According to the study “Estimated salaries IT profiles 2026” carried out by Setesca Talent, the CISO will once again be the IT position that will increase its salary the most, as occurred in the data from last year’s report. The forecast for 2026 is an increase of 15%, consolidating this role as one of the most strategic for companies.
This study by Setesta Talent offers a precise and updated vision of the technological labor market in Spain, with the aim of providing key information to facilitate decision-making both in the hiring and retention of talent in a highly competitive environment. The report indicates that during 2025 salaries increased between 3.5% and 5%, especially in cybersecurity, Cloud architectures, Data & Analytics and ERP specialists
In this edition, the study confirms that the CISO will once again be the profile with the highest salary growth. By 2026, their salary is between 100,000 and 120,000 euros gross per year, and an increase of 15% is expected, after the 12% increase recorded the previous year.
In second position, the Data Manager stands out, with a forecast salary increase of 10%, positioning himself as one of the key profiles in the field of Data & Analytics. According to the report, the remuneration for this role ranges between 70,000 and 85,000 euros gross per year.
Other profiles with expected increases, although more moderate, are the Software Architect (3%), the Specialist Consultant (3%), the Cloud Architects, Tech Lead, Product Owner, DBA and other management roles such as CIO or CTO / IT Manager, all of them with growth forecasts of around 2%.
Most common job benefits in 2026
Among the incentives most offered by companies are:
- Flexible entry and exit schedule (85%), consolidated as standard.
- Intensive day in summer (85%), which continues to be one of the most valued benefits.
- Teleworking or hybrid model (70%), which grows compared to previous years and includes new aid, such as equipment or compensation online.
- Flexible training or “learning budget” (70%), evolution of traditional subsidized training.
- Subsidized technical training (65%).
- Private health insurance and mental well-being (60%), including online psychology and health platforms.
- Other benefits on the rise are pension plans (25%), flexible remuneration platforms (20%), well-being credits (18%) and support for work-life balance (10%).
Main conclusions of the study
The report highlights that salaries in IT profiles have experienced an average increase of between 3.5% and 5% during 2025, driven by digitalization, automation and the need to strengthen technological resilience in organizations.
Likewise, the rotation of technological talent has intensified, motivated by the search for better economic conditions, greater flexibility, continuous training and personalized benefits.
In second position, the Data Manager stands out, with a salary increase of 10%, being one of the key profiles in the field of Data & Analytics
At a national level, the trend towards internal relocation of talent continues, with companies expanding their recruitment to different cities to optimize costs. In Europe, cross-border hiring continues to grow.
The forecasts for 2026 point to a more balanced market, with greater availability of talent after restructuring in large technology companies, although with a moderate upward trend in salaries. Additionally, a significant shortage of SAP S/4HANA migration experts is anticipated, as well as a growing impact of AI tools on technical roles, which are transforming traditional functions and redefining profiles.
An increase in demand for specialists in AI agents, operational efficiency through AI and profiles linked to user experience is also expected, according to the Setesta Talent study.
On the other hand, a strong trend is observed in the selection of business managers with technological knowledge, especially in data analytics, which is already a requirement in most management positions.
