9 IT skills where expertise pays the most

Tech companies still hold a competitive edge when it comes to salaries, despite mass layoffs across the industry in recent years. Despite reductions in staff, there are tech skills that continue to demand a premium salary, driving industry competition to hire talent with the right skills.

The average annual salary for tech professionals inside the tech industry is $114,861, while those outside it earn about $108,674, according to the Dice 2025 Tech Salary Report. For salaries within the tech industry, that’s a 2.2% growth year over year, while tech salaries in outside industries have seen a slight decline of .5% year over year.

However, expertise in these particular nine skills is likely to earn you a pay bump across any industry, as technology has become vital for typical business operations. Dice compared salary data from those who identified as experts in these skillsets to those who reported using the skills regularly, uncovering a premium for expert-level tech professionals with these skillsets. Read on to find out how such expertise can make you stand out in any industry.

Artificial Intelligence

Average salary: $130,277

Expertise premium: $23,525 (15%)

AI tops the list as the skill that can earn you the highest pay bump, earning tech professionals nearly an 18% premium over other tech skills. As one of the most sought-after skills on the market right now, organizations everywhere are eager to embrace AI as a business tool. AI skills broadly include programming languages, database modeling, data analysis and visualization, machine learning (ML), statistics, natural language processing (NLP), generative AI, and AI ethics. It’s a wide-ranging skillset and each company’s needs will vary depending on their business goals, but it’s a lucrative skill in the current hiring market.

Cloud computing

Average salary: $124,796

Expertise premium: $15,051 (11%)

Cloud computing has been a top priority for businesses in recent years, with organizations moving storage and other IT operations to cloud data storage platforms such as AWS. While many have performed this move, they still need professionals to stay on top of cloud services and manage large datasets. Meanwhile, other businesses still in the process of embracing cloud digital transformation need IT pros to help identify the right services, oversee migration, and ensure a smooth transition to the cloud. Cloud skills include programming languages, database management, DevOps, security, containerization and microservices, data visualization, AI and ML, and automation.

Docker

Average salary: $132,051

Expertise premium: $12,403 (9%)

Docker is an open-source platform that allows developers to build, deploy, run, and manage applications using containers to streamline the development and deployment process. It enables developers to create consistent virtual environments to run applications, while also allowing them to create more scalable and secure applications via portable containers. Docker skills include containerization concepts, networking and security, and a strong understanding of how to navigate the Docker platform using the Docker command-line interface (CLI).

DevOps

Average salary: $131,947

Expertise premium: $11,843 (8%)

DevOps is the intersection of development and operations, integrating the best practices of each to enable faster, more reliable, and more consistent software releases. The goal is to break down the traditional silos that can exist around both business units, improve communication, and work together with the goal to faster deploy high-quality and reliable software. DevOps skills include scripting, coding, Linus fundamentals, automation, security, containerization, security, cloud computing, and strong communication and collaboration skills.

C#

Average salary: $117,925

Expertise premium: $11,114 (9%)

The C# programming language is an object-oriented language that lets developers build applications using the .NET framework. It’s designed to achieve complex results, with a low learning curve for beginners and new users. The language helps simplify the coding process while bringing features you can’t get with Java. C# skills include understanding the principles of object-oriented programming, knowledge of the .NET framework, and skills with debugging, problem-solving, and testing.

Bash

Average salary: $126,473

Expertise premium: $11,032 (8%)

BASH is a scripting command-line interface shell program used for scripting in Linux and MacOS. The name stands for Bourne Again Shell and was originally released in 1989 as a free software alternative to the Bourne shell. BASH scripting allows for more efficient scripting, enabling users to write fewer commands to achieve the same results, and allow for easier implementations. It’s especially useful to create better software development workflows, and it improves proficiency and efficiency for SQL developers in particular.

Software as a service (SaaS)

Average salary: $120,084

Expertise premium: $10,405 (8%)

SaaS is a cloud computing service model that allows businesses to deliver applications over the internet, typically via a website with a subscription-based payment model. Examples include software such as Slack, Salesforce CRM, and Microsoft 365, which all offer web and application-based software services for customers. SaaS skills are vital to companies offering these services, which have grown more popular with mobile devices. SaaS skills include programming languages and coding, software development, cloud computing, database management, data analytics, project management, and problem-solving.

Cybersecurity

Average salary: $113,997

Expertise premium: $10,258 (8%)

As more businesses move services, applications, and data into the cloud, and as they continue to embrace AI, cybersecurity continues to be top of mind. Businesses need tech professionals skilled at overseeing security best practices, incident response, network security, cloud security, and threat intelligence. Keeping business and customer data secure is crucial for organizations, especially those operating globally with varying privacy and compliance regulations. It appears cybersecurity will continue to earn tech professionals a premium salary as security threats persist.

VMware ESXi

Average salary: $120,314

Expertise premium: $10,175 (8%)

VMware ESXi is a bare-metal hypervisor software installed on physical servers to create additional virtual machines. Using this software, organizations can better streamline server hardware, with fewer physical servers on site, and still expand server capabilities. It also allows for fast deployment of virtual machines and simplifies maintenance since there’s less hardware to oversee, which ultimately can reduce IT costs. VMware ESXi skills include virtual machine management, infrastructure design, troubleshooting, automation, cloud computing, and security.