The tech job market is shifting fast, there are no two ways about it. Between AI breakthroughs, automation and robotics redefining industries, the question isn’t whether tech careers pay well, it’s about which roles are worth your time, energy and ambition. And ultimately, which roles are going to make you the most money.
A new study has mapped out the highest-earning and fastest-rising tech jobs for 2025, revealing which roles sit at the sweet spot of money, scarcity and long-term opportunity, and some might surprise you.
For instance, the jobs with the biggest salaries aren’t always the ones with the most vacancies. In fact, a few are shrinking in job volume but they’re still commanding premium rates.
As Frans Tollenaar, CEO of Teqram, puts it: “The roles commanding the highest salaries aren’t necessarily the ones with the most job postings. Smart professionals need to look at the intersection of salary growth, demand and long-term potential.”
Why 2025 Is a Turning Point for Tech Careers
What makes this moment so interesting is that we’re no longer looking at tech jobs as niche or experimental. AI, automation and data science aren’t side projects anymore – they’re becoming the backbone of how businesses operate in every sector, from finance and retail to manufacturing and healthcare.
In the UK and across Europe, industries are facing a talent crunch. In the UAE and wider Middle East, rapid digital transformation means new roles are appearing almost faster than they can be filled. Salaries are climbing not just because these jobs are technically demanding, but because companies desperately need people who can bridge the gap between advanced systems and real-world application.
Put very simply, 2025 is the year when the tech job market stops being about “what’s hot”, what’s fun and exciting, and it starts being about what delivers impact. That’s where the money flows.
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The Top 10 Highest-Earning Tech Jobs for 2025
So, if you want to earn good money in tech in 2025 and beyond, these are the top 10 jobs that poised to be the highest paying, according to a recent study conducted by Teqram.
Remember, these rankings aren’t only based on the highest earnings – they also take into account projected salary growth, job growth outlook, hiring countries and more. All these things come together to provide a future earnings score – and, the higher the future earnings score, the better.
1. Data Scientist: Future Earnings Score: 100
Median salary: £92, 023.94
Despite shrinking job postings, Data Scientists dominate. The market may be saturated at entry level, but experienced pros who can turn complex datasets into business insights are earning more than ever.
2. Robotics Engineer: Score: 92
Median salary: £90, 656.83
Robotics is exploding beyond car factories into healthcare, media and entertainment. Engineers building the systems of tomorrow are cashing in as demand soars, and it’s not exactly surprising.
3. NLP Engineer: Score: 89
Median salary: £92, 040.42
Natural Language Processing engineers are driving the AI that speaks, listens and understands. With conversational AI booming, these roles are only going up as AI is being used more and more.
4. Deep Learning Engineer: Score: 86
Median salary: £93, 184.29
The brains behind neural networks, Deep Learning Engineers are building systems powering everything from medical scans to self-driving cars – and it’s no surprise that businesses are paying top dollar.
5. ML Ops Engineer: Score: 75
Median salary: £92, 489.13
Machine Learning Ops may not sound flashy, but it’s basically the plumbing of modern AI. With AI scaling across industries, ML Ops Engineers are becoming indispensable.
6. Machine Learning Researcher: Score: 74
Median salary: £89, 565.39
The researchers behind new algorithms and models aren’t just in labs anymore. In fact, their skills are in high demand wherever cutting-edge AI meets real-world deployment, which these days, is pretty much everywhere.
7. Data Engineer: Score: 68
Median salary: £84, 905.24
Like Data Scientists, job postings are shrinking, but salaries are climbing. Those who can design and manage complex pipelines are rare, and that scarcity pays.
8. Autonomous Systems Engineer: Score: 66
Median salary: $115,243
From drones to self-driving vehicles, autonomous systems are moving from theory into production. Engineers with hands-on skills in autonomy are carving out lucrative careers.
9. AI Product Manager: Score: 65
Median salary: £86,004.92
AI needs more than engineers – rather, it needs direction. Product Managers who can translate technical breakthroughs into market-ready products are already pulling strong salaries.
10. Head of AI: Score: 63
Median salary: £88, 792.32
At the leadership level, Heads of AI aren’t just building models, they’re setting strategy, and as a relatively new job, expertise in this area are becoming incredibly sought after. Organisations competing in the AI arms race are willing to pay heavily for experienced leaders.
What Does This Mean for Tech Professionals?
The biggest shift for 2025 is that implementation beats theory. Companies are done with AI experiments – now, they want results. That’s why roles like ML Ops Engineer, AI Product Manager and Autonomous Systems Engineer are climbing.
As Tollenaar explains, “companies are moving beyond AI experimentation to real-world deployment, creating massive demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and business results.”
So, whether you’re eyeing a move into robotics, deep learning or AI leadership, the path is clear: specialise in the rare skills that are closest to revenue and business impact.
Because in 2025, the winners won’t just be those who work in tech – they’ll be the ones who work at the crossroads of money, innovation and opportunity.