Professionals in tech are no longer confined to conventional career trajectories and can explore positions in almost any field. There’s also a trend of non-developers suddenly shifting from their career paths, learning to program, and realising that coding is not about building apps. Think of finance buffs scraping data sets with Python or structural engineers becoming pros at frontend frameworks. 

According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is expected to grow significantly faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. So, if you are thinking ahead, let’s discover the top-paying tech jobs.

How did we put these salary figures together?

We’ve sourced these salaries from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey of 2023 and our own internal investigations, especially for markets such as Germany and Switzerland. We still left links to other authoritative sites for your comparison. When figures differ on two sources, we recommend relying on Stack Overflow and our investigations over the traditional sites we’re linking to.

Long-Term Employment vs Job Hopping →

Senior Software Architect

A software architect designs and oversees the creation of software systems in various industries, like banking and healthcare. They create efficient, reliable, and secure software for specific projects that should not fail since an outage could mean the businesses won’t be running any more. To become one, you generally need a solid educational background plus 7 to 9 years of experience as a software developer. The German salary we bring up is the average salary for a software architect, so consider it a starting point. That’s also why there’s such a difference with the North American numbers.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $259,914 per year 
• 🇬🇧 UK: £102,763 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €81,500 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 149,000 per year 
• 🇪🇸 Spain: $62500 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹32,00,000 per year

Browse tech jobs in Germany →

Software Engineering Manager

A software engineering manager leads a team in creating software applications. They need an in-depth understanding of software engineering's technical aspects to manage development effectively and oversee typically introverted people, making them a hard-to-come-by profile. It usually takes four to six years to become a software engineering manager. To become an engineering manager, you require coding skills for top-notch software quality and a grasp of the company's broader strategy. Since being a manager is tied to seniority, these salaries are substantially above the salary of a German software engineer, for example. 

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $234,291 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £91,706 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €96,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 99,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €79,500 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹42,89,829 per year

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Information Systems Security Engineer

ISSEs create processes to gather and refine security requirements, integrating them into IT products and systems through intentional security design and product purchases. To become an information systems security engineer, a 4-year bachelor's degree in fields like management information systems or computer science is a bare minimum requirement, and then starting a career as a cybersecurity player — such as an antivirus vendor — would undoubtedly help.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $172,061 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £61,727 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €60,259 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 115,610 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: $38500 per year 
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹928,425 per year

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers work with algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence. If that doesn't already sound complex enough, a bachelor’s degree, entry-level work experience, and previous machine learning expertise are all base-level requirements. They’re running numbers all day long, so you better dust off your quant lessons if you want to pivot to being an ML pro.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA:  $152,118 per year 
• 🇬🇧 UK: £64,986 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: $65,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 95,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €52,750 per year 
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹12,33,000 per year

Cloud Architect

A cloud architect manages an organisation's cloud computing system, designing, optimising, and maintaining cloud solutions for clients. Typically, cloud architects hold bachelor's degrees and other relevant professional certificates and are expected to join salespeople in meetings with prospects to explain how the layout will hold up for the target company.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $136,427 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £84,577 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €78,822 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 157,500 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €55,000 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹17,50,000 per year

Internet of Things (IoT) Solution Architect 

IoT engineers manage technology infrastructure, including cloud systems and device platforms. IoT architects develop applications and collaborate with leaders to ensure a traffic light, for example, can be controlled from an HQ and send off an alert if the green bulb melts down. For entry, you will, at minimum, need a bachelor's degree in IT or related fields, along with IoT knowledge and certification. IoT usually relies on tried-and-tested, good-old languages like C++, so you should also know a bit of programming.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $131,560 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £76,935 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €80,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 139,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €61,686 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹26,00,000 per year

Data Scientist

A data scientist analyses data to comprehend phenomena and assist organisations in making informed decisions. They identify patterns and trends in datasets and use algorithms and data models to predict outcomes. They’re a pay grade above data analysts because the scientists are more focused on the predictive bit of data, which also means the stakes they’re invested in are higher.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $129,436 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK:  £47,930 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €70,172 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 116,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €35,360 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹12,00000 per year 

AI Engineer

AI engineers use AI and machine learning techniques to create applications and systems that improve organisational efficiency, reduce costs, boost profits, and facilitate better business decisions. Their responsibilities involve enabling AI systems to mimic human brain functions. This role demands a blend of software development, programming, data science, and data engineering skills.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $127,646 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £56,242 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €70,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 120,000
• 🇪🇸 Spain: $35,514 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹10,22,496 per year

Big Data Engineer

Big data refers to extensive datasets, and big data engineers are tasked with developing and maintaining the infrastructure so that data analysts can work their magic. Pursuing a big data engineer career entails a combination of education and work experience in infrastructure, databases, or cloud setups. To shift from “data” to “big data”, it’s a good idea to complete professional certifications that your professional network can comment on with “attaboy!” messages when you share them on socials.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $126,093 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £46324 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €70,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 114,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €38,191 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹8,47,659 per year

Product Manager

A product manager is the individual who recognises customer needs and the broader business goals a product or feature aims to achieve. While traditional education, boot camps, or on-the-job training are paths to becoming a product manager, it's important to note that programming skills alone are insufficient; effective product managers also require strong marketing and interpersonal skills.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $125,565 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £60,458 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: $84,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 120,212 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €45,000 per year
• 🇮🇳 India:  ₹16,37500 per year

Mobile App Developer

A mobile developer is a software expert specialising in designing and deploying mobile applications for smartphones and — remember those? — tablets. Mobile devs have a well-rounded skill set, excelling in programming languages, cross-platform development, and demonstrating a solid UI/UX design understanding, even if that bit won’t require code.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $122,664 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK:  £34779 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €58,500 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 99526 per year
• 🇪🇸  Spain: €37,000 per year
• 🇮🇳India: ₹8,00,000 per year

Database Administrator

The DBA ensures the functional and efficient operation of an organisation's databases and related applications. Typically, the path to becoming a database administrator involves a time investment of approximately 6–9 years: four years to get your bachelor's degree and 2–5 years of professional experience. If you’ve worked in infrastructure, you might be able to skip the professional experience altogether because the IT recruiter will realise you quite understand how a database works.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $113,369 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: $46713 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €59,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 134,014 per year
• 🇪🇸  Spain: $37167 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹8,23,414 per year

Blockchain Engineer

Blockchain engineers use their expertise in cryptography to develop secure and tamper-resistant blockchain solutions, guarding against fraud and cyberattacks. Many employers prioritise candidates with a minimum of a bachelor's degree, although some may also consider those with pertinent work experience or certifications in blockchain technology. This is a relatively new role specific to a quite ever-altering industry. It could be a wise idea to seek jobs as a blockchain engineer in traditional companies exploring crypto — maybe because they’re afraid to miss out on it — such as banks or giant cloud providers. 

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $111,337 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £59154 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €79,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 125,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: $29,043 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹12,00,000 per year

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps engineer concentrates on the efficiency of an organisation's software, managing software upkeep, and overseeing server administration. DevOps engineers operate as IT generalists, so they need to deeply understand both development and operations aspects, including coding, infrastructure management, system administration and DevOps toolchains.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $108,769 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £48,474 per year 
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €65,800 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 105,000 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €40,818 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹8,00000 per year

Full-Stack Developer

A full-stack developer is a combination of frontend and backend developers. Their responsibilities include creating and up-keeping web services and interfaces, actively participating in both frontend and backend procedures, troubleshooting software, and addressing bugs. Employers typically search for candidates with a degree in CS or equivalent experience.

Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $91,135 per year
• 🇬🇧 UK: £47,916 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €60,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 91,703 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €32,198 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹6,80,000 per year

Frontend Developer

A frontend developer focuses on designing the graphical layout, ensuring intuitive navigation and accessibility. The role demands good design skills and a commitment to delivering user-friendly digital experiences. Employers will ask for either a degree in CS or equivalent experience. Even the mightiest developers have differing views on whether they should ever be called front end, front-end or frontend, so bear with anyone using multiple spellings or hyphenating the role. 

‍Average salaries:

• 🇺🇸 USA: $83,102 per year 
• 🇬🇧 UK: £43,433 per year
• 🇩🇪 Germany: €55,000 per year
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland: CHF 90,980 per year
• 🇪🇸 Spain: €30,000 per year
• 🇮🇳 India: ₹7,24,150 per year

Browse essential tools for frontend developers →

Find your ideal IT job

Remember that many aggregator sites inflate figures. At WeAreDevelopers, we source the most reliable salaries. Some regions indeed pay more than others — AI experts in Silicon Valley will earn more than a P2P maverick in Tallinn, Estonia — but if you ever come across a salary that’s too hefty, it could not be an average.

We have accurate numbers and real experience setting developers and companies up for success, especially in Germany and European markets. We have dedicated ourselves to growing the biggest community of software developers and IT professionals in Europe. Join as a developer to browse IT jobs from companies across Europe that align with your skill set and your terms. You'll have immediate access to thousands of hours of tech content, exclusive event invitations, and more, ensuring your tech knowledge continually expands.