2027 Tech Salary Guide

Find out how much tech professionals should be earning with Motion Recruitment’s 2027 Tech Salary Guide. Get salary insights for 100+ tech roles and expert analysis on how AI skills, evolving hiring expectations and industry trends are shaping the market.

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IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for 2027

Get the data and market intel you need to make informed career and hiring decisions with Motion Recruitment’s 2027 Tech Salary Guide.

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Plan Your 2027 Strategy for the Tech Hiring Market

with Expert Insights & Salary Data

Motion Recruitment’s Tech Salary Guide helps tech professionals and leaders make sense of a shifting IT hiring landscape. Tech unemployment sits near 3%, yet hiring inside tech companies has slowed, and career optimism is declining. AI adoption and spending continue to grow, but many companies struggle to see the return on investment.

 

Motion’s 2027 Guide examines what these shifts mean for both sides of the hiring table: how AI skills affect pay, why demonstrated experience carries more weight than a resume, how to rebuild the entry-level talent pipelines, and where to find talent outside the tech industry. It also provides salary data for 100+ tech roles across the U.S., backed by insights from industry experts with decades of experience.

2.1%

year-over-year IT salary growth

On average, tech salaries rose 2.1% year-over-year, with some roles increasing by over 16%. 

$135K

average senior level IT salary

The average base salary for senior-level tech workers in the U.S. is $135,600. 

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Emerging Tech: AI Judgment is the New Differentiator

90% of software professionals use AI at work, but only 33% of developers trust what it produces. That gap creates an opportunity for tech professionals and employers to stand out. Listing AI tools on a resume is not enough. Employers are looking for people who can explain how they use AI, verify its output, and apply their own judgement. Tech professionals who can demonstrate those skills, and hiring leaders who accurately assess them, will be better positioned in the 2027 market.  

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Q: What Advice Would You Give Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2027?

From James Vallone, President of Motion Recruitment

“Tech leaders who plan for AI as a redesign of how work gets done, not just a shortcut to a smaller team, will build the strongest organizations in 2027. The same goes for candidates. Employers want people who can supervise, verify, and improve what AI produces, and who can show real examples of their work. Pair that with training and a clear path for early-career talent, and you have a team that is ready for what comes next.” 

 

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the Guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2027, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, and the increase in IT job creation in non-tech companies.
  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including the full cycle of the AI economy, the need for rehiring after the failure of AI gains, and a lack of ROI for AI projects.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including the pessimism in the tech workforce and the disconnect between workers and management on topics like AI usage and RTO practices.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2027.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid and senior level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.

  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX and Executive.

 

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2026

Download Guide

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

Download Guide

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

Download Guide

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Motion Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an IT career pay well?

Technology roles consistently offer competitive compensation as organizations prioritize digital transformation and scalability.

Nationally, the salary for general IT professionals is projected to range between $97,797 and $122,373 at the mid-level and $120,121 to $151,087 at the senior level in 2027.

Specialized roles often command higher benchmarks. For instance, mid-level Full Stack Software Developers are projected to earn between $133,125 and $175,384, while senior-level professionals in that role may earn between $145,595 and $203,190. Additionally, senior-level Cloud Engineers are projected to earn between $150,000 and $180,643. 

How much do IT jobs pay in the US?

Compensation for information technology roles varies by specialization and experience level. At this moment in the tech industry, national projections for all IT professionals in 2027 indicate a mid-level IT salary range of $97,797–$122,373 and a senior-level range of $120,121–$151,087.

Specific roles often see different benchmarks. For example, mid-level Software professionals are projected to earn $109,882–$142,072, while senior-level roles range from $134,902–$166,992. Additionally, SDET professionals are expected to earn $112,187–$130,100 at the mid-level and $150,320–$178,300 at the senior level. Motion Recruitment continues to track these shifts as part of the evolving landscape of digital transformation. 

What entry level IT jobs pay the most?
Compensation for technology roles varies by specialization and seniority. Nationally, some of the highest projected mid-level salaries for 2027 include Back End professionals at $117,840–$157,109 and Pen Testers at $116,971–$154,918. Senior-level roles in these fields command higher ranges, with Pen Testers earning $150,562–$198,300 and Back End professionals earning $143,175–$181,218.

Additionally, the IT Administrator salary in the US reflects a different range based on specific focus. For instance, mid-level Linux Administrators are projected to earn $95,008–$118,125, while mid-level Systems Administrators earn $81,441–$101,471.
What is the salary of an IT employee in America?
Compensation for technology professionals varies based on specialization and experience. Nationally, mid-level IT professionals are projected to earn between $97,797 and $122,373 in 2027, while senior-level salaries range from $120,121 to $151,087.

At this moment in the tech industry, specific roles often command different rates. For example, mid-level Software Developers are projected to earn $112,053 to $148,314, with senior-level professionals earning $125,500 to $158,892. Additionally, mid-level SDET professionals earn $112,187–$130,100, while senior-level roles range from $150,320–$178,300. 
Which IT job pays the most?
Executive leadership positions generally represent the peak of compensation within the technology workforce. Nationally, the Chief Technology Officer is projected to be the highest paying role, with salaries ranging from $225,970 to $338,900.

Senior-level Pen Testers are projected to earn between $150,562 and $198,300, and senior-level Back End professionals are projected to earn between $143,175 and $181,218.