Pay For IT Skills, Certifications On The Decline
DICE, Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
Average cash pay premiums for IT certifications and noncertified skills have continued to decline for the third consecutive year, according to data from Foote Partners.
The findings, based on compensation data from 109,872 IT professionals at 4,865 employers across the U.S. and Canada, show that despite the overall decline, more than 90 noncertified IT skills still earn workers average bonuses equal to 17-23% of base pay, while 40 certifications command average bonuses of 10-15%.
However, market volatility for IT skills pay is climbing. The report found that 404 of 1,371 tracked skills and certifications - roughly 30% - changed in market value in Q3 2025, up from 280 of 1,340 (21%) one year earlier.