![[Featured image] An IT support specialist stands in a brightly lit office holding a tablet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/QgxIdI3NIEXaTVmUrLlNK/b4e1bc693c7a58eaa1fb98e5fd383101/iStock-1150572144__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
7 High-Paying IT Jobs
Discover high-paying IT jobs, learn what their responsibilities include, average salary, and the education you’ll need to land a job in the field.
April 13, 2023
Article
Over the next decade, jobs in computer and information technology are projected to grow much faster than average*. Whether you want to increase your salary or pursue a specialization, you’ll find the resources you need to advance your IT career here.
Build advanced IT skills and earn recognized credentials with industry leaders
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Engagement, Software Development Life Cycle, Agile Software Development, Project Management Life Cycle, Resource Management, Risk Management, Peer Review, Earned Value Management, Stakeholder Management, Agile Methodology, Project Risk Management, Team Motivation, Kanban Principles, Project Schedules, Development Environment, Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology, Information Technology, Sprint Retrospectives, Interviewing Skills, Project Management
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Project Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology, Agile Project Management, Project Portfolio Management, Project Closure, Work Breakdown Structure, Backlogs, User Story, Sprint Planning, Project Planning, Project Documentation, Management Reporting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Quality Management, Communication Planning, Change Management, Budgeting
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Skills you'll gain: Productivity Software, Consolidation, Calendar Management, Organizational Skills, Project Management Software, Scheduling, Prioritization, Team Oriented, Teamwork, Collaboration, Document Management, Workflow Management, Goal Setting, Project Management
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Ready to take the next step up from your entry-level IT role? Positions in this field earn more than twice the average salary for all occupations, so you have many high-paying career paths and specializations to choose from*. As a mid-level or advanced IT professional, you may begin to focus on an industry niche such as InfoSec, cybersecurity, cloud computing, or business IT. Higher-level IT professionals can also hold IT management or digital product management roles. Learn more about how to prepare for more advanced IT roles and how Coursera can help:
How to Write an Information Technology Resume (With Examples)
How to Become an Information Security Analyst: Salary, Skills, and More
IT project managers typically have strong project management skills, like project planning, risk assessment, budgeting, and more. A technical background isn’t always required, but it can be beneficial.
Read more: What is a Technical Project Manager? (How to Become One)
Organizations in various sectors and industries are in critical need of improved cybersecurity. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 32 percent growth information security analyst hiring from 2022-2032*. Cybersecurity jobs include security systems administrator, penetration tester, security engineer, and cryptography engineer.
Read more: 10 Cybersecurity Jobs: Entry-Level and Beyond
*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outloook Handbook: Information Security Analysts, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm." Accessed
A background in technology is required knowledge for a wide range of in-demand jobs in computer science, including software developers, data scientists, data engineers, and information technology (IT) administrators. If you want to do truly cutting-edge work in this field, you can also pursue a career as a computer and information research scientist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these highly-educated and highly-paid experts typically have a master’s degree in computer science, and earn a median annual salary of $122,840 per year.
However, you don’t have to pursue a career in computer science to benefit from a background in technology. Technology has become increasingly important in the fields of medicine, manufacturing, logistics, and even agriculture. It’s also critical context for CEOs, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs, who may not need to work directly with technology themselves but must keep abreast of emerging opportunities for innovative new business models and products.
*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer and Information Technology Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm.” Accessed February 1, 2024.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.