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Top IT Jobs in the UK for 2026 | Skills, Salaries & Growth
24/11/2025
Top IT Jobs in the UK for 2026: Skills, Salaries & Growth Predictions
The technology sector in the UK is still growing rapidly, encouraged by AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity demands and noted shifts regarding digital transformation across all sectors. As companies vie for skilled workers, IT jobs in the UK are poised for unprecedented growth in 2026 with high pay, flexible work arrangements, and long-term job security.
Whether you are considering starting your tech career or planning your next move - a definitive guide to the roles for 2026 that are likely to be growing the fastest, identifying the required skills and salary for tech roles in the UK for 2026.
Why is demand for IT jobs growing in 2026?
- AI & automation accelerating.
Businesses are adopting AI-prompted functions, leading to increases in the demand for job roles in machine learning, AI engineering and data science.
- Cybersecurity threats at an all-time high.
Businesses are increasing their investment in advanced security engineering, ethical hacking and cloud security.
- Cloud growth in business transformation opportunities.
AWS, Azure and Google Cloud will continue to consume a considerable amount of IT budgets, resulting in thousands of opportunities for cloud engineering and DevOps roles.
- Growth in remote & hybrid working.
Tech teams are being spread across districts and regions, leading to job growth at a national level.
Fastest Growing IT Jobs in the UK for 2026.
Below are the roles that are experiencing the strongest and fastest growth along with a demand for hiring levels in early 2026, and with an excellent salary range!
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) Engineer
AI engineers create intelligent systems, automation processes, and predictive models that are applied in the fields of finance, healthcare, and technology.
Skills required for the job:
- Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch
- Machine learning & natural language processing
- Data modelling
Salary in the UK (2026): £60,000 - £110,000+
- Cyber Security Analyst / Security Engineer
Cyber security is rapidly rising, which means skilled security individuals are now more important than ever.
Skills required for the job:
- Network security
- SIEM, SOC tools
- Pen testing
- Cloud security (AWS / Azure)
Salary in the UK (2026): £45,000 - £95,000+
- Cloud Engineer (AWS / Azure / GCP)
Companies are moving their critical systems onto the cloud, which makes any cloud roles, if any, among the most secure in 2026.
Skills required for the job:
- Cloud architecture
- Kubernetes & Docker
- Terraform/Ansible
- Linux & networking
Salary in the UK (2026): £55,000 - £100,000+
- DevOps Engineer
DevOps remains one of the fastest-growing jobs in IT, facilitating automation, CI/CD pipelines and cloud optimisation.
Skills Required:
- GitHub/GitLab pipelines
- Containers & microservices
- IaC tools
- SRE principles
UK Salary 2026: £60,000 – £105,000+
- Data Scientist
Data scientists tackle real-world problems using predictive analytics, AI and big data.
Skills Required:
- Python, R
- SQL, big data tools
- Machine learning
- Data visualisation
UK Salary 2026: £55,000 – £120,000+
- Software Engineer (Full-Stack & Backend)
Software engineers continue to be one of the largest hiring fields in UK tech.
Skills Required:
- Java, Python, C#, Javascript
- Microservices
- Databases & cloud platforms
UK Salary 2026: £45,000 – £95,000+
- Business Analyst / Product Analyst
Digital transformation is driving interest in analysts who connect the business's needs with technology solutions.
Skills Required:
- Requirements gathering
- Agile/Scrum
- Process modelling
- Data analysis
UK Salary 2026: £40,000 – £75,000+
- UX/UI Designer
User experience continues to be an important consideration for apps, websites and digital products.
Skills Required:
- Figma, Adobe XD
- User research
- Wireframing & prototyping
- UK Salary 2026: £38,000 - £70,000+
- Emerging Tech Roles to Look Out for in 2026
- AI operations (AIOps) specialists
- Prompt engineers
- Cloud FinOps analysts
- Blockchain developers
- AR/VR developers
- Automation engineers
These budding professions demonstrate the future of the UK tech sector.
Tech Salaries in the UK: 2026 Overview
Tech pay continues to rise due to skill shortages, global competition and remote-first hiring.
Here are projected tech salaries in the UK for 2026:
|
Role |
Average Salary Range |
|
AI Engineer |
£60,000 – £110,000+ |
|
Cloud Engineer |
£55,000 – £100,000+ |
|
DevOps Engineer |
£60,000 – £105,000 |
|
Cybersecurity Engineer |
£45,000 – £95,000 |
|
Data Scientist |
£55,000 – £120,000 |
|
Software Engineer |
£45,000 – £95,000 |
|
Product/Business Analyst |
£40,000 – £75,000 |
|
UX/UI Designer |
£38,000 – £70,000 |
Essential Skills for IT Jobs in the UK (2026)
To differentiate yourself in the tech market in 2026, you will need to concentrate on:
- AI & machine learning
- Cybersecurity frameworks
- Cloud architecture
- DevOps & automation
- Data engineering
- Microservices
- Programming in Python, Java, Go or C#
- Communication and problem-solving
- IT professionals that combine both technical skill with business acumen will have the best job security.
Future View: A Strong Decade for Careers in UK Tech
As the pace of digital transformation accelerates across all sectors from finance to retail and in healthcare and public services, IT jobs in the UK for 2026 will continue to experience strong growth. Preparing for a career change to tech promises exciting salaries, degree of flexibility to work remotely, career progression, and demand across the globe.
Whether you are reskilling or looking for a new opportunity, you're at one of the best times to develop a long-lasting career in UK tech.
FAQs
1. What are the fastest-growing IT roles in the UK for 2026?
AI engineers, cloud engineers, DevOps specialists, cybersecurity professionals and data scientists.
2. Are tech salaries increasing in the UK?
Yes, tech salaries in the UK continue to rise due to skill shortages and digital transformation.
3. What skills should I learn for IT jobs in 2026?
Cloud computing, AI/ML, cybersecurity, DevOps, data analytics and strong programming skills.
4. Which tech jobs offer the highest salary?
AI engineering, data science, cloud architecture and senior DevOps roles.
