Which tech skills pay the most? That’s a crucial question for tech professionals, especially considering the massive amount of time needed to master certain skills.
Dice’s latest Tech Salary Report, based on responses from thousands of technologists, sheds some light on that question. In 2023, as in so many past years, data-related skills remained in high demand — resulting in high salaries for tech professionals with a grasp of the languages, tools and abilities necessary to build and iterate data infrastructure at scale.
Over the past few years, we have repeatedly seen data-related skills top our estimations of salary and demand, thanks in large part to the increasing sophistication and availability of data and cloud tools that allow any company to harness and analyze its data. From small businesses to large enterprises, there’s a rising awareness that data means the difference between failure and market-beating success.
With that in mind, here’s the full breakdown of the highest-paying skills in tech:
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) offers a way for technology teams to reduce development resources, improve agility, and even increase scalability. Skills such as Docker and Platform-as-a-Service (PAAS) are necessary for building out the next-generation infrastructure that organizations will need for their next digital transformations, including the integration of next-generation technologies such as AI, advanced automation and data analytics.
Some of the fastest-growing skills are clustered in the networking and cloud arenas, emphasizing how organizations will pay a premium for tech professionals who can build out infrastructure. Without reliable databases, networks and cloud platforms, these organizations cannot implement any of the other technologies needed to advance their strategies.
From a tech professional’s perspective, the complexity of many of these skills and tools can lead to heightened opportunities and even a measure of job security. If you’re a specialist who has mastered scalable cloud servers such as Parallels, for instance, you have leverage when it comes to jobs and salary negotiations—provided you keep your skills up-to-date. Those who can successfully build out data and cloud infrastructure to take advantage of the next generation of AI tools and services will find themselves at an even greater advantage.
