If there's any industry in which you can expect to find the highest percentage of remote jobs hiring at a consistent level, it's the tech industry.
This is in part, thanks to the heavily digital nature of these roles which enable remote tools to be used anywhere. And this can also be attributed to the strong push that tech companies are making to attract and retain highly specialized technical talent in the midst of the skills and talent war.
The computer and mathematical industry leads the way in having the highest share of remote job postings—a staggering 35% as of 2022 data—in contrast to the industry with the lowest number of remote jobs—food preparation—which comes in at approximately 1%, according to a recent research paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).
Despite news that remote jobs are on the decline this year, there is still hope. Employers such as Microsoft, and new technology start-ups, are fearlessly reinventing the office and hiring for fully remote and hybrid-remote jobs, with some even extending "work-from-anywhere" policies.
Here are 10 of the highest-paying and most popular remote jobs in the tech industry that are experiencing significant hiring efforts in 2024:
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1. Remote Frontend Developer
Front-end developers write code and design and implement the user interface and user experience of web applications, with a focus on aesthetics and functionality.
Average salary: $119,224
2. Remote Backend Developer
Working remotely as a backend developer, you would be responsible for developing and maintaining server-side logic, behind-the-scenes operation of applications and APIs, and databases.
Average salary: $129,837
3. Remote Cloud Engineer
This role is primarily responsible for the optimization and management of cloud computing infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and efficient resource utilization in these environments.
Average salary: $103,567
4. Remote Big Data Engineer
A remote big data engineer's job is especially critical as companies prepare to implement and integrate AI into their workflows. Big data engineers designs, builds, and optimizes large-scale data processing systems and pipelines for collection, storage, and analysis of extensive datasets.
Average salary: $148,436
5. Remote Software Architect
Software architects take a high-level approach to the design and structural development of software systems, sometimes complex, to meet technical and business requirements.
Average salary: $148,295
6. Remote Data Scientist
Not to be confused with the role of a data analyst, data scientists analyze complex data sets to derive actionable insights, and build predictive models to inform business decisions, using statistical and machine learning techniques.
Average salary: $120,485
7. Remote Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity analysts, also known as information security analysts, safeguard an organization’s digital assets by identifying vulnerabilities, monitoring systems for security breaches, and implementing security measures.
Average salary: $126,259
8. Remote AI/ML Engineer
Performing a critical function within data science, an artificial intelligence/machine learning engineer builds and deploys the machine learning models and artificial intelligence systems that are then integrated with existing applications to solve complex problems.
Average salary: $185,931
9. Remote Software Engineer
In your job as a remote software engineer, your day-to-day might include developing, testing, and maintaining systems and applications, and you could be working in a senior-level capacity as an individual contributor, or even in management.
Average salary: $130,050
10. Remote Data Analyst
Data analysts are focused on creating data visualizations and interpreting data to provide actionable insights, which are used by decision-makers.
Average salary: $107,553
How To Get A High-Paying Remote Job In Tech In 2024
To land a high-paying remote job within the tech industry, you need to understand that the sector is fiercely competitive and relies heavily on...you guessed it...technical skills. You will need to be thoroughly proficient and maintain relevant up-to-date knowledge in the latest tools, programming languages, and applications, to maintain an edge in the technical job market.
The next most important attribute you will need is soft skills.
While it may sound odd, there are studies and reports that prove that employers pay special attention to one's soft skills, especially communication, in the remote and tech workforce. Your ability to translate technical concepts and ideas to non-technical stakeholders is critical to your career success.
Therefore, when considering a remote job in tech, remember to continuously upskill, not only in the hard skills, but the "softer" attributes as well. Ensure you showcase examples of where you have acted these in practice, and have a consistent portfolio of your work that showcases your skills and is regularly updated—whether you are currently employed or not.
