Industry Trends
Salary trends in technology: what to expect in 2026
John Waslefsky March 1, 2026 7 min readQuick answer
Technology salaries in 2026 are stabilizing after the correction of 2023-2024, with AI/ML engineers, platform engineers, and security specialists seeing the strongest growth. Base salaries for senior engineers at SMBs range from $130K to $200K depending on specialty and location.
Every year, we analyze compensation data from hundreds of placements to identify trends that matter for both hiring managers and technology professionals. Here's what we're seeing in 2026.
The big picture
After the hiring frenzy of 2021-2022 and the correction of 2023-2024, the technology labor market has found a new equilibrium. Companies are hiring again, but more deliberately. Candidates have options, but fewer than the peak. Compensation is growing, but at sustainable rates.
Specialty-by-specialty trends
Software Engineering: Senior engineer salaries have stabilized at $130K-$180K for most markets. Staff and principal roles continue to command premiums, with $160K-$260K ranges depending on domain expertise.
DevOps & Platform Engineering: This remains one of the tightest markets. Senior DevOps engineers command $140K-$190K, with leads and architects pushing well past $200K. The DevSecOps specialty is growing fastest.
Data & ML Engineering: AI/ML engineer compensation continues to outpace other specialties, with senior roles commanding $150K-$220K. Data engineers have seen the most significant salary growth year-over-year.
Leadership Roles: CTO and VP of Engineering compensation at SMBs ranges from $180K-$320K, with significant variation based on company stage, revenue, and equity structure.
What this means for hiring managers
Budget realistically. If your salary ranges haven't been updated since 2023, you're likely 10-15% below market and losing candidates before the first interview.
What this means for professionals
Know your market value, but think beyond base salary. Equity, learning opportunities, scope of impact, and work-life balance all factor into total compensation — and they often favor SMB environments.
Frequently asked questions
Are technology salaries still going up in 2026?
Yes, but more modestly than the 2020-2022 surge. Most specialties are seeing 3-6% annual increases, with AI/ML and security roles growing faster at 8-12%.How do SMB salaries compare to enterprise?
SMB base salaries typically run 10-15% below enterprise equivalents, but total compensation gaps narrow significantly when you factor in equity upside, title advancement, and scope of impact.Related articles
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