offering workers up to 20% more pay to come in 4 to 5 days a week.  Tech professionals’ ideal hybrid scenario is working in-office 3 days per week. Hiring managers in this field prefer to have employees on-site 4 days per week.

We know talent, and we’re here to help

Robert Half’s talent solutions professionals help job seekers advance their careers and help hiring managers find skilled candidates.

Find a job Hire talent Hiring managers: Need more insights? Schedule a Salary Guide walk-through
The salary benchmarks listed in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process to ensure our projections accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary ranges. Learn more about our methodology. The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Company size, industry and the availability of remote work options can influence salaries. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels. Non-salary data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents include hiring managers and workers from small (1-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.