Among the U.S. technology occupations covered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information research scientists had the highest median annual wage in May 2024 at $140,910, followed by software developers at $133,080. These are sourced examples, not a verified ranking of the ten highest-paying tech jobs: the available BLS figures do not establish the original ten-role list or its ranking method.
What these salary figures mean
Each figure below is a U.S. national median annual wage for May 2024, reported by the BLS in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median is the midpoint: half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. It is not a starting salary, a guaranteed offer, a local-market estimate, or a measure of total compensation such as bonuses and equity.
The figures are useful for comparing occupations on the same national measure, but they do not predict what a particular person will earn. Geography, experience, employer, and the definition of compensation matter when comparing actual job offers.
Supported U.S. tech occupation pay examples
| Occupation or category | Median annual wage, May 2024 | How to interpret the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and information research scientists | $140,910 | The largest figure among the occupations cited here; it is not proof of the highest pay across every technology occupation. |
| Software developers | $133,080 | An occupation-specific median. |
| Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers | $131,450 | A combined-category median, not a separate job title. The category overlaps with the developer and QA/tester occupations listed here. |
| Information security analysts | $124,910 | An occupation-specific median. |
| Software quality assurance analysts and testers | $102,610 | An occupation-specific median. |
Sources: BLS, Computer and Information Technology Occupations; Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers; and Information Security Analysts. The wage reference period for these figures is May 2024.
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What the pay figures leave out
Research scientists
Computer and information research scientists lead the cited examples by median wage. That comparison does not show that every research-science role pays more than every role in another occupation, nor does it describe the education or experience of a particular worker.
Software development and testing
The $133,080 software developer median and $102,610 software QA analyst and tester median are occupation-specific figures. The $131,450 figure covers a combined group of developers, QA analysts, and testers. Because the group includes occupations represented separately in the table, it should not be read as an additional, independent job title or as a clean ranking entry.
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Information security
The BLS reports that information security analyst employment is projected to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034. That is a projected employment change, not a salary increase or a guarantee of a particular worker’s job prospects. The BLS describes a bachelor’s degree and related work experience as typical for this occupation and notes that employers may prefer professional certification. Those requirements should not be assumed to apply to every tech job.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare tech roles or offers
- Use the same occupation definition and wage measure when comparing national statistics; distinguish an individual occupation from a combined category.
- For offers, compare jobs in the same geographic market and separate base salary from bonuses, equity, and other compensation.
- Review the BLS occupation profile for duties, typical education, and outlook alongside pay. A high median alone does not establish whether a role fits your skills or goals.
The BLS says overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than average from 2024 to 2034. This broad outlook is not an individual hiring or earnings forecast. See the BLS computer and information technology occupations overview for occupation-level context.
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