From big data engineers to engineers to desktop support, here’s what to look for (and what to offer) when hiring for the 10 most in-demand IT jobs for 2025.
As we head into 2025, businesses are dialed in on hiring roles such as software engineer, software developer, and end-user support, as well roles centered around cloud, database management, and systems engineering and administration, according to Robert Half Technology’s 2025 IT salary report.
With so much disruption in the tech industry in the past year, most notably the continuing rise of AI in the enterprise, executive priorities are shifting, with a growing focus on hiring for the future. But with only 35% of professionals actively searching for a job, compared to 49% last year, according to Robert Half, it’s little wonder why 90% of IT hiring managers report challenges finding the talent they need in today’s market.
As a result, more technology managers (60%) are turning to contract professionals to meet skills needs. This is especially true for roles involving AI and machine learning; security, privacy, and compliance; and software and applications development.
For organizations looking to attract talent, job seekers are interested in competitive compensation, career and professional development, and a commitment to healthy work life balance. Expect heavy competition for software engineers, software developers, and cloud, database, and systems engineers and administrators, as well as end-user support professionals.
Here are 10 jobs expected to be in high demand for 2025, the skills and experience you should look for when hiring, and the salary ranges you’ll want to pay to stay competitive in the marketplace — ranked by average pay.
The 10 most in-demand tech jobs for 2025
| Job | 25th percentile | 50th percentile | 75th percentile |
| Data engineer | $125,750 | $154,000 | $179,500 |
| Senior software engineer | $121,250 | $147,500 | $177,250 |
| Software developer | $106,500 | $130,750 | $153,000 |
| Network/cloud architect | $108,250 | $129,750 | $152,000 |
| Systems engineer | $97,750 | $119,250 | $148,500 |
| Developer/programmer analyst | $94,750 | $120,500 | $142,500 |
| Senior consultant | $96,750 | $116,000 | $136,250 |
| Systems administrator | $78,750 | $96,250 | $115,500 |
| Desktop support analyst | $55,000 | $66,500 | $77,250 |
| Help desk – tier 1 | $40,500 | $49,000 | $54,750 |
- 25th percentile: new to the type of role, still acquiring relevant skills
- 50th percentile: average experience, has most of the necessary skills
- 75th percentile: above average experience, has all needed skills
Data engineer
Data engineers are responsible for building, designing, and maintaining the tools and software required to analyze and process large data sets in the enterprise. It’s an important role for maintaining data in a business, with a focus on ensuring data tools are scalable, reliable, and secure across the organization.
Requirements: Candidates will typically need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, computer engineering, mathematics, or a related field — more senior roles may require a master’s degree. Look for experience with data processing, software development, database management, and cloud-based data processing.
Certifications: Hiring managers will also want to keep an eye out for relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics, Cloudera Data Platform Generalist, and Google Professional Data Engineer.
Skills and experience to look for:
- Experience with multicloud computing, data visualization, machine learning and AI, and NoSQL
- Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, Ruby, Apache Spark, and Rust
- An understanding of automation, scripting, and enterprise architecture
Senior software engineer
Software engineers are responsible for designing and creating software programs and applications to suit business needs. It’s a role that requires cross-collaboration and communication skills, as well as the ability to work in a team environment. Software engineers are tasked with producing quality source code that is well-documented and organized, and they work closely with quality assurance to ensure software is properly tested.