The new year promises to be a happy year in terms of IT salaries, especially for those familiar with AI
While IT professionals with the most in-demand skills can expect handsome rewards in 2026, the same cannot be said for IT professionals who are lagging behind in their skill portfolios. The biggest game changer is the experience of using artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced analytics.
It has been argued for several years that AI will revolutionize business and, with it, the IT workforce. Now that we're in the middle of it, those predictions were clearly underestimated. AI is fundamentally reinventing the IT workforce, and organizations now expect the majority of IT professionals to have at least basic AI skills.
Given the impact AI will have on business, those with AI experience can expect to be compensated accordingly.
IT sector employment to reach record high by 2026
“The IT recruiting market strengthened steadily throughout 2025. Although not back to the all-time highs of 2021 and 2022, the demand for technology talent continues to increase,” explained Mark Wilder, Vice President of New York Talent Solutions at Atrium.is a leading staffing and workforce solutions company that placed more than 30,000 candidates to 500 companies across technology and other industries last year. “As we head into 2026, that momentum is expected to continue, with recruitment activity expected to be particularly strong around specialized and high-impact technical skills.”
Wilder expects key trends to continue shaping IT jobs and skills demand into 2026. AI remains a top driver, and expertise in machine learning and related technologies will continue to be in high demand. This surge in AI adoption is also accelerating the growth of cloud computing and cybersecurity as organizations scale and secure their digital infrastructure.
“A key driver is the transition of AI from experimentation to production, which increases the demand for IT talent who can integrate AI tools, secure AI, and maintain data pipelines,” said Kaveh Vahdat, founder and president of RiseOpp, Inc., a leading fractional CMO and SEO services company. RiseOpp, Inc. works with clients across a variety of industries to implement innovative marketing strategies for the AI era.
“Across the companies we support, IT talent recruitment is directly related to the pace of AI adoption,” Vahdat explains. “We won't see an overall spike in adoption going into 2026, but AI and automation, which relies on stable infrastructure, clean data, and integrated systems, will remain consistently strong. Companies are eager to hire, but only for the role of keeping AI initiatives reliable and compliant.”
Industry willing to pay top dollar for top IT talent
Kyle Elliott, technology career and executive coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com, says technology and technology-enabled companies will likely lead in IT hiring in 2026, and with it, IT salary opportunities.. Other industries with the highest IT jobs and salaries include healthcare, financial services, e-commerce, education, professional services, and manufacturing.
Employment demand always increases salary potential. The highest-paying IT jobs in 2026 are likely to remain in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, IT security, and data management and analytics, which are expected to remain popular.
Data engineers, cloud integration specialists, workflow automation engineers, and security-focused IT roles will drive demand, Vahadat explains, as these capabilities determine whether an AI system will work within a business.
“We also continue to need software engineers, especially those with experience developing or implementing AI-driven solutions,” Wilder said.
Overall, AI-trained professionals can expect to earn the following in 2026, based on recent AI salary surveys: By Nexford University:
- Business Development Manager – $196,491
- Computer Vision Engineer – $168,803
- AI Engineer – $160,757
- Deep Learning Engineer – $141,435
- AI Project Manager – $128,091
- AI Consultant – $124,843
- AI Research Scientist – $115,443
- Machine Learning Engineer – $109,143
- Natural Language Processing Engineer – $86,193
- Data Scientist – $65,674
AI is reshaping the IT workforce
The huge impact of AI on IT hiring and compensation cannot be underestimated. AI activity is growing rapidly and reshaping the entire IT job market.
“Over the past two years, the number of jobs requiring AI skills has more than doubled, and that surge shows no signs of slowing as we head into 2026,” Wilder said. “What was once a niche specialty is now a fundamental expectation across industries. From finance to healthcare to manufacturing, employers are eager to hire professionals who can apply AI to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth.”
As a result, Wilder explains, there is a fierce talent war. Some companies are offering high salaries, sometimes 30 to 40 percent more, to candidates who bring proven AI expertise.
“This is not just for data scientists and machine learning engineers,” Wilder explains. “Cloud architects, cybersecurity experts, and even project managers who can incorporate AI into their work are among the highest paid.
For IT professionals, the message is clear: If you haven't started developing your AI-related skills, you're already behind. But there's still time to catch up, Wilder says. Talent with deep technical capabilities and AI fluency will be among the most sought-after candidates in 2026 and help define the next wave of technology transformation.
AI professionals are the new elite workforce
Greig Pallieri, CEO of Randstad Digital, says it's no surprise that organizations are willing to spend big on skilled AI talent.We partner with some of the world's largest brands, including more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies, to provide global technical talent, capabilities and solutions across disciplines.
“Companies now view elite AI talent as a strategic asset on par with intellectual property or entire business units, and are pursuing talent with the same enthusiasm and recognition framework that was once reserved for acquisitions,” Palieri says.
The AI talent war has visibly intensified over the past 12 months. There is a huge shortage of AI experts, especially those with experience building foundational models and scaling production AI systems.
“By estimates, there are only a few thousand people around the world who have the rare combination of deep machine learning expertise, hands-on experience with high-quality datasets, and the ability to connect research to real-world business outcomes,” Palieri explains. “So they're probably more valuable to companies than most executives, even CEOs, because they're not just setting and executing strategy, they're inventing the future.”
“This is not just about IP, but many companies have deep architectural knowledge, model tuning expertise, and intuition built from working with billion-parameter systems,” Paglieri says. “Even more valuable is the ability to create unique advantages. Great AI engineers can make teams 10x more productive, reduce time to market, and help companies stay ahead of the competition. This kind of leverage is extremely rare.”
Not surprisingly, companies go to extraordinary lengths to attract and retain this talent. These include multi-million dollar compensation packages, in-house AI research labs, carte blanche to choose the technology stack, and even venture-style backing to launch stealth Skunkworks projects, Palieri explains. He says he's seen organizations fast-track their entire product roadmaps or pivot their corporate strategies just to secure the right AI talent.
With that in mind, it's no surprise that this talent is drawn to opportunities and companies that offer autonomy, speed, and purpose, as well as a great pay package. In a thriving market that rewards speed of innovation, money is not the only real currency. It's freedom, Pallieri says.
Benefits Trends for Top IT Professionals
As the demand for technology talent continues to rise, it's more important than ever to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. While high compensation is clearly important, other benefits also play a big role in attracting and retaining talent, especially among young professionals, says Wilder. Demand for flexible schedules and locations is increasing, along with improved benefits and quality of life. Many leading companies are leveraging these advantages to stand out and retain top talent.
“Companies will continue to prioritize benefits that support mental health, flexibility and work-life balance in 2026,” Elliott explains. “Services like mental health benefits, flexible remote options, and personalized learning budgets will continue to be key differentiators, especially as companies compete to attract and retain top talent without raising base salaries.”
How to earn the highest salary as an IT professional or job seeker
The first step to earning the best compensation package is simply staying relevant.
“The momentum is undeniable, and AI-related expertise has become essential for anyone in the IT industry. Focusing on high-impact, AI-driven roles and continually developing your technical skills can greatly increase your marketability and build a future-proof career,” Wilder explains.
IT professionals who can demonstrate support for improving system reliability, enabling automation, or measurable AI outcomes will quickly stand out, Vahadat says. Documenting real business impact is more important than additional certifications, especially in markets where companies seek proof of applied skills.
Finally, Elliott explains that in a tough job market, storytelling is what separates top IT talent. Companies that can translate their technical expertise into tangible business impact and tell their story with confidence and conviction will stand out in 2026, securing the best opportunities and winning the top dollar.
