- Advertised salaries in tech are £48,595 per year on average, Totaljobs says
The technology industry is booming thanks to the rapid growth of AI over the past few years.
The likes of Amazon, Google and Meta are spending hundreds of billions of pounds on AI infrastructure, but it is not just the US that will reap the benefits.
Britain has the third largest tech ecosystem worldwide, behind the US and China, and tech companies are growing on the back of investment and Government funding.
Billions of pounds have been committed to tech research and development over the next decade, so it’s no surprise more jobseekers look towards the industry.
Those working in tech enjoy higher pay and satisfaction than elsewhere.
As many as 94 per cent of tech workers are satisfied with their salary level, according to figures from Totaljobs, and two thirds have received a pay rise in the last 12 months alone.
The recruitment platform said technology is currently the top sector for salaries, with an average advertised salary of £48,595 per year.
The capital is home to as much as 59% of the UK’s tech industry and 80% of AI roles
In comparison, the median advertised pay across 21million UK jobs analysed by Totaljobs was just £33,500.
This has risen 7.5 per cent in the last year, with the increase has driven by demand for technical, data and AI expertise.
Beyond just tech firms themselves, other businesses are investing in technology as a means to scale or streamline their operations, and to keep up with competition.
Luke Mckend, UK managing director at Totaljobs, said: ‘As organisations look ahead and future-proof their workforce, demand for advanced technical, data, and AI expertise will continue to accelerate.’
‘This growing skills premium reflects both the pace of technological change and the increasing pressure on employers to invest in capabilities – and skills – that will underpin business growth.
‘With this specialist tech talent also driving wage growth, the tech industry is becoming an increasingly attractive sector for job seekers at all stages of their careers.’
Unsurprisingly, the main hotspot for tech roles is in London. In fact, the capital is home to as much as 59 per cent of the UK’s tech industry, as well as 57 of the country’s fastest growing tech firms.
London-centric: More than two thirds of tech roles are in the capital (Shoreditch, pictured)
Which tech jobs pay most?
As a result, this means that some 65 per cent of all tech vacancies are available in London, while as many as 80 per cent of AI jobs are also London-based.
London’s average tech salary is notably higher than in other areas, at £70,000 per year. In comparison, salaries stand at £55,000 in Leeds and £5,300 in Portsmouth.
Belfast, Birmingham and Edinburgh all have an average tech salary of £50,000.
The tech roles that have the highest median salary include Python developers, which earn a median salary of £90,000, technical architects, who earn £87,500 on average and AI software developers, who earn a median salary of £75,000.
How YOU can land a tech role
‘”Tech” has become a broad catch-all for countless different roles and sectors, which means there’s more opportunity than ever for those looking to enter the industry,’ Mckend said.
‘While candidates may assume they need hard, technical skills to get started, this isn’t always the case.
In many instances, you may already have the skills that translate to and be applied to a tech role.
He added: ‘Employers also value transferrable skills – such as problem‑solving, communication, adaptability and data literacy – which can be developed from many backgrounds.
‘Understanding how these strengths can be leveraged will help candidates unlock opportunities they may not have previously considered.’
A quarter of recruiters, 25 per cent, now say AI and automation skills are the most valuable capability for determining salary and career progression, over the likes of leadership skills.
Still, Nathaniel Okenwa, manager developer at communications software company Twilio, says: ‘Experience with cloud technology, data, and AI tools is in high demand, but being able to demonstrate your thinking and team skills often makes the biggest impression.
‘One common mistake is thinking you need to know everything before applying – you don’t.
‘Employers expect learning on the job. Another is focusing on qualifications instead of showing what you’ve built or learned through practice.’
However, it is important to build experience in your desired field, even if it is outside of work.
For software developers, for example, Okenwa suggests building personal projects, contributing to open-source software or taking part in hackathons.
He said: ‘Employers often value this hands-on experience more than a perfect CV.’
For tech in general, Okenwa says there are lots of ways to learn the basics.
‘Online courses, coding tutorials, and practical challenges can get you productive quickly, especially when paired with real projects.
‘There’s an immense amount out there available for free on YouTube, as well as providers like Coursera and EdX. These fields reward people who experiment, keep learning, and stay up to date.’
Okenwa said: ‘It’s never too late. Your career isn’t fixed by the choices you make at school or university. Tech isn’t a linear industry, and people move into it from all kinds of backgrounds.’
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