2026 Tech Salary Guide

Discover how much tech professionals should earn with Motion Recruitment’s 2026 Tech Salary Guide. Get salary insights for 100+ tech roles and expert analysis on the IT landscape, along with industry trends.

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IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for 2026

In a competitive IT hiring landscape, Motion’s 2026 Tech Salary Guide gives you the info needed to take the next step in your tech job search or hiring plans.

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Map Out Your 2026 Strategy for the Tech Hiring Market

with Expert Insights & Salary Data

The tech industry continues to evolve, and Motion Recruitment’s Tech Salary Guide is here to help workers and company leaders better understand the IT job market in 2026.
 
Artificial intelligence has shifted the skills companies are looking for in tech workers as Agentic AI appears to be the next step in the technology. Businesses are bringing their workers back to the office, and boomerang hiring has exploded in the past year.
 

Motion’s 2026 Guide explores these topics and other trends shaping the IT job market, providing salary information for the top tech roles.

175,000

added to the tech workforce

Core tech employment is projected to grow by just under 175k workers annually, showing the consistent need for skilled IT workers.

$144K

average salary for US IT workers

The average base level compensation for all IT workers in the United States is $144,401.

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Emerging Tech: Agentic AI and the Lack of Upskilling

While tech workers are the most concerned about getting laid off out of any group in the U.S. due to the advancements of Agentic AI tools leading to job loss, many are passing up the opportunity to grow their AI skillset. Over half of workers are doing little or no upskilling in GenAI, so those who are prioritizing how to learn to use Agentic AI programs as a productivity tool will thrive in the current market.

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Q: What Advice Would You Give Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2026?

From James Vallone, President of Motion Recruitment

“As artificial intelligence reshapes expectations across the tech industry, leaders are seeking flexible, comprehensive solutions tailored to their unique needs. IT leaders who combine market insights with data-driven decision-making will be best positioned to build teams — and careers — that are ready for what’s next. Staying current on emerging tools and cultivating strong professional networks is essential to driving progress for both organizations and individuals.”

 

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the Guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2026, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, IT job creation and the tech talent shortage.
  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including a spike in data center construction, the need for upskilling in the tech industry and how AI is evolving the wearables market.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including tech workers heading back to the office and IT workers boomeranging back to previous employers.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2026.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid and senior level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.

  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX and Executive.

 

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

Download Guide

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

Download Guide

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2024

Download Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which IT job pays the most?

The highest paying IT job category in the tech industry is typically the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role. Based on current salary data for 2026, senior-level Chief Technology Officers earn between $187,377 and $260,644 annually, depending on location and whether the position is remote. For example, remote senior-level CTOs can earn up to approximately $260,000, while in regional markets like Houston and Phoenix, salaries range from around $191,966 to $244,724.

By comparison, IT administrator salary ranges are notably lower. Remote senior-level Network Administrators earn between approximately $113,292 and $121,081, reflecting the mid-tier positioning in the IT salary hierarchy. Other IT roles such as Information Security Engineers and Cloud Engineers command mid-level salaries ranging between roughly $117,000 to $188,000 for senior levels, indicating strong demand but below the highest executive tiers.

The significant salary differential underscores the critical strategic responsibilities held by CTOs — guiding digital transformation and technology innovation at the highest organizational levels. While IT administrator salary figures show stable demand for operational roles, the highest salaries remain concentrated in executive leadership within technology.

This salary landscape reinforces the expanding viability and financial incentives associated with leadership roles executing large-scale IT strategy and governance, as documented in the latest workforce metrics from Motion Recruitment.

Does an IT career pay well?
IT careers demonstrate expanding viability through competitive salary structures that reflect specialization and regional demand. According to market data, mid-level IT positions such as Salesforce Developers in Chicago earn between approximately $95,000 and $122,000 annually, while senior-level roles can reach from about $115,000 to $146,000. Comparable roles like Business Intelligence Analysts in Boston show a similar pattern, with mid-level salaries around $95,000 and senior salaries extending to over $140,000.

Other roles, including Systems Analysts and QA Engineers, display solid pay ranges in the $75,000 to $130,000 bracket depending on experience and location. Positions in security, such as SOC Security Analysts, also contribute to this spectrum with mid-level salaries near $81,000 and seniors earning upwards of $108,000.

These metrics highlight that IT salaries vary substantially across roles and expertise levels but generally offer favorable compensation. Salaries for IT administrators, while typically lower than specialized development or analytics roles, still fit within a competitive range reflecting the critical impact of their work on maintaining digital infrastructure.
How much do IT jobs pay in the US?
IT salary in the US varies widely by role and experience, with many positions offering competitive pay reflecting their significance in driving digital transformation. For example, mid-level Java Developers tend to earn between approximately $114,000 and $141,000 annually, while senior-level Java Developers can see salaries ranging from $141,000 up to $170,000. Business Intelligence Developers display a mid-level salary range of about $96,000 to $122,000, with senior-level pay extending to near $147,000.

Systems Administrators nationwide typically earn between $85,000 and $105,000 at mid-level, with senior salaries reaching around $123,000. Support Engineers usually have mid-level pay from roughly $70,000 to $90,000, while senior Support Engineers earn up to approximately $114,000.

SQL Developers earn mid-level salaries between $98,000 and $113,000, with senior positions commanding $116,000 to $150,000. Application Developers fall within similar ranges, with mid-level pay from $90,000 to $125,000 and senior salaries topping out close to $148,000.

These figures demonstrate the broad spectrum of IT salary in the US, emphasizing the evolving landscape and expansion of viable career paths with strong earning potential.
What is the salary range and projected change for a Chief Security Officer in 2026?
Chief Security Officer earn between $266,731 and $400,890, resulting in a 10.9% change in 2026.