IT Salary Overview: How Much Can You Make?

Key takeaways

• The average IT salary is $105,990, according to median salary data for computer and information technology (IT) professionals from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1].

• IT technician salary data shows you may earn around $65,000, which is the total median pay reported by Glassdoor, which includes base pay and bonuses or other forms of additional compensation.

• IT specialist salary data for positions such as a DevOps Engineer is $145,000, according to Glassdoor’s total median pay

As you gain skills and experience, you can increase your IT support specialist salary through high-income skills and certifications. Explore more IT salaries, the different job titles available, how to increase your salary, and how earning a degree impacts your earning potential. If you want to start preparing for an IT role now, earn credentials with an industry leader by enrolling in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you could develop competitive, job-ready skills like AI and cloud computing.

Average IT salary by role

The median IT salary, according to the BLS for all IT professionals, is $105,990 [1]. Generally speaking, entry-level positions are correlated with lower salaries. These include help desk and troubleshooting positions like help desk technician ($65,000) and computer support specialist ($70,000). As you gain more experience and sharpen your skills in areas like systems administration or cloud computing, you'll see your salary increase. Here are 14 IT salaries by job title across various fields in the US.

*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor and represents the total median pay as of July 2026. This includes the base pay and additional compensation like bonuses, commissions, and tips.

1. Product support specialist: $83,000

2. Systems administrator: $115,000

3. Scrum master: $127,000

4. Site reliability engineer: $173,000

5. Desktop support analyst: $77,000

6. Systems analyst: $119,000

7. Database administrator: $107,000

8. Systems engineer: $152,000

9. Network/cloud engineer: $152,000

10. DevOps Engineer: $145,000

11. Site reliability engineer: $173,000

12. Network security engineer: $168,000

13. Big data engineer: $145,000

14. Security architect: $233,000

15. Information systems security manager (ISSM): $194,000

Unsure if there's space for you in this exciting field? Hear more about diversity in IT from Joe, a real-world IT professional, in the lecture below from Google's IT Support Professional Certificate.

Which IT roles make the highest salaries?

The highest salaries in the IT world are tied to roles that are high in demand and currently have a shortage of qualified workers, typically positions related to cloud computing, cybersecurity, and big data. Titles that include manager, engineer, and architect indicate mid-career or senior-level positions and also correlate with higher incomes.

IT salaries by location: US states and cities

Here’s what you’ll make as an IT professional across various states in the US. The states listed below have the highest mean annual wage for network and computer systems administrators [2].

Here are some of the best US cities for tech jobs according to the job search platform Indeed. These cities are chosen not only based on salary, which can be heavily dependent on the cost of living, but also on job opportunities and growth in the area. The metro areas with the highest salaries for network and computer systems administrators, according to the BLS, are [3]:

How to increase your IT salary

Learning in-demand skills and furthering your education through certifications or other means has been linked to an increase in salaries. The tools you specialize in and the field in which you choose to work can increase your salary range as well. Over the next few sections, you can browse high-income skills and employer-recognized certifications that you may use to pursue a higher IT salary.

How do skills and certifications impact your salary?

According to Skillsoft, IT professionals with certifications often have a higher earning potential than those without them, largely due to the fact that certifications legitimize certain high-impact skills that employers value. Furthermore, 20 percent of IT professionals who received certification training report that they received a raise as a result [4].

IT skills associated with higher salaries

Pursuing in-demand skills in the industry may make you more competitive for raises and higher-paying jobs. These technical skills include:

• Cybersecurity

• Data analysis

• DevOps

• Cloud computing

• Machine learning

You can also speak with your employer to see what skills gaps your company is hoping to fill. Or browse job listings of roles similar to yours to see what skills are currently in demand.

Build critical IT skills online today

Interested in developing IT skills that may increase your earning potential? Consider taking one of these courses and specializations on Coursera.

IBM's Introduction to Cloud Computing offers an overview of the technology, emerging trends in the field, and the most popular cloud platforms.

Google's Foundations of Cybersecurity covers foundational cybersecurity concepts, how security attacks impact businesses, and common tools used by cybersecurity analysts.

DeepLearning. AI and Stanford's Machine Learning Specialization teaches fundamental AI concepts and practical machine learning skills.

IT certifications associated with higher salaries

Explore some high-paying IT certifications according to Payscale certification salary data. This list covers in-demand areas, including popular cybersecurity certifications and cloud computing credentials:

1. Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA): $112,000

2. AWS Certified Developer - Associate: $121,000

3. CISM - Certified Information Security Manager: $143,000

4. AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional: $144,000

5. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate: $131,000

6. CCSP - Certified Cloud Security Professional: $123,000

7. CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional: $134,000

8. CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker: $109,000

Just getting started in IT? Take a look at entry-level IT certifications.

Should I get an IT degree?

Degrees aren’t always necessary to land a job in IT. But higher education levels are linked to higher incomes; the BLS found that those with at least a bachelor’s degree made a median income of $1,543 a week in 2024. Compare that with high school graduates, who made $930 a week [5].

Employers may also still favor job candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree, for certain IT positions. Though going back to school might be intimidating, the financial and career benefits can be rewarding. If you’ve already received a bachelor’s degree, pursuing a master’s degree in IT or computer science can help you advance in your current role or pivot to a new one.

So, yes, a degree in IT has its benefits. But it'll also cost you time and money. In making your decision, think about where you want your career to go. Are you willing to make a long-term investment for salary increases and a faster track to managerial positions? Then a degree might make sense. If you're looking for a quick way to find a new job or get a raise, other options like a certification might be what you're looking for.

Read more: Do I Need an Information Technology Degree? 4 Things to Consider

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Explore our free resources for IT professionals

Explore career paths, assess your skills, and connect with resume guidance while browsing our Career Resources Hub. Then, explore free resources to optimize your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: How to Get an IT Job (No Experience Needed)

• Bookmark for later: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary

• Hear from a learner: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

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