AI, cybersecurity skills top IT pay premiums

AI engineering, cybersecurity, governance, data architecture, and distributed systems skills are now commanding the highest cash pay premiums in IT, according to new research from Foote Partners, which reports that employers are placing “increasing value on certifications that validate strategic capability and enterprise-level thinking.” Employers are paying premium bonuses equal to 20% to 24% of based salary for noncertified IT skills, and leading certifications are earning premiums ranging from 11% to 18% of base salary, Foote Partners reported. The firm based its latest quarterly IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index on compensation data collected through April 1, 2026, from 5,112 North American employers. “Organizations are now looking for people who understand how to architect, govern, secure, and operationalize highly interconnected technology ecosystems,” David Foote, chief analyst and research officer of Foote Partners, said in a statement . “That is why certifications tied to