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There is no single, authoritative top-eight industry ranking for all IT talent in the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data. The highest-paying industry varies by occupation: software publishers lead the listed industries for software developers, the information sector leads for information security analysts, and publishing, broadcasting, and content providers lead for data scientists. Those are May 2025 U.S. median annual wages for specific occupations—not a universal ranking of industries or a prediction of an individual offer.
Which industries pay IT professionals the most?
The answer depends on the job. The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program publishes occupation-specific wage estimates by industry, using industry definitions based on the North American Industry Classification System. Its occupational profiles show selected industries where people work; they do not establish a complete, cross-occupation ranking of the eight industries that pay all IT workers the most.
The figures below are May 2025 U.S. median annual wages, as reported by the BLS for each occupation and industry. A median is the midpoint of the wage distribution: half of workers in the occupation and industry earned more, and half earned less. It is not the average salary, starting salary, or guaranteed offer.
What is the highest-paying industry for software developers?
Among the industries listed by the BLS for software developers, software publishers had the highest May 2025 median annual wage, at $164,550. The next four listed industries were all below that figure.
#1 Best Overall
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Software publishers | $164,550 |
| Manufacturing | $136,330 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $135,680 |
| Finance and insurance | $135,460 |
| Computer systems design and related services | $132,050 |
These are occupation-specific May 2025 U.S. figures for software developers, not wages for every technology worker employed by those industries. BLS: Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers.
Do cybersecurity analysts earn more in finance or tech?
For information security analysts, the BLS-listed median was higher in the information sector than in finance and insurance or computer systems design services. The information sector is a distinct industry category; it should not be treated as shorthand for every technology company.
Rank #2
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Information | $138,650 |
| Computer systems design and related services | $132,410 |
| Finance and insurance | $130,630 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $128,950 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | $125,420 |
All five values are May 2025 U.S. medians for information security analysts. They do not compare every employer in those industries, and an individual role’s pay can differ with experience, education, location, and the employer. BLS: Information security analysts.
Which industries pay data scientists the most?
For data scientists, the highest median among the industries listed by the BLS was in publishing, broadcasting, and content providers: $142,240 in May 2025. Computer systems design services and credit intermediation were also among the listed industries with medians above $129,000.
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|---|---|
| Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers | $142,240 |
| Computer systems design and related services | $132,380 |
| Credit intermediation and related activities | $129,490 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $128,050 |
| Insurance carriers and related activities | $108,650 |
These are May 2025 U.S. medians for data scientists, not an overall ranking of industries by technology-worker pay. BLS: Data scientists.
Why this is not an official list of eight industries
The three occupation profiles above identify different leaders and publish selected industries rather than a complete ranking for every IT role. Combining the lists into eight entries would require choosing which occupations count as “IT talent” and deciding how to combine their wages—for example, whether to weight each occupation equally or by its employment. Without a defined population and method, the result would be an editorial construction, not a BLS ranking. The available figures also do not establish unsupported sixth-through-eighth places for any of the three occupations.
National occupation-level medians provide useful context, but they are not industry medians. In May 2025, the BLS reported a $109,470 median annual wage for computer occupations as a broad group, compared with $135,980 for software developers, $129,180 for information security analysts, and $120,230 for data scientists. These are U.S. benchmarks for the occupations or group named, not a basis for ranking industries. BLS: May 2025 national occupation wage estimates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use industry wage figures when evaluating a job
Match the occupation before comparing industries
Compare software developer wages with software developer wages, for example—not with an industry-wide average or a different IT occupation. The BLS notes that wages vary by occupation, industry, and location, making those distinctions relevant when negotiating pay. BLS: Using OEWS data during salary negotiations
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These figures are national medians. State and local wage estimates can differ, and a median does not reveal the full range of pay within an occupation and industry. Use location-specific estimates when comparing an offer to the local labor market, and consider the role’s requirements and your experience and education.
Consider job availability as well as pay
A higher median does not mean an industry has the most openings or employs the most workers in a role. OEWS includes employment estimates alongside wage estimates, so use both when deciding whether a higher-paying industry is a practical target.
Industry medians are a starting point for salary research, not a forecast of a particular offer. For a more complete comparison, keep the occupation, wage measure, year, and geography consistent.
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