Top 7 Highest-paying Tech Jobs in Nigeria This Year

September 14, 2025

Top 7 Highest-paying Tech Jobs in Nigeria This Year

Nigeria’s tech industry has seen turbulent shifts over the last few years, from the pandemic-era boom to the recent economic crunch.

The optimism that once attracted global venture capital into Nigerian startups has slowed, creating a more sober reality. Still, even in this climate, some roles are commanding eye-popping salaries and accelerating career growth.

According to findings from TechCabal, some senior tech professionals in Nigeria are still earning ₦2 million ($1,333) and above monthly—a sharp contrast to the national salary average.

But this raises a key question for aspiring and current professionals: what roles and skills are actually worth investing in right now?

To find answers, TechCabal spoke to Emmanuel Faith, an HR professional with experience at Nigerian startups including Cowrywise and Africhange; Deji Olowe, founder of Lendsqr and board leader at Paystack; and Toyin Olasehinde, co-founder and COO of skills platform Treford.

“These factors depend on the level (entry, mid, or senior), as well as the company itself and the industry these roles are employed into,” Emmanuel explains.

Here’s what these experts revealed about the highest-paying tech jobs in Nigeria and the skills required to get them.

Top Highest-paying Tech Jobs in Nigeria (2025)

1. Cybersecurity analysts

Average pay: ₦450,000–₦900,000 ($300–$600) monthly at mid-level, ₦1.5M–₦2M ($1,000–$1,333) at senior level.
Why it pays: Cyberattacks are growing in scale and sophistication in Nigeria, especially targeting fintechs and banks. Companies now view cybersecurity as a non-negotiable investment.
Skills in demand: Network security, penetration testing, cloud security, and certifications like CISSP and CEH.

2. Data engineers

Average pay: ₦1.8M–₦2.5M ($1,200–$1,667) monthly for mid to senior roles.
Why it pays: Businesses are generating more data than ever and need skilled engineers to build reliable pipelines for analytics and AI.
Skills in demand: SQL, Python, Spark, ETL pipelines, and cloud warehousing.

3. Software developers (especially back-end engineers)

Average pay: ₦1.2M–₦2.5M ($800–$1,667) monthly.
Why it pays: They build the infrastructure powering mobile apps, digital payments, and e-commerce platforms.
Skills in demand: Java, Go, Node.js, APIs, systems architecture, and database management.

4. Technical product managers

Average pay: ₦1.5M–₦2.8M ($1,000–$1,867) monthly.
Why it pays: They connect engineering and business strategy, ensuring digital products are both usable and profitable.
Skills in demand: Agile methods, UX understanding, stakeholder management, product roadmapping.

Toyin Olasehinde notes: “People are building all the time, and they need skilled product managers to guide these projects end-to-end.”

5. DevOps engineers

Average pay: ₦1.3M–₦2.4M ($867–$1,600) monthly.
Why it pays: DevOps keeps deployments fast and secure, which is crucial for startups scaling from thousands to millions of users.
Skills in demand: CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure, scripting.

6. Artificial Intelligence & machine learning roles

Average pay: ₦600,000–₦1.2M ($400–$800) monthly.
Why it pays: The global AI buzz is reaching Nigeria, with firms seeking professionals who can design and implement AI strategies.
Skills in demand: Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, statistics, cloud ML tools.

Olasehinde adds: “Employers want people who can not only build models but also embed AI into their organisational strategies.”

7. Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)

Average pay: ₦3M–₦5M+ ($2,000–$3,333+) monthly.
Why it pays: CTOs oversee entire technology teams, budgets, and strategy, often guiding product vision and fundraising.
Skills in demand: Technical depth, leadership, fundraising, and long-term planning.

Most Future-proof Tech Roles

According to Emmanuel, senior roles like cybersecurity, full-stack engineering, and technical product management are highly future-proof, especially as more Nigerians migrate abroad, leaving local demand underserved. Olasehinde also highlights marketing roles in tech, stressing: “To bring users in and communicate product value, companies need strong marketing talent.”

Degrees vs. Hands-on Skills

Formal education is becoming less of a gatekeeper in Nigerian tech.

Emmanuel: “At entry level, degrees are rarely the deciding factor.”
Olowe: “Referrals are more valuable than certificates. Attitude and quality matter more.”
Olasehinde: Employers increasingly seek hands-on expertise in AI, cloud, analytics, and product management.

Career Growth Timelines

Emmanuel: Professionals can reach high-paying roles in 18–24 months if they focus on rare, valuable skills.
Olowe: Technical specialists often transition into lucrative leadership positions.
Olasehinde: Product managers and marketers can pivot into executive roles or even entrepreneurship.

Market Reality Check

The experts also caution against over-romanticizing Nigeria’s tech job market.

Olowe: “The industry has slowed compared to 3–4 years ago. There’s less remote work and reduced VC cash.”
Emmanuel: Nigerian salaries remain low in global terms because of the weak naira, which pushes top talent abroad in search of dollar-denominated pay.

Still, this talent exodus creates opportunities for those who stay, especially in fintech, SaaS, and healthtech, where scarcity drives salaries higher.

Tech salaries in Nigeria vary widely depending on experience, company size, and industry.

But the highest-paying roles consistently sit at the intersection of scarce technical expertise and direct business impact—in fields like security, product, infrastructure, and data.

As Olasehinde advises: “Build strong fundamentals, then specialise. Companies pay more for depth than for generalists.”

For professionals navigating Nigeria’s tech ecosystem in 2025, the winning strategy is clear: develop high-demand skills, prove expertise through real-world projects, and position yourself in roles that protect or grow revenue.

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