Solutions architects, who design and oversee the implementation of complex IT systems to meet business needs, are the highest-paid tech professionals in the UK, earning an average of £72,600 per year, according to new research.
A study conducted by South African computer retailer PCInternational analysed salary data to reveal the most lucrative roles in the tech sector, which continues to drive economic growth and innovation.
The tech sector contributed over £150 billion to the UK economy in 2023, with figures expected to rise in 2024 and 2025. Alongside rapid innovation, demand for skilled tech professionals has pushed salaries well above the national average of £37,430 for full-time workers.
Jonathan Perumal, chief technical officer of PCInternational, noted strong demand for skilled professionals and the role of innovation in shaping the tech sector.
“The high salaries in tech reflect both the demand for skilled professionals and the rapid pace of technological innovation driving the economy,” he said. “For those considering a career in tech, now is an excellent time to gain the necessary skills and apply yourself to the sector.”
Best-Paying Tech Roles
The study assessed 30 tech roles listed on the UK’s National Careers Service and paired them with salary data from Indeed’s salary calculator. Average wages were ranked, with solutions architects emerging as the top earners.
These are the top ten highest-paying roles for 2025:
- Solutions architect – £72,600
- Back-end developer – £56,600
- Data engineer – £55,100
- Full stack developer – £53,100
- IT security specialist – £52,800
- Data scientist – £51,700
- IT project manager – £48,600
- Front-end developer – £47,100
- User experience (UX) designer – £46,000
- Software developer – £45,800
Cities Offering the Best Salaries
Unsurprisingly, London remains the highest-paying city for most tech roles. For example, solutions architects in London earn an average of £80,445, with Leeds following at £75,898. Other roles, such as data engineers, are well paid in cities like Cambridge (£62,719), Newcastle (£56,160) and Manchester (£53,376).
Notably, some roles see higher wages outside London. IT project managers, for instance, earn the most in Nottingham (£53,696), while Reading offers excellent salaries for IT security specialists (£62,089).
The study highlights not just high salaries but also significant shifts within the industry. Efforts to attract women into the sector are paying off, with the proportion of women in tech rising from 19 percent in 2019 to 26 percent in early 2024. Initiatives like the Home Office’s Digital Data and Technology Women in Tech programme are making careers in tech more accessible to underrepresented groups.
“Over the past decade, the government has made significant efforts to encourage more women to pursue careers in tech and STEM fields, which have historically been male-dominated,” Perumal said, adding that “these initiatives appeared to be making an impact, with the percentage of women in the tech sector rising to 26%, up from 19% in 2019.”
As the tech industry continues to evolve, opportunities abound for professionals to upskill and access higher-paying roles, say industry analysts. The emphasis on sustainability, workplace wellbeing and diversity, they say, is shaping a future where the tech sector not only drives innovation but also sets a standard for ethical and inclusive practices.
