Given the sheer number of tech specializations out there, many tech professionals (and aspiring tech professionals) can quickly become overwhelmed about which skills and occupations to pursue.
Sometimes, deciding on a particular specialization comes down to passion: what do you want to do with your time and resources? But sometimes, it’s strictly a matter of compensation: which roles and skills will pay the most?
Analyst firm Foote Partners’ IT Skills Demand and Pay Trends Report, released quarterly, offers a breakdown of the non-certified tech skills earning a pay premium; these skills have also seen their market values increase in the six months through April 1, 2023. Here’s a partial list:
Given companies’ increasing focus on all things data, perhaps it’s no surprise that data architecture tops this list; there’s a widespread need for tech specialists who can build out an organization’s data infrastructure and help crunch that data for crucial insights. Data architects who succeed in their roles know how to provide users with adequate access to necessary data, secure that data against outside intrusion, and optimize data flows (among other tasks).
Security is top of mind for many organizations, which is why skills such as DevSecOps, security architecture and models, security auditing, and site reliability engineering have also topped this list. DevSecOps takes traditional DevOps (with its focus on improving software development and IT operations) and adds a significant security component to it, as well.
Given many companies’ sprawling IT infrastructure, deployment automation is a skillset that will only grow in importance over the next several years; tech pros who’ve mastered continuous integration, delivery, and deployment will have numerous opportunities.
Of course, securing maximum pay doesn’t hinge on skills alone—you need to negotiate for what you get. Take a data-based approach to your next raise request; analyze the market and know how much your skills are worth. When you sit down with your manager, explain how your skills, background, and work ethic have all translated into significant gains for the organization as a whole. If you can do that, chances are good your manager will carefully consider your request.
