As AI continues to reshape the know-how sector — and layoffs ripple through major firms — a number of the trade’s most skilled professionals are nonetheless commanding high greenback.
In accordance with a report from Certainly, the top-paying roles embrace principal technical program supervisor (TPM) and principal software program engineering supervisor (SEMs), every with a median wage of $215,800.
To compile the info, Certainly seemed on the median wage for job postings with wage info within the software program improvement sector between January 2024 and March 2025, for these titles with at the very least 100 wage data.
Principal SEMs are accountable for high-level structure selections, cross-functional coordination, and mentoring senior engineers. This position usually entails driving innovation, making certain scalability, and aligning know-how with enterprise objectives.
“This mixture of deep technical expertise with strategic affect justifies the wage premium over customary engineering managers, who primarily give attention to day-to-day staff administration and undertaking execution,” Linsey Fagan, Certainly’s expertise technique advisor, informed ITPro As we speak.
Vp of product administration ($209,793), principal product supervisor ($207,804), and blockchain engineer ($202,500) additionally made the listing.
Seth Robinson, vice chairman of trade analysis for CompTIA, informed ITPro As we speak that as know-how has shifted from a tactical to a strategic necessity for organizations of every kind and sizes, IT professionals with the expertise and know-how to leverage that tech are in excessive demand — and are paid handsomely.
“We undoubtedly see the ability panorama changing into one which’s extra layered,” he defined. “You need to construct up a basis of digital fluency and understanding how enterprise programs work, and from there you will begin constructing extra focused expertise.”
He identified that product administration roles have change into extra vital because the promoting of B2B merchandise — influenced by the debut of the iPhone almost 20 years in the past — has change into an space of focus.
“Software program merchandise have needed to change into extra interesting to the tip consumer, and B2B software program and companies are being pushed by extra of a client mannequin,” Robinson mentioned.
Fagan defined that the job scope for a vice chairman of product can embrace overseeing product administration inside a whole firm, which may imply main product groups and growing new gadgets.
Usually, at the very least 10 years of expertise in product administration is important for the place, starting with entry-level roles and progressing via positions like product supervisor, senior product supervisor, and director of product.
“To get to the VP stage, job seekers ought to intention for 3-5 years in managerial roles to construct their management expertise,” Fagan mentioned.
Increased Salaries for Advanced Roles
In accordance with Fagan, TPMs and SEMs earn greater salaries than particular person contributors like software engineers due to their management, strategic planning, and broader scope of duties.
“They’re accountable for managing groups, complicated tasks, and infrequently large-scale initiatives, requiring a mix of technical experience and management expertise,” she mentioned. “Within the age of fast generative AI adoption, we’re seeing an elevated demand for skilled leaders who can navigate these rising applied sciences.”
The demand for blockchain engineers surged as Web3 adoption elevated, creating important market want for professionals with these specialised expertise, based on Fagan.
“Industries like provide chain administration, gaming, and digital id are more and more integrating blockchain,” she mentioned. “Software program improvement postings on Certainly general have been within the decline, after peaking in 2022. They presently stand under their pre-pandemic ranges.”
She added that blockchain engineering titles are considerably related — additionally they peaked in 2022 however have returned only a bit above their pre-pandemic ranges.
“It is a higher-paying title in a high-salary sector, and apart from 2022’s hovering demand, demand has stayed fairly regular for the title,” Fagan defined.
She mentioned salaries above $200,000 are pushed by the necessity for experience in sensible contracts, cryptography, and protocol design.
“One other aggressive perk for this job is the power to work remotely and the excessive stakes of blockchain tasks,” Fagan mentioned.
Shift in Demand for Technical Expertise
Certainly’s analysis additionally factors to a shift in demand for technical expertise. Whereas conventional developer expertise — akin to routine coding — are declining in worth, roles targeted on engineering, cloud safety, and generative AI have gotten extra distinguished.
On Certainly, the share of U.S. job postings mentioning generative AI or associated phrases skyrocketed over the previous 12 months, up 170% from January 2024 to January 2025.
“Our perception is that genAI will increase reasonably than exchange jobs,” Fagan mentioned. “As its affect grows, employers rework current roles and create new ones to leverage AI’s capabilities.”
Job postings for “software program engineer” positions have elevated, whereas “software developer” roles have declined.
Fagan mentioned these findings replicate a broader transition: Firms are prioritizing strategic engineering expertise that may assist construct and deploy next-generation applied sciences reasonably than counting on coding duties which are more and more automated.
“From needing to combine AI into decision-making processes to enhancing product discovery and innovation, product managers’ position expectations are evolving,” she defined. “Experience in managing AI-driven tasks, understanding machine studying fashions, and leveraging AI for market insights are essential.”
Information, Expertise, Duties
Robinson described a three-part development that is changing into more and more vital within the IT subject: data, expertise, and duties.
He defined that buying the theoretical understanding of easy methods to arrange and preserve a community is simply step one.
“You possibly can purchase the data to face up a community and preserve a community, however then when it truly comes time to doing it and configuring it and making changes, that is a unique step to take,” Robinson mentioned.
Past that, he added, is the duty stage — making use of these expertise in dynamic, real-world environments. This implies adapting to evolving applied sciences and enterprise wants, not simply performing in an educational setting or passing a certification check.
“It isn’t simply doing it in an educational setting or with the ability to examine the field on a check,” Robinson defined. “As situations change, as new applied sciences develop, are you able to apply your ability, your data, and the power that you need to do expertise to new duties which are forming?”
This cycle of fixed adaptation, he famous, is central to how companies strategy know-how.
“Candidates who construct a basis in enterprise programs, then specialize and apply their experience in real-world situations, are precisely what employers are looking for,” he mentioned.
