Extra pay awarded by employers to talented tech professionals for 723 non-certified IT skills---also known as cash pay premiums---which has increased on average over five of the last six calendar quarters—gained slightly in the first quarter of 2025 following a loss in the prior quarter. For 648 IT certifications, the story was just the opposite: a small overall loss in Q1 2025 that followed a gain in the final quarter of 2024. This is according to Foote Partners' long-running IT Skills and Certifications Pay IndexTM (ITSCPI) of cash pay premiums for 1,371 certified and non-certified IT skills.
Since its launch in 1999, the ITSCPI has continuously tracked cash premiums paid to tech professionals by their employers for an ever-increasing number of popular tech skills and certifications. Rigorously validated data and detailed market analyses are updated and published by Foote Partners every 90 days. Currently, premiums are reported for 1,371 certifications and non-certified skills.