The 14 Highest Paying Tech Jobs in 2026 (With Real Salary Data)
Which tech roles actually pay the most — and where to find the best offers
The 14 Highest Paying Tech Roles, Ranked
We pulled salary data from 113 cities across 6 continents to rank every major tech role by compensation. No recruiter fluff, no "up to" games — just median salaries and real ranges.
Here is the ranking from highest to lowest median salary in top markets:
1. Cloud Architect — $140K–$250K+
Cloud architects command the highest salaries in tech. The role combines deep infrastructure knowledge with business strategy, and the supply of qualified architects has not kept pace with cloud adoption.Top-paying cities:
Why it pays so much: A bad cloud architecture decision can cost millions in wasted infrastructure spend. Companies pay a premium for architects who can design cost-efficient, scalable systems.
2. ML Engineer — $130K–$230K+
Machine learning engineers sit at the intersection of software engineering and data science — and the market is desperate for them. The AI boom has pushed ML engineer salaries up 15–25% in just two years.Top-paying cities:
The salary premium for ML engineers over general software engineers is roughly 20–35% at the same experience level.
3. Security Engineer — $125K–$220K+
Security engineers have become non-negotiable hires. Every major breach makes the talent market tighter, and experienced security engineers can essentially name their price.Top-paying cities:
Specializations like cloud security, application security, and incident response command the highest premiums.
4. DevOps Engineer — $120K–$200K+
DevOps engineers bridge development and operations, and the complexity of modern infrastructure keeps driving demand. Platform engineering — the evolution of DevOps — is pushing salaries even higher.Top-paying cities:
5. Backend Engineer — $115K–$200K+
Backend engineers remain the backbone of every tech company. Demand is steady and salaries reflect the critical nature of the work.Top-paying cities:
Backend engineers who specialize in distributed systems, real-time processing, or high-frequency trading earn at the top of these ranges.
6. Software Engineer (General) — $110K–$200K+
The classic software engineer role remains one of the most in-demand positions globally. Generalists who can work across the stack command strong salaries.
Top-paying cities:
7. Data Engineer — $110K–$190K+
Data engineers build the pipelines and infrastructure that power analytics and ML. As data volumes explode, so does demand for engineers who can manage it at scale.Top-paying cities:
8. Full Stack Developer — $105K–$190K+
Full stack developers who can handle both frontend and backend are valued for their versatility, especially at startups where wearing multiple hats is the norm.Top-paying cities:
9. Product Manager — $110K–$200K+
Product managers are not engineers, but they are among the highest-paid tech professionals. The role requires a unique mix of technical understanding, business acumen, and user empathy.Top-paying cities:
Senior PMs and Directors at FAANG companies regularly earn $300K+ with stock compensation included.
10. Data Scientist — $100K–$180K+
Data scientists analyze complex datasets to drive business decisions. The role has matured from its "sexiest job" hype, and salaries have stabilized — but remain strong.Top-paying cities:
11. Frontend Engineer — $100K–$180K+
Frontend engineers who master modern frameworks (React, Next.js, Vue) and understand performance optimization are in strong demand.Top-paying cities:
12. iOS Developer — $100K–$175K+
iOS developers benefit from Apple's ecosystem dominance. SwiftUI expertise and experience with Apple's latest frameworks (VisionOS, ActivityKit) command premiums.Top-paying cities:
13. Android Developer — $95K–$170K+
Android developers have a massive market (3B+ devices) but slightly lower median salaries than iOS counterparts due to larger developer supply.Top-paying cities:
14. UX Designer — $90K–$160K+
UX designers round out the list. While they earn less than engineering roles on average, senior UX designers and design leads at top companies earn competitive packages.Top-paying cities:
The Location Factor
Salary rankings change dramatically depending on where you work. Here is how the same role (Software Engineer, mid-level) pays across different cities:
| City | Salary Range | Cost-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $130K–$220K | Baseline |
| New York | $120K–$200K | Similar |
| Seattle | $115K–$190K | Better (no state tax) |
| Austin | $100K–$170K | Much better |
| Berlin | €50K–€90K | Comparable |
| London | £55K–£100K | Worse (high COL) |
| Toronto | C$80K–C$140K | Better |
| Singapore | S$70K–S$140K | Comparable |
| Dubai | AED 180K–360K | Better (no income tax) |
| Tokyo | ¥6M–¥12M | Comparable |
The takeaway: raw salary numbers are misleading without cost-of-living context. A €70K salary in Berlin can provide a better lifestyle than $150K in San Francisco.
Fastest Growing Tech Salaries
Not all roles are growing at the same rate. Based on year-over-year trends:
Fastest growth (15–25% YoY):How to Maximize Your Tech Salary
Based on patterns across our salary data:
1. Specialize strategically. Generalists earn median salaries. Specialists in high-demand niches (ML infrastructure, cloud security, distributed systems) earn top-quartile. 2. Location-arbitrage. Work for a San Francisco company while living in Austin, Berlin, or Toronto. Remote roles increasingly adjust for location, but the gap remains significant. 3. Switch roles, not just companies. Moving from frontend to full-stack to backend engineering over 5 years can increase your salary 40–60% beyond what staying in one role achieves. 4. Negotiate with data. Use real salary data for your specific role and city — not national averages. Check your salary comparison to benchmark your compensation against the market. 5. Time your moves. Job-hopping every 2–3 years still outpaces internal raises by 10–20% on average. But the gap is narrowing as companies improve retention offers.The Bottom Line
Cloud architecture, ML engineering, and security engineering lead tech compensation in 2026. But the highest-paying role for you depends on your skills, location, and specialization.
The biggest mistake in tech career planning is optimizing for today's hot role instead of building deep expertise. The engineers earning $250K+ are not generalists who chased trends — they are specialists who became genuinely excellent at something specific.
Use our salary comparison tool to see exactly what your role pays in your city, then decide if you are being compensated fairly.
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