A new study has highlighted the highest-paying roles in the UK tech industry, with solutions architects leading the pack at an impressive £72,600 annually. This revelation underscores the lucrative potential of tech careers in an ever-expanding sector that contributed over £150 billion to the UK economy in 2023.
The Study Breakdown
South Africa-based tech experts PCInternational conducted the research, compiling data from the UK’s National Careers Service and Indeed. They analysed average yearly wages using Indeed’s salary calculator, ranking roles based on earnings.
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Top Earning Roles
- 1st: Solutions Architect (£72,600)
Solutions architects top the list, with London offering the highest pay at £80,445 on average, followed by Leeds at £75,898. Their role involves designing comprehensive tech solutions, making them indispensable in the field. - 2nd: Back-End Developer (£56,600)
Back-end developers, handling the non-user-facing aspects of websites, come in second. London again leads with salaries reaching £72,652, while Cambridge (£60,620) and Southampton (£58,856) follow. - 3rd: Data Engineer (£55,100)
Data engineers, crucial for managing and organising data pipelines, rank third. Cambridge takes the top spot outside London, paying £62,719 on average, with Newcastle (£56,160) and Manchester (£53,376) trailing. - 4th: Full-Stack Developer (£53,100)
Full-stack developers, managing both front and back-end development, earn £53,100 on average. London and Cambridge dominate here, with Reading rounding out the top-paying locations. - 5th: IT Security Specialist (£52,800)
As cybersecurity threats grow, IT security specialists remain in demand. Reading offers the second-highest pay (£62,089) after London, followed by Manchester (£58,398) and Cheltenham (£57,419).MORE: Why you should consider a non-aesthetic Instagram feedDISCOVER: Gen Z are using iPod shuffles as hair clips
Other Notable Roles
- Data Scientist (£51,700)
- IT Project Manager (£48,600)
- Front-End Developer (£47,100)
- User Experience (UX) Designer (£46,000)
- Software Developer (£45,800)
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A Growing Sector
Jonathan Perumal, Chief Technical Officer at PCInternational, noted: “The tech industry is booming currently, and has been for the past few years. The average UK salary for full-time workers is around £37,430, but with many of these tech jobs, employees can easily exceed this amount.”
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Gender Diversity in Tech
Efforts to attract women into the tech sector are bearing fruit. In 2024, women accounted for 26% of the industry workforce, a significant increase from 19% in 2019. Initiatives like the Home Office’s Women in Tech programme have been pivotal in driving this progress.
With demand for skilled professionals and rapid innovation shaping the industry, now is a prime time to pursue a career in tech. From competitive salaries to career growth opportunities, the sector offers both financial rewards and the chance to shape the future of technology.