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The Highest-Paying IT Jobs of 2024 & How to Get Hired
There’s a high-paying, in-demand area of tech that you might be overlooking: information technology, or IT.
Broadly speaking, IT is technology that stores, organizes, and processes information and communication. There are tons of fascinating careers that you can have in IT — from Computer Information Systems Manager to Cybersecurity Analyst — with rewarding salaries.
The Skillsoft IT Skills and Salary survey is one of the largest studies of IT salaries, skills, and certifications. In 2024, more than 5,100 people who work in technology answered anonymous questions about their salaries, how they feel about work, the certifications they want to get, and more.
Here are the jobs in IT with the top highest annual salaries, according to the survey. Learn what it takes to get hired in these roles, plus discover resources and relevant courses and skill paths that will help launch your career in IT.
(FYI: This list focuses on the salaries of survey respondents in North America. To see how IT salaries pan out around the world, download the full report.)
DevOps
Average salary: $112,762
DevOps (short for “Development Operations”) is an industry-standard approach to building software that prioritizes collaboration. DevOps practices enable businesses to be responsive, develop products quickly, and continuously improve them. IT professionals who specialize in DevOps help organizations put DevOps practices, tools, and platforms in place.
DevOps Engineers need to know how to work with data management, cloud architecture, automation, and programming languages. You can master DevOps practices and get an overview of modern infrastructure management in our free course Introduction to DevOps. As you prep your DevOps resume and start applying to jobs, be sure to review this guide to answering DevOps interview questions.
Application development, programming
Average salary: $113,195
An app developer or programmer is responsible for designing, coding, and maintaining software applications. They work on creating user-friendly and efficient apps for various platforms, like mobile devices, desktops, or web browsers. Their role involves writing code, debugging issues, and collaborating with other team members to ensure the application meets user needs and performs well. If this type of job excites you, get started with our Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer, and Full-Stack Engineer career paths — you’ll learn all of the skills you need for this career from the ground up.
Data Science, Analytics, and Business Intelligence
Average salary: $116,463
If you’re fascinated by data science and enjoy translating data into actionable business insights, you might thrive as a Business Intelligence Analyst. In these types of jobs, you’d use technologies like SQL, Python, or R to perform advanced data analysis and querying; you’d also work with data visualization dashboards like Tableau and Looker. You can learn all of these technical skills and get job-ready with our career path Data Scientist: Analytics Specialist.
Want to learn more about data and business? Check out our Business Intelligence Data Analyst career path to start analyzing data for business-advancing insights. And be sure to browse all of our data science courses to fill out your knowledge gaps — you can even start learning for free with Learn SQL and Getting Started Off-Platform for Data Science.
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Cybersecurity, Information Security
Average salary: $120,449
There’s a huge demand for cybersecurity professionals who can protect an organization’s computer systems and networks from bad actors, attacks, and security breaches. Information Security (aka “InfoSec”) is a highly sought-after cybersecurity specialty that focuses on protecting information and data from unauthorized access and attacks.
Brand new to cybersecurity? Start with our beginner-friendly free course Introduction to Cybersecurity. If you want to explore further and learn to identify cyber attacks (and prevent them from happening), you can check out the path Fundamentals of Cybersecurity. And if you’re interested in pursuing a certification in cybersecurity, we just launched several test prep skill paths that prepare you for the top industry exams.
Business Operations
Average salary: $127,324
Business Operations Managers handle a company’s most important logistics and administrative systems, often reporting to the Chief Operations Officer (COO). A Business Operations Manager focuses on streamlining an organization’s internal operations and activities so they’re efficient and productive.
IT Auditing or Governance, Risk, and Compliance
Average salary: $128,355
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (or “GRC”) is the part of an organization that establishes best practices and security frameworks, and makes sure that team members follow them. An IT audit is essentially an investigation of an organization’s technologies and systems to make sure that they’re safe and meet regulatory requirements. Risk management is not only a lucrative specialty within cybersecurity, but it’s also in demand. To learn more about how companies establish secure practices and policies, try our path Fundamentals of Cyber Resilience and Risk Management.
Project Management
Average salary: $129,750
A Project Manager in a tech company oversees the day-to-day tasks required to make projects successful, ensuring that teams meet deadlines and work within budget constraints. They bring a blend of hard and soft skills, like risk management, communication, and leadership, to guide their teams towards achieving specific goals and deliverables. Project Managers often transition from other roles within the tech industry, but it’s also possible to enter the field with a willingness to learn new skills and tools.
You can start learning project management skills by taking the course Introduction to Project Management. If you decide to pursue a Project Manager career, you can also take our new skill path Certified Associate in Project Management, which prepares you for an industry-recognized certification exam.
Cloud
Average salary: $142,902
The vast world of cloud computing involves storing and accessing data and programs on the internet. There are plenty of job opportunities for folks with technical skills to work with the cloud. Some of the highest-paying cloud careers include Cloud Engineer and Computer and Information Systems Manager. We have lots of cloud computing courses for all levels that you can take, from free video-based courses to in-depth certification prep skill paths.
IT Architecture and Design
Average salary: $156,147
Enterprise Architect is a high-paying leadership role that deals with overall IT architecture and design. These IT pros are responsible for making high-level decisions about an organization’s overall IT strategy. An Enterprise Architect’s tasks can include things like setting up and creating a network infrastructure, maintaining software and hardware, communicating with business stakeholders, and managing cybersecurity systems.
You need a fair amount of professional experience under your belt to become an Enterprise Architect. Inspired to start working towards this career? Take a look at the beginner-friendly IT courses to learn the key skills used in IT architecture and design. Aspects of computer science and IT often overlap, so consider taking our Computer Science career path — you’ll learn how to code like a professional and understand the theory behind programming.
Executive
Average salary: $163,611
Dream of running a tech company someday? Unsurprisingly, C-Suite Executives — like Chief Executive Officer and Chief Information Officer — had the highest salaries in Skillsoft’s 2024 IT Skills and Salaries survey. Executives are responsible for calling the shots, making major decisions for the company, and often acting as the face of an organization (think Apple’s Tim Cook or Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg). In short, that’s why they get paid the big bucks.
Want to read more of the survey findings? Download the 2024 Skillsoft IT Skills and Salaries report here.
If you’re not sure which tech career is right for you, start by taking our programming personality quiz. You’ll answer questions about your personal preferences and get custom recommendations for programming languages and courses you might want to try.
This blog was originally published on November 1, 2022 and has been updated with information from the 2024 IT Skills and Salary Report.
10 Industry Certifications That Will Be Popular in 2025
Technology changes quickly, and it’s up to you to figure out which specialized skills will help you stay ahead in the competitive job market. Earning industry certifications in domains like IT, cloud, and cybersecurity is one way you can validate your knowledge and stand out to potential employers.
New findings from Skillsoft’s 2024 IT Skills and Salary survey uncover which certifications will be in-demand next year. The global survey features insights from over 2,000 IT professionals in the United States alone, and includes data about salaries across industries and roles, the top-paying industry certifications, the most popular certs, and more. If you’re new to the world of industry certifications, the IT Skills and Salary Report will help you understand the landscape so you can narrow down your options and goals.
Once you’ve picked a certification to pursue, check out our new test prep skill paths to start learning the key cybersecurity, IT, and cloud skills that you need to pass these certification exams. Test prep skill paths are included in your Codecademy Pro or Plus membership, so you don’t have to pay extra to work towards a certification.
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Here are the certifications that people want to pursue in 2025, with information on how to prepare for the industry exams.
1. CompTIA Security+
Best for: Building a cybersecurity foundation
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most widely held certifications, and it’s an excellent way to kick off your IT journey. Security+ gives you a lot of key foundational information about security, and helps you develop must-have skills like automation, zero trust, risk analysis, operational technology, and IoT.
In our skill path CompTIA Security+ SY0-701, you’ll get hands-on learning about threats, cryptography, governance, identity management, and more.
2. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Best for: Experienced cybersecurity professionals and business leaders
This is an expert-level certification geared at experienced cybersecurity professionals and business leaders who are looking to advance their careers. CISSP holders have an average of 18 certifications and tend to work in management roles like Security Consultant, IT Director, and Chief Information Security Officer. In the U.S., people with CISSP certification earn $168,060 on average, making it one of the highest-paying IT certs.
CISSP is one of the more challenging certifications to get — you need at least 5 years of paid, relevant work experience in 2 or more of the CISSP domains just to be eligible for the certification. However, our skill path Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Journey is designed with beginners in mind. The videos in the skill path are created by industry-leading experts and there’s a test simulation that mirrors the actual certification exam, so you know what to expect.
3. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Best for: Anyone curious about the cloud
Even if you don’t work directly in a cloud role, you can gain a solid understanding of AWS Cloud basics, security measures, and migration techniques by becoming an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner. The skill path AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 is our beginner-friendly introduction to the concepts you need to sit for this popular exam.
Need an overview of the cloud job market? Read this guide to cloud computing careers to learn more about how people break into this domain and some popular cloud certifications to consider getting.
4. CompTIA Network+
Best for: Network professionals early in their careers
Network Engineers are responsible for designing, setting up, and managing computer networks within a company. The CompTIA Network+ N10-008 certification validates that folks early in their careers have core hands-on and technical skills to manage networks. In our corresponding skill path, you’ll learn networking fundamentals, work through network operations, and gain experience with the networking troubleshooting methodology.
5. CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
Best for: Experienced cybersecurity professionals
The role of a Cybersecurity Analyst revolves around monitoring a company’s computer infrastructure and network to ensure that sensitive information stays secure. Part of that includes knowing how to respond during high-stakes cybersecurity scenarios. The CompTIA CySA+ certification proves that you’re adept at detecting malicious activity, identifying vulnerabilities, and responding to incidents. People with the CompTIA CySA+ certification can also go on to have careers as Incident Response Analysts, Security Architects, Cybersecurity Engineers, and Threat Hunters.
6. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Best for: Career switchers getting into IT
If you’re looking for an entry-level certification that’s relevant to a broad range of careers in IT, consider Cisco’s CCNA. It’s a smart choice for career switchers who are entering the IT field as well as IT pros who want further networking skills. Our skill path prepares you for the CCNA 200-301 certification exam, which covers concepts like network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability.
7. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
Best for: Upskilling in cloud roles
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is a highly valued credential, because it demonstrates your proficiency in AWS services and best practices. It’s best for people who are looking to advance their careers in cloud architecture and have at least a year of hands-on experience designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform. You can start learning concepts that are covered in this certification exam in our skill path AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03.
Hot tip: A programming background can give you a leg up on this AWS certification. Be sure to check out the catalog of our coding courses to refresh your knowledge.
8. CompTIA PenTest+ (Penetration Testing)
Best for: Pentesters and Cybersecurity Analysts with work experience
Pentesters, aka ethical hackers, help organizations identify vulnerabilities by attempting to breach their cybersecurity defenses. They use techniques like phishing and social engineering to test systems and uncover weaknesses. CompTIA PenTest+ is an exam that confirms you know the latest pentesting techniques for all attack surfaces, including the cloud, web apps, APIs, IoT, on-premises, and hybrid network environments.
If you want to learn some of the basics behind this exciting career, check out our free course Introduction to Ethical Hacking.
9. CompTIA A+
Best for: Starting a career in IT
CompTIA A+ was ranked one of the most common certifications people had in 2024, and it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most coveted in 2025, too. This is the industry-standard certification to launch a career in IT, and it proves that you’ve passed CompTIA’s two entry-level certifications, Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). A comprehensive range of skills are covered in this certification, including hardware, operating systems, networking, troubleshooting, cloud computing, and security.
Ready to dive in? Explore the skill paths CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102).
10. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Best for: Entry-level cybersecurity jobs
This is the beginner certification offered by ISC2, the cybersecurity professional organization that provides the CISSP certification. ISC2 CC is essentially like a stepping stone to other certifications, and it can set you up to apply for entry-level cybersecurity roles.
Get ready for certification exams
Whether you’re aiming to advance your career in cloud architecture, delve into the world of ethical hacking, or launch an IT career, we have well-defined paths and resources available to help you achieve your goals. Each certification offers unique benefits and skill sets that position you for success in today’s competitive tech landscape. Read this blog to learn more about how to choose the right certification for your goals. And when you’re ready, browse our catalog of new test prep skill paths to take the next step towards your IT, cloud, or cybersecurity career.
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