Title tag: IT Salary Guide: Top 5 Highest-Paying Roles in 2025

Meta description: Looking to build a lucrative IT or tech career? Check out the five highest-paying roles in the IT sector in 2025.

IT Salary Guide: Top 5 Highest-Paying Roles in 2025

The more complicated the field, the higher the payout. At least, that’s how it usually goes. While it depends on factors like role and experience, IT and tech jobs pay well because of the technical skills required to do them. After all, writing lines of code is far different from, say, writing a guide about how to write lines of code.

Despite the recent slumps in the IT job market, these jobs are unlikely to go away anytime soon. AI may be killing entry-level positions, but training in its use helps boost a candidate’s prospects for higher ones. Some companies may be hiring less, but they’re still actively looking for senior or experienced talent.

If you’re searching for IT job positions that pay the most, this guide has it covered. Check out the salary ranges of these jobs and see if they suit you and your skillset. Note that the figures here are base salaries, not including work benefits.

1. Computer Vision Engineer

For any AI-powered system to be effective, its large language model (LLM) must be able to interpret and analyze data as a human user would. You’re probably familiar with the gaffes AI have made in recent years, from its inability to take drive-thru orders to creating fictional court cases. Without this, AI basically becomes unusable.

A computer vision engineer does this by developing a computer system that replicates the human visual system (i.e., eyes, brain, etc.). They’re highly sought after in manufacturing, writes Dell Technologies senior principal engineer Rogério Pedral, where their impact can be measured in minimizing downtime through: (1)

1. Monitoring and resolving issues in real time
2. Finding bottlenecks and other inefficiencies
3. Enhancing the production line’s ergonomics
4. Analyzing the performance of various stations
5. Improving overall operational efficiency

A computer vision engineer can earn between USD$145,000 and USD$218,750 annually (depending on experience, IT certifications, and other factors).

It’s interesting to note that this won’t be the only tech job with a six-figure annual salary, owing to a slow but steady rise in IT salaries over time. According to Motion Recruitments’ 2025 IT Salary Guide, the Year-over-Year (YoY) growth for IT and Tech Salaries in 2024 was 1.8%, which is slightly down from 2% in previous years.

2. .NET Architect

Microsoft’s .NET Framework is the most widely used framework for developing software, adopted by more than 40% of developers (as per a survey from July 2024). Of these, over 60% use .NET versions 5.0 and later, while the rest still depend on older versions despite support for them having long ended. (2)

Naturally, a .NET architect must be proficient in the more modern framework versions, as is standard. They have to be familiar with the framework’s three key components: Common Language Runtime, Framework Class Library, and the various applications built in it (e.g., WinForms, ASP.NET, and ADO.NET). (3)

A .NET architect can earn between USD$153,333 and USD$210,000 annually (depending on experience and other factors).

3. DevSecOps Architect

When you think about cybersecurity, the first thing that comes to mind is usually news of hackers stealing customer data. While a serious problem in its own right, one issue that doesn’t get as much attention is hackers stealing source code or disrupting development tools like Azure, GitHub, and Jira.

You probably have heard of DevOps, but what about ensuring its security? That’s a job for DevSecOps, which is a relatively new practice in the tech sector. Despite being aware of how critical cybersecurity is, many companies still struggle to integrate DevSecOps. One study by researchers from the University of Adelaide found several challenges, such as: (4)

1. Lack of consensus in adopting the appropriate tools
2. Lack of automation of traditionally manual practices
3. Strict access management and policies
4. Need for better inter-team collaboration

Companies that have the insight to do so, regardless, need the expertise of a DevSecOps architect or coach. As the job title suggests, their work involves advising teams on proper DevOps security practices to address the challenges mentioned earlier. For them, being well-versed isn’t enough; they also need to be able to inspire change.

A DevSecOps architect or coach can earn between USD$169,870 and USD$204,690 annually (depending on experience and other factors).

4. DevSecOps Engineer

While a DevSecOps architect introduces DevOps security best practices and principles, a DevSecOps engineer makes these a reality. They design the necessary systems alongside programming-oriented teams, especially DevOps teams.

Just like DevOps engineers, DevSecOps engineers must be proficient in key aspects like development pipelines and continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). The systems they create should protect the entire workflow, mitigating the risk of source code theft and other related cyberattacks.

DevSecOps engineers are among the most in-demand tech jobs today. The average high-end salary is around USD$202,499 annually, though senior-level positions can pay up to USD$220,000 (depending on experience and other factors). Some offer remote work setups, which help maintain work-life balance.

5. Java Architect

Contrary to some naysayers, Java remains a widely used programming language. Stack Overflow’s latest Developer Survey put Java among the top ten, alongside more modern ones like Python and JavaScript. (5)

As such, plenty of jobs that require Java know-how still exist, such as a Java architect. Java architects have a wide range of responsibilities, from designing Java-based systems to documenting their creation process for future staff. While a deep understanding of Java is a no-brainer, the work also requires soft skills such as analytical thinking and collaboration.

The salary offer for a Java architect is between USD$160,000 and USD$190,000 annually (depending on experience and other factors).

Takeaway

Advanced tech jobs are expected to remain aplenty amid the decline of entry-level ones. Fresh IT graduates and anyone looking to pursue a tech career alike can look forward to working in an industry that pays well and offers high growth potential. If you’re one of them, apply for a tech job while the opportunity lasts.

References

1.  “The Omnipresent Engineer: How Computer Vision At The Edge Is Changing The Way Products Are Made,” Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/delltechnologies/2025/02/11/the-omnipresent-engineer-how-computer-vision-at-the-edge-is-changing-the-way-products-are-made/

2.  “Most used libraries and frameworks among developers, worldwide, as of 2024,” Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/793840/worldwide-developer-survey-most-used-frameworks/

3. “C# .NET Framework (Basic Architecture and Component Stack),” Source: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/c-sharp/c-sharp-net-framework-basic-architecture-component-stack/

4. “Challenges and solutions when adopting DevSecOps: A systematic review,” Source: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.08266

5. “Technology | Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey,” Source: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#most-popular-technologies-language