Highest Paid Skills In Tech

Despite overwhelming confidence about the job market in 2024, reports of volatility in the tech sector in recent years has surprised tech professionals and job seekers alike. Until recently, tech professions were among the fastest expanding and most sought after, earning many slots on our yearly list of Best professions. This year, they just barely made the cut.

However, anxieties about the source of uncertainty, layoffs, may be exaggerating the sector’s troubles; it depends on who you ask.

In January 2024, 30,995 tech personnel were laid off, accounting for less than one-third of those let off in January of the previous year. Although this may not bring as much comfort as one would like, Inc. reported that employees should be prepared for “rolling or tiered layoffs.” Business Insider, on the other hand, compared the leveling out of layoffs to those seen in any other major industry, or a return to a more sustainable pattern.

Everyone can agree on one thing: the technology business is changing, possibly irreversibly. Job seekers should examine the evolving industry’s new expectations, which include changes resulting from the broad usage of generative AI. While Gen AI will have an impact on almost every business, technology will be particularly affected.

According to the January jobs report, 2024 is off to a strong start with a large number of job openings, but tech workers will need to hone their skills and market themselves more strategically than in the past—this list provides real-time data about opportunities in technology, as well as the relationship between skills and earning potential.

Top 10 highest-paid skills in tech

Half of the highest-paid skills in technology are AI-specific, implying that job searchers with AI skills can differentiate themselves in a competitive job market and perhaps earn more than their peers. While tech layoffs generate news, many of the organizations undergoing layoffs are moving their focus to AI-related projects, resulting in an increase in demand for these skills and responsibilities, even among those conducting layoffs.

Top jobs looking for these skills

Despite evolving dynamics in the IT industry, certain roles remain resilient—data scientist, machine learning engineer, and software engineer are at the top of the list, emphasizing the need for competence in AI, deep learning, and software development. These professions also emphasize the value of analytical, problem-solving, and collaborative abilities. As businesses adapt to new trends, workers with these abilities are well-positioned to prosper in an ever-changing technological landscape.

Data scientist

• A data scientist examines massive databases to discover insights and patterns using statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms. They then share their findings with partners, assisting in decision-making and addressing complicated problems across several industries.

Machine learning engineer

• A machine learning engineer creates and implements machine learning models and algorithms to address specific issues or improve current systems. They also improve these models’ scalability, economy, and performance in real-world scenarios.

Software engineer

• A software engineer creates, develops, and maintains software applications or systems, using programming languages and tools to satisfy specific needs. They work with team members to ensure code quality, dependability, and adherence to project schedules.

Research scientist

• A research scientist conducts tests, investigations, and studies to advance knowledge in their area of specialization. They evaluate data, publish findings, and use novel research approaches to promote science and technology.

Full stack developer

• A full stack developer creates and implements both front-end and back-end components for web applications. They are proficient in both client-side and server-side technologies, enabling them to create and implement full software solutions independently or as part of a team.

Deep learning engineer

• A deep learning engineer creates, trains, and deploys deep neural networks to address hard problems in fields including computer vision, natural language processing, and speech recognition. They improve model topologies and parameters to achieve high performance and scalability in real-world applications.

Software architect

• A software architect creates the overall structure of a software system, including its components, linkages, and interactions, in order to achieve specified goals and objectives. They manage the project’s technical direction, ensuring that best practices, scalability, and maintainability are followed throughout the development lifecycle.

Field programmable gate array (fpga) engineer

• A field programmable gate array (FPGA) engineer creates, builds, and tests digital circuits with FPGA technology to match project specifications. They optimise performance, power consumption, and resource efficiency while working with hardware and software teams to incorporate FPGA solutions into bigger systems.

Top companies hiring for these skills:

Companies are actively recruiting people who are skilled in the latest technologies to keep up with the changing environment of tech capabilities. These firms, ranging from industry titans like Deloitte and Meta to new disruptors like TikTok and NVIDIA, are at the forefront of driving technological innovation. As they continue to prioritize AI-related endeavors, their recruitment focus on professions like data scientists, machine learning engineers, and software architects emphasizes the importance of these abilities in influencing the future of technology.

Deloitte

• Deloitte is a top professional services firm. Deloitte is altering the business and technological landscape with services ranging from taxation, auditing, accounting, and consulting to real estate, technology, legal, and cybersecurity.

Ericsson-Worldwide

• Ericsson is a major provider of information and communication technology (ICT) to service providers. It unlocks the full potential of connectivity by developing game-changing technology and services that are simple to use, adopt, and scale, allowing its customers to thrive in a fully connected world.

Meta

• Meta develops solutions that enable individuals to connect, form communities, and grow enterprises. When Facebook was began in 2004, it revolutionized the way people communicated. Technologies like as Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp have further empowered billions of people worldwide. Meta is now shifting its focus away from 2D screens and toward immersive experiences such as augmented and virtual reality to help shape the next evolution of social technology.

Apple

• Apple is made up of a varied group of thinkers and doers who are always pushing the boundaries of what is possible. And the same innovation that goes into its products extends to its methods, reinforcing its dedication to leaving the world better than it found it.

TikTok

• TikTok is the world’s most popular place for short-form videos. Its platform is designed to foster imaginations. This is especially true for the teams that made TikTok possible. Its employees lead with curiosity and move at the pace of the culture.

Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession above competitor focus, a love for innovation, a commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. It is motivated by the enthusiasm of developing technologies, producing goods, and offering services that improve people’s lives.

NVIDIA

• Since its inception in 1993, NVIDIA has been a pioneer in accelerated computing. The company’s innovation of the GPU in 1999 fueled the expansion of the PC gaming business, changed computer graphics, ushered in the era of modern AI, and is driving the formation of the metaverse. NVIDIA is now a full-stack computing firm with data-center-scale solutions that are transforming the market.

Lockheed Martin

• F-35, PAC-3, and the GOES weather satellite…What do these technologies have in common, you might wonder. Talented employees, along with a firm culture that isn’t scared to get things done. Lockheed Martin addresses a wide range of concerns, from national security to environmental preservation, thanks to its considerable resources and a long history of getting things done.