In This Guide:
Are you thinking about getting into tech to earn the big bucks, but not sure which role you want? Maybe you’re not even sure of all the options available or what each job even does?
Well, good news! Before you dive any deeper into each role and what it takes to get that career, I figured I would make your life a little easier and help you filter down first.
With that in mind, here's a list of the top-paying tech roles right now in 2025, based on the average salary of current jobs available.
Not only that, but I also break down what each role is about, who it's usually a good fit for, as well as career paths for each role so you can then learn and get started right away.
So let’s get into it.
Mile-high overview
So a few more pieces of information before we dive into each role:
All of the data points in this guide are based on a single job posting site: ZipRecruiter, so bear in mind that salaries and job opportunities can vary depending on where you are in the world. (Also, this isn't an exclusively 'tech' job posting site so you may even find higher salary options elsewhere but this helps us find a good baseline)
All of this data is set for the US only. However, you can click through any of the links I share and see the stats for your own country and compare
Finally, there are technically higher-paying roles out there in the tech world that are not on this list. (Software Architect etc). However, these roles need you to have X years of experience before you can apply, while each of the roles below allows you to get hired right away if you have the skillset
I’ll go into more detail about each role and how to get started in them in just a second, but here’s how each of them compares against each other.
Highest paying tech roles in 2025
As you can see, all of the careers listed are over $100,000 per year, with Software Engineer leading the pack with the average salary of jobs open at $147,524. (Same as last year).
However, before you run off and decide this is the job for you - it's worth pointing out that every role on this list is worth learning Which will you choose?. You might find another role with similar salary that you would prefer.
So let's get into them...
Software Engineer
Imagine being the mastermind behind your favorite apps and software, like Instagram or WhatsApp. As a Software Engineer, you’ll design, develop, and maintain these kinds of software applications.
Your day-to-day work involves using various programming languages and tools to create solutions that meet user needs.
Main tasks:
Writing and testing code to bring ideas to life
Debugging software issues to keep everything running smoothly
Collaborating with other developers and stakeholders
Designing system architecture to ensure robust performance
Best suited for: If you love problem-solving, enjoy logical thinking, and get a kick out of creating software that impacts millions, this role is perfect for you.
Average salary of jobs available: $147,524
Learn more: Ready to become a Software Engineer? Start your journey with this career path or read this guide for more info.
Step-by-step roadmap with a curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects and action items that will give you everything you need to become a Software Engineer, ace coding interviews and get hired at the company of your dreams.
Product Designer
Ever wondered why some apps feel effortless to use, while others leave you frustrated? That’s the work of a Product Designer. They're the person responsible for making digital products both functional and beautiful. Whether it’s a sleek shopping experience on Amazon or a perfectly intuitive interface on Airbnb, Product Designers bridge the gap between user needs and business goals.
Your day-to-day work involves designing user-friendly interfaces, refining user experiences, and collaborating with developers to bring ideas to life.
Main tasks:
Creating wireframes and prototypes to visualize app and website layouts
Designing interfaces that are visually appealing and easy to navigate
Conducting user research to understand customer behavior and improve designs
Collaborating with developers to ensure smooth implementation.
Best suited for: If you love design, enjoy problem-solving, and have a passion for crafting seamless digital experiences, this role is perfect for you.
Average salary: $144,360
Learn more: Ready to become a Product Designer? Check out this guide for a roadmap from total beginner to getting hired.
Cyber Security Professional
As a Cyber Security professional (such as an analyst, ethical hacker or engineer), you’ll either be the defender of an organization’s computer systems and networks, ensuring data stays safe from breaches, or, you might even try to hack systems to test how strong they are!
Main tasks:
Analyzing security vulnerabilities to fortify defenses
Implementing protective measures to guard against attacks
Monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity
Responding to and investigating security incidents
Best suited for: If you have a knack for security, attention to detail, and a passion for protecting data, this role offers a fulfilling path with high demand. It's also great for people who are competitive (staying ahead of the competition), and people who like to find secrets or solve puzzles,
Current average salary of all cyber security jobs available on ZipRecruiter: $132,962
Learn more: Ready to defend the digital world? Begin your cyber security career with this career path.
Step-by-step roadmap with a curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items where you'll become an Ethical Hacker/Cybersecurity Expert from scratch and actually get hired in an exciting, growing field.
Cloud Engineer
Ever wondered how Netflix streams flawlessly, or how Spotify handles millions of users at once? That’s the power of cloud computing. And behind it all are Cloud Engineers who design, automate, and manage the infrastructure that keeps everything running smoothly.
As a Cloud Engineer, you’ll work with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud to deploy applications, scale systems, and optimize performance. Your job isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about making cloud services faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective.
Main tasks:
Architecting and managing cloud infrastructure to support high-traffic applications
Automating deployments and scaling with tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines
Ensuring cloud security and compliance to protect sensitive data
Optimizing cloud costs and improving performance for better user experiences
Best suited for: If you're fascinated by cloud technology and enjoy building scalable solutions, this career path is an excellent fit for you.
Average salary of jobs available: $130,802
Learn more: Excited to build your career in the cloud? Check out this career path to get started.
This path is for those that want to get their AWS Certifications and launch their career as a Cloud Engineer and Architect!
Data Engineer
Every app, website, and business runs on data but raw data is messy, unstructured, and hard to use. That’s where Data Engineers come in. They build the pipelines and infrastructure that allow companies like Spotify, Airbnb, and Netflix to process and analyze massive amounts of information in real time.
As a Data Engineer, you’ll design scalable data systems, automate data processing, and ensure that data is clean, accessible, and ready for analysis. Your work powers everything from AI models and recommendation engines to business intelligence dashboards that drive critical decisions.
Main tasks:
Designing and maintaining data pipelines that move information efficiently
Optimizing databases and data storage for performance and scalability
Transforming raw data into structured formats that analysts and AI systems can use
Working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) to manage big data workloads
Best suited for: If you love solving complex problems, want to work with large-scale systems, and making data usable, this career is a great fit.
Average salary of jobs available: $129,716
Learn more: Ready to become a Data Engineer? Check out this career guide to get started.
AI Developer
Ever used a chatbot that feels almost human? Or scrolled through Netflix and wondered how it knows exactly what to recommend? That’s the work of an AI Developer — someone who builds AI-powered features into real-world applications.
AI Developers focus on applying existing AI models (like GPT-4, OpenAI APIs, TensorFlow, and Hugging Face) to enhance software with intelligent automation, recommendations, and decision-making. Unlike AI Engineers, who work on optimizing and deploying AI models, AI Developers focus on integrating AI into products.
Main tasks:
Building AI-powered chatbots, recommendation systems, and automation tools
Using pre-trained AI models & APIs to enhance software applications
Fine-tuning AI models for better accuracy and efficiency
Collaborating with software engineers & data scientists to implement AI features
Best suited for: If you love AI, enjoy building smart applications, and want to work on cutting-edge technology without needing deep research expertise, this role is a great fit.
Average salary: $129,348
Learn more: Interested in becoming an AI Developer? Check out this career path to get started or read this guide.
Step-by-step roadmap to become an A.I. Developer and learn to build things with the latest A.I. tools & skills. You will get a curated curriculum of courses, projects, and action items that will give you the skills, portfolio and experience to master A.I.
Machine Learning Engineer
From self-driving cars to AI-powered recommendations on YouTube, Machine Learning Engineers are behind the systems that help machines learn, predict, and make decisions.
As a Machine Learning Engineer, you’ll develop, train, and deploy AI models that improve over time. Unlike AI Developers, who focus on applying AI to applications, ML Engineers build and optimize machine learning models that power things like fraud detection, speech recognition, and AI assistants.
Main tasks:
Developing machine learning algorithms to create intelligent systems
Training and refining models for better accuracy
Implementing AI solutions to solve real-world problems
Evaluating and improving model performance
Best suited for: If you’re captivated by AI, have strong analytical skills, and enjoy working with cutting-edge technology, this role offers exciting challenges and opportunities.
Average salary of jobs available: $128,769
Learn more: Ready to delve into the world of Machine learning? Start your journey with this career path or read this guide for more details.
Step-by-step roadmap with a curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects and action items that will give you the skills, portfolio and experience to become a A.I. & Machine Learning Engineer and get hired.
Full-Stack Developer
Ever wondered how Facebook, Shopify, or Airbnb seamlessly handle millions of users? As a Full-Stack Developer, you’ll be the architect behind the scenes, building both the front-end (what users see) and the back-end (how everything works behind the scenes) of web applications.
Your role is unique because you’ll work across the entire web development stack, ensuring that websites and applications run smoothly, load quickly, and function across devices.
Main tasks:
Developing user interfaces and back-end services
Managing databases and servers for seamless operation
Ensuring cross-platform optimization for various devices
Collaborating with designers and other developers
Best suited for: If you enjoy working on both the front-end and back-end, love problem-solving, and want to be a jack-of-all-trades in web development, this career is a perfect fit.
Average salary of jobs available: $123,262
Learn more: Ready to master both ends of web development? Check out this career path to get started, or read this guide for even more details.
Step-by-step roadmap with a curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items where you'll learn to code, build a portfolio, become a Fullstack Web Developer from scratch and actually get hired.
DevOps Engineer
Ever wondered how banks process millions of transactions securely, how e-commerce giants handle Black Friday traffic, or how multiplayer games stay online 24/7? That’s the work of DevOps Engineers, who automate and optimize infrastructure to ensure reliability, scalability, and security.
As a DevOps Engineer, you’ll bridge the gap between development and IT operations, using automation, cloud platforms, and monitoring tools to streamline deployments, prevent downtime, and keep systems running at peak performance.
Main tasks:
Automating development processes for efficiency
Managing infrastructure as code for consistency
Monitoring and maintaining production systems
Collaborating with development and operations teams
Best suited for: If you love automation, enjoy optimizing workflows, and want to make software delivery seamless, this role is a perfect fit.
Average salary of jobs available: $122,950
Learn more: Want to dive into the world of DevOps? Start your journey with this career path, or read this guide for even more details.
Go from beginner to hired as a DevOps Engineer in 5 months. This DevOps Career Path combines traditional software development and infrastructure management processes to turn you into a top 10% DevOps Engineer.
Mobile Developer
Every day, billions of people use mobile apps—whether it’s ordering food, tracking workouts, or managing finances. As a Mobile Developer, you’ll design and build the apps that people rely on daily, from social media platforms to mobile banking and fitness trackers.
You’ll work with frameworks like Flutter, React Native, or Swift/Kotlin to create fast, user-friendly apps that run smoothly on both iOS and Android.
Main tasks:
Designing and coding mobile apps
Testing and debugging applications to ensure smooth performance
Ensuring app usability and performance
Collaborating with designers and other developers
Best suited for: If you love building mobile applications and have a passion for mobile technology, this career path is perfect for you.
Average salary of jobs available: $114,431
Learn more: Ready to craft the next big app? Start your journey with this career path to get started.
Step-by-step roadmap with a curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items where you'll become a Mobile App Developer from scratch and actually get hired.
UX or UI Designer
Ever wondered why some apps just feel right while others are frustrating to use? That’s the work of a UX/UI Designer, whose job is to make digital experiences seamless, intuitive, and visually appealing.
Unlike Product Designers, who focus on the big-picture product strategy, UX/UI Designers specialize in how users interact with screens, buttons, and workflows—ensuring that apps and websites are engaging and easy to navigate.
Main tasks:
Designing user interfaces that are visually appealing and intuitive
Improving usability (UX) through research, user testing, and data analysis
Designing wireframes, prototypes, and interactive elements to guide user flow
Collaborating with developers to bring designs to life with smooth animations and layouts
Best suited for: If you love combining creativity with technology and have a passion for crafting engaging user experiences, this role offers a fulfilling path.
Average salary of jobs available: $112,198
Learn more: Ready to craft engaging user experiences? Begin your career with this career path.
Step-by-step roadmap to learn and master web & mobile design, UI & UX, and HTML & CSS. Curated curriculum of courses, workshops, projects, and action items to and become a UI/UX Designer and get hired.
Blockchain Developer
Blockchain isn’t just about Bitcoin and Ethereum anymore. It’s now powering secure financial transactions, digital identities, supply chains, and even gaming assets.
As a Blockchain Developer, you’ll design and implement decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts, and secure blockchain systems that ensure transparency, security, and trust across industries.
Main tasks:
Developing smart contracts on platforms like Ethereum, Solana, or Hyperledger to automate transactions
Building decentralized applications (dApps) for finance, gaming, and supply chain solutions
Implementing cryptographic security measures to protect blockchain networks from attacks
Optimizing blockchain architecture to improve transaction speed and scalability
Best suited for: If you're fascinated by blockchain technology and excited about building secure and transparent systems, this career could be very rewarding.
Average salary of jobs available: $111,845
Learn more: Ready to dive into blockchain development? Start your journey with this career path to get started.
Your step-by-step roadmap to get hired as a Blockchain Developer and become a web3 and blockchain expert. This curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items provides everything you need in one place.
AI Engineer
From self-driving cars to AI-powered fraud detection, AI Engineers build the infrastructure, models, and tools that bring artificial intelligence to life.
Unlike AI Developers, who integrate AI into applications, AI Engineers design, optimize, and deploy AI models, ensuring they run efficiently at scale. They work with massive datasets, optimize machine learning models, and deploy AI systems in real-world applications like healthcare, finance, and automation.
Main tasks:
Building and training machine learning models for speech recognition, fraud detection, and automation
Optimizing AI models for efficiency and scalability using frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging Face
Deploying AI models in production environments with MLOps tools (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines)
Working with big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark) to process and analyze massive datasets
Best suited for: If you’re passionate about machine learning, AI optimization, and making AI models scalable and production-ready, this career offers cutting-edge opportunities.
Average salary of jobs available: $101,752 (Bear in mind also that this is a fairly new field and pay and roles are increasing every year).
Learn more: Ready to build AI systems at scale? Start your journey with this career path, or read this guide for more details.
Which will you choose?
And just like that, you now have a roadmap to the highest-paying tech careers in 2025.
Each role not only offer six-figure salaries but also let you work on game-changing technology, solve real-world problems, and shape the future.
The best part?
You don’t need years of experience to break in. With the right skills, you can land a job in under 12 months and start building the career (and paycheck) you’ve been aiming for.
All you need to do is click any of the links above and follow the set roadmaps and guides. They'll take you from complete beginner with zero tech skills, to getting hired. You just need to choose one and get started!
Still unsure which career to choose?
No problem, I have your back!
Check out this guide to [learn more about the major tech roles and how to pick the best one for you](/blog/which-tech-career-is-right-for-me/) (outside of just monetary goals)
After that, go ahead and [check out this guide next to see which of these careers has the most open jobs and industry growth](/blog/tech-careers-in-high-demand/)
Because high pay is great - but it's even better when there's less competition for roles!
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