Make Money Jobs & Careers

14 In-Demand Tech Jobs That Could Earn You $100K or More

A $100K salary is just the starting point for these tech careers.

happy woman coding on computer
Updated May 28, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

A 2022 Center on Rural Innovation study showed that while 60% of rural residents are interested in tech jobs, only around 244,000 tech jobs are performed in rural America.

Whether you live in rural America, a suburb, or a city center, tech jobs are among the most lucrative careers on the job market. 

Learn more about 14 top-paying tech jobs, including average salaries and job descriptions, so you can make an informed decision about your next career move and get ahead financially.

Earn money online by taking surveys

$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.

Follow these simple steps to start earning:

  1. Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
  2. Take surveys.
  3. Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!

P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.

Get your share of $55,000 daily by signing up here

Mobile application developer

baranq/Adobe male website developer posing for picture

The average salary for app developers ranges from $134,000 a year to $195,000, per data from Robert Half Staffing Solutions. Mobile application developers design apps across operating systems, including Windows, iOS, and Android.

Since around 85% of Americans use smartphones, there’s always a demand for app developers to create, test, and update apps of all kinds.

DevOps engineer

Andrey Popov/Adobe happy african american female web developer

DevOps engineers (an abbreviation of development operations) can make a starting salary of $113,000, though top-tier engineers make an average of up to $170,000.

As a DevOps engineer, you would oversee software development and deployment across a larger organization. The job requires top-notch organizational and management skills and in-depth knowledge of streamlining and updating crucial business software.

Site reliability engineer

peopleimages.com/Adobe male programmer coding late at night

Site reliability engineers typically start at around $110,250, but with enough experience, their salaries can range up to an average of $135,000. 

Site reliability engineers maintain a software application’s reliability across an organization to ensure operations run smoothly amid developer updates and deployments.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Front-end developer

kasto/Adobe colleagues coding at work together

While a front-end developer’s average starting salary is under $104,250 (closer to $85,000 to start), experienced front-end developers can earn up to $160,000 a year. 

Front-end devs maintain user interfaces on a website, creating components and designing site layouts to ensure users have a smooth, seamless site experience.

Web developer

MIND AND I/Adobe asian web developer working with colleague

The average starting salary for a web developer is around $91,000, though senior web developers with years of experience can earn up to $160,000. 

While front-end developers focus solely on the portion of a website users interact with, web developers usually build a site from the ground up. 

As a result, they usually work on both the front and back ends of a site’s development.

Ecommerce analyst

Song_about_summer/Adobe businessman analysing progress on tablet

A typical ecommerce analyst starts out earning around $94,250, but once they gain experience, they can earn up to $132,000 on average. As the title suggests, ecommerce analysts spend their time analyzing a site’s e-commerce performance.

You’d likely analyze your company’s website’s sales trends in this role. You’d also create reports and collaborate with advertisers, marketers, and developers to improve user experience with the site and increase online sales.

AI architect

Gorodenkoff/Adobe confident female web developer at work

An AI architect is a relatively new career with an average starting salary of $132,000. At the high end, AI architects can make as much as $183,000 annually.

AI architects create strategies for implementing artificial intelligence systems across enterprises. The position requires architects to understand the needs of every tech specialist on the team, from DevOps engineers to data security specialists.

Business intelligence analyst

THANANIT/Adobe asian business woman working on laptop

As a business intelligence analyst in the tech field, you could start making $101,250 a year, but that salary could range up to $146,500 with enough experience.

Generally speaking, a business intelligence analyst curates data about a business’s performance, offers insights into the data, and helps its stakeholders make wise decisions that improve its financial standing. 

Analysts need to know the best methods of curating data, sorting through vast amounts of information, and condensing that information into actionable insights.

Database manager

Ticha/Adobe business woman checking virtual checklist

A typical database manager’s starting salary is around $122,250 and can increase to $170,000. 

As a database manager, you’d ensure your company’s databases stay safe and secure. You’d also maintain the database and ensure company stakeholders can securely access the data they need.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Data architect

Blue Planet Studio/Adobe lawyer thinking about judiciary at table

Data architects can start making $134,500, but with time and experience, they can earn as much as $186,500 a year. They strategize modes of data collection and conceptualize systems that can manage and extract that data.

In other words, data architects draft the blueprints for critical company structures, though their building blocks are coding languages rather than physical materials.

Big data engineer

peopleimages.com/Adobe man using laptop to develop codes

The average starting salary for a big data engineer is around $122,000, though the salary ranges up to $174,250. Big data engineers are responsible for building systems that accommodate a company’s data.

Typically, they work closely with data architects to bring their database structures and systems to life. They also update and maintain those systems and extract large data sets that help company analysts make informed decisions about business operations.

Data scientist

Artem/Adobe business woman standing beside coding monitors

An entry-level data scientist can expect to make an average of $119,000, though advanced data scientists can make as much as $167,000 per annum.

Data scientists analyze the data sets curated, maintained, and extracted by big data engineers and other IT professionals. Their findings can help a business stay fiscally viable, understand its customer base and personnel, and grow its bottom line.

IT auditor

Liubomir/Adobe man looking thoughtfully through office budget

The average IT auditor starts their career on a salary of $105,250, but they may eventually make up to $151,000. 

IT auditors oversee a company or organization’s technological systems, frequently reviewing them to ensure they’re safe, secure, and functional. 

IT auditors also create and implement the methodical review processes that ensure company systems are up to date.

Quality assurance (QA) engineer

NongAsimo/Adobe businessman checking quality controls using laptop

Entry-level QA engineers can expect to make an average of $81,250, but salaries can range upwards of $114,500 with time and experience.

As a quality assurance engineer, you would ensure your company’s software products are up to par before they’re sold to consumers, including testing products at each developmental stage and troubleshooting for bugs and other issues. 

Quality assurance engineers also create testing procedures and might set company product standards before they hit the market.

Bottom line

Surachetsh/Adobe asian woman with laptop at work

Getting into a six-figure tech job requires a good deal of training and on-the-job experience. 

Fortunately, there are many online coding schools and hands-on training programs that can help you move beyond living paycheck to paycheck

With some training, it’s entirely possible to move into a career that pays you what you’re worth.


Author Details

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith has spent a decade writing for and about small businesses. She specializes in all things finance and has written for publications like G2 and SmallBizDaily. When she's not writing for work at her desk, you can usually find her writing for pleasure near large bodies of water.