Introduction
If you’re considering an IT career—whether as a future software engineer, a remote developer, or a seasoned tech lead—you’ve likely wondered: what can you earn in 2025–2026? As technology advances, IT roles continue to offer top salaries, but compensation varies based on specialization, experience, work arrangement, and location.
In this article, we’ll break down IT salary expectations for 2025–2026, including typical salary ranges, trends, and key factors that affect pay. Whether you’re based in the U.S., Nigeria, working remotely, or aiming for an international role, you’ll find clear guidance on what to anticipate.
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Why IT Remains a High-Pay Field
Before diving into numbers, it helps to understand why IT jobs often come with attractive salaries:
- Global demand: As companies digitize, build apps, migrate to the cloud, and develop AI-driven solutions, demand for software engineers, dev-ops, QA testers, data scientists, and related roles remains strong.
- Skill premium: Modern tech jobs often require specialized skills — from Python, JavaScript, SQL to cloud, AI/ML, security — creating a premium for qualified professionals.
- Remote flexibility: The rise of remote work means many IT professionals can work for international firms, earning global-level salaries even if they live in lower-cost countries.
- Seniority matters: As you climb from junior developer to senior developer, manager, or lead engineer, your pay jumps considerably.
What “IT Jobs Pay 2025 – 2026” Looks Like: Salary Benchmarks
Let’s break down approximate annual salaries for common IT roles, focusing mainly on software development given its prevalence. Actual pay varies — but this gives you a ballpark.
| Role / Context | Typical Salary (USD / year) | Notes / Range |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer / Engineer (U.S.) | ~$120,900 | 25th–75th percentile: ~$95,250 – $155,177 (Glassdoor) |
| Software Engineer (U.S., general) | ~$129,227 | Based on recent job postings (Indeed) |
| Remote Software Developer (global average) | ~$70,877 | Varies widely depending on employer location & cost of living (Arc) |
| Remote Software Engineer (U.S.) | ~$142,443 | Common among U.S.-based remote jobs (Glassdoor) |
| Mid-level Developers (U.S., 2–5 years exp.) | ~$98,679 – $111,000 | Based on recent compensation data (Gini Talent) |
| Senior / Lead / Principal Engineers (U.S.) | $160,000+ up to $200,000+ (or more) | Depends heavily on experience, specialization, company (Glassdoor) |
| QA Analysts / Testers (U.S.) | ~$102,610 median (as of May 2024) | Lower than devs but still substantial (Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Key takeaways from the data above:
- Entry/mid-level developers — even fresh graduates — can expect 5-figure salaries (in USD) when working for firms paying global rates or U.S.-based companies.
- Remote work has somewhat lowered the “geographic barrier,” meaning developers outside major tech hubs can still earn competitive pay, albeit influenced by exchange rates and cost of living.
- Salary growth as you climb seniority levels is significant — senior or lead engineers easily surpass the median and often earn 1.5×–2× the entry wage.
- Non-developer roles (e.g. QA, testers) still pay reasonably well, though typically below core dev roles.
Global vs Remote vs Local: What Changes
When discussing “IT jobs pay,” it’s crucial to understand how location and work-arrangement shape your earnings.
🌍 Global / U.S.-based companies
- Companies in the U.S. — especially in tech hubs or big cities — tend to pay the highest, often exceeding six figures for mid to senior-level roles.
- If you live in a high-cost city (e.g. San Francisco, Seattle, New York), the higher pay often compensates for living costs.
🏡 Remote roles
- Remote roles democratize access: you could live in Lagos, Nigeria (or anywhere) and work for a U.S. or European company. According to recent data, global average for remote developers is about $70,877/year. (Arc)
- However, pay depends on employer’s location, what they’re willing to pay based on your skill set, and negotiations.
🌍 Local / Non-US / Developing Countries
- In many countries outside the U.S., salaries tend to be lower when denominated in USD — due to exchange rate differences and lower cost of living. Global averages span a wide range (e.g. $40,000 – $120,000 depending on region and experience). (TechHub Asia)
- Nonetheless, local cost of living, local company budgets, and demand influence pay significantly.
Bottom line: Your location — and whether you work remote for a global firm — can dramatically change what “good pay” looks like.
What Drives Variation in IT Pay (2025–2026)
Why do some developers make $70,000 a year while others make $200,000+? Here are the biggest factors:
- Experience and seniority: As with most careers, seniority — years in the field, proven track record, leadership — significantly drives pay.
- Skill set / specialization: Developers with in-demand skills (e.g. backend, cloud, security, AI/ML) command higher pay than generalists or junior-level devs.
- Type of role: Front-end, full-stack, backend, QA, dev-ops, data science — each has different pay curves. Some roles (e.g. backend, data science) often pay more than entry-level front-end.
- Location & employer region: U.S.-based firms pay more; remote work may offer global rates; local firms may pay less but cost of living is usually lower.
- Company size and industry: Tech giants, finance, or large enterprises often pay more than startups or small firms.
- Market demand & economic trends: Demand for tech (cloud, AI, remote infrastructure) continues to shape pay scales; scarcity of talent can create a premium.
What 2025–2026 Trends Mean for You
If you’re thinking about going into IT — or you’re already in but evaluating next steps — the current trends suggest:
- Remote work remains a viable path: Even if you live outside the U.S., you can compete for global rates if you have strong skills.
- Specialize where demand is high: Back-end, cloud, data engineering, AI/ML, dev-ops — these seem to yield better pay and higher upward mobility.
- Don’t ignore QA and testing roles: While often lower than core dev roles, QA and testing remain necessary and can be stable entry or mid-level options.
- Invest in growth: Experience, skills upgrades, portfolio (open-source, personal projects) — all enhance your earning potential over time.
- Research cost vs rewards if working remote globally: If you live in a lower-cost country but get paid in USD, exchange-rates and local expenses can significantly affect take-home value.
What About IT Pay in Nigeria / Africa?
A quick caveat: most of the publicly available salary data comes from U.S. or high-income countries, where pay is high. For many African countries — including Nigeria — local pay may be lower when denominated in USD.
However, there is a growing opportunity: thanks to remote work, many African developers now work for international firms. This means your income potential could align with global pay scales (assuming favorable pay agreement), making IT a very attractive career path — especially for those who can deliver quality and maintain professional standards.
Final Thoughts & What to Do Next
If there’s one thing to take away from “IT jobs pay 2025–2026,” it’s that the potential remains high — especially for those willing to build skills, specialize, and work globally.
- As a new entrant: focus on building a strong foundation — learn widely used programming languages (e.g. Python, JavaScript), work on projects, contribute to open source.
- As a mid-career dev: consider specializing (backend, cloud, AI, dev-ops) or moving into senior / lead roles — that’s where pay jumps significantly.
- If you’re outside high-income countries: look for remote roles with global firms — remote pay could drastically boost your income.
IT is no longer limited by geography. With talent in demand worldwide, you have more control than ever over where you work — and how much you earn.
