Motion Recruitment Releases 2026 Tech Salary Guide Highlighting Compensation Trends as AI and Specialization Reshape the Talent Market
Rhea-AI Summary
Motion Recruitment (Nasdaq:KELYA) published its 2026 Tech Salary Guide on Dec 22, 2025, analyzing thousands of placements and real-time market data for 100+ IT roles.
Key findings: average U.S. tech pay rose 0.8% YoY, while specialized roles saw larger moves: mid-level AI engineers +9.2%, senior platform engineers +8.9%, mid-level Salesforce +8.5%, ML engineers +7%, senior data warehouse +5.8%. LLM developers averaged $209,000; senior data workers averaged $178,000. Senior software devs (-10%) and mid-level SQL devs (-7%) posted the largest declines.
Job postings: AI specialization +49%, data security +30%, platform engineering +29%, data warehouse +10%. Remote pay rose 2.8%; NYC salaries led at +10%. The guide highlights specialization, AI fluency, and referral pipelines as hiring drivers.
Positive
- Average U.S. tech pay +0.8% year-over-year
- Mid-level AI engineer salaries +9.2% YoY
- Senior platform engineer pay +8.9% YoY
- LLM developers average base pay $209,000
- AI specialization job postings +49% in 2025
Negative
- Senior software developer base pay -10% YoY
- Mid-level SQL developer base pay -7% YoY
- Entry-level and generalist hiring slowed due to AI adoption
- Application fraud increased hiring difficulty, raising screening costs
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
KELYA was down 2.87% with several staffing peers also weaker: KELYB -6.19%, KFRC -1.86%, BBSI -0.87%, MAN -1.26%, while HSII was flat. Weakness appears broader than this AI salary-guide headline alone.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17 | Industry recognition | Positive | +1.7% | Top ranking in HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen workforce solutions list. |
| Nov 17 | Education initiative | Positive | +2.4% | Launch of LEARN competency standards for substitute teachers and paraeducators. |
| Nov 12 | AI workforce report | Neutral | -1.8% | Global Re:work Report highlighting executive and worker views on AI. |
| Nov 06 | Q3 2025 earnings | Negative | -17.9% | Revenue decline, <b>$102.0M</b> goodwill impairment, and <b>$150.1M</b> net loss. |
| Nov 04 | Investor conferences | Neutral | +0.4% | Planned participation in multiple investor conferences and meetings. |
News-driven moves have generally aligned with tone: awards and education initiatives saw modest gains, while weak Q3 earnings triggered a sharp selloff.
Over the last few months, Kelly (KELYA) mixed strategic branding with challenging fundamentals. Recognition for KellyOCG + Sevenstep on Dec 17, 2025 and the LEARN education standards launch on Nov 17, 2025 coincided with modest gains. An AI-focused Re:work report on Nov 12, 2025 drew a small decline. However, Q3 2025 earnings on Nov 6, 2025 featured a $102.0M goodwill impairment and a $150.1M net loss, prompting a -17.92% reaction. Today’s AI salary-guide release continues the theme of thought leadership in AI and labor markets.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement spotlights how AI and specialization shape compensation, with mid-level AI engineers up 9.2% and LLM developers averaging $209,000. It complements earlier AI-related research from Nov 12, 2025, positioning Kelly as a commentator on tech workforce trends. In parallel, investors may track how these insights translate into segment performance following the Q3 2025 net loss of $150.1M and $102.0M goodwill impairment, plus ongoing leadership transitions highlighted in recent 8-K filings.
Key Terms
LLM developers technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Mid-level AI engineers see largest salary increases
- Software and SQL developers experience largest drop in compensation
- Average IT salary stays flat year-over-year
- Tech leaders struggle with surge in candidate fraud
- Hiring slows for entry-level IT roles
TROY, Mich., Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology staffing and solutions leader Motion Recruitment, a Kelly® (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) company, has published its 2026 Tech Salary Guide offering workforce trends and in-depth compensation data for the 100+ most in-demand IT roles. While AI adoption has slowed hiring for entry-level and generalist positions, specialized roles have seen sharp salary increases, the guide has found.
The ninth annual report analyzes thousands of job placements and real-time market data. It features actionable insights from industry leaders to help employers and job seekers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape where specialization, applied expertise, and AI fluency determine career mobility and hiring success.
Tech Pay Stays Flat Overall, But Specialized Roles See Significant Salary Growth
Average tech salaries in the United States grew by a modest
- Mid-level AI engineers experienced the highest salary gains at
9.2% year-over-year. - Senior platform engineers saw compensation spike by
8.9% . - Mid-level salesforce developers’ base pay jumped
8.5% . - Machine learning engineers’ salary jumped
7% . - Senior data warehouse developers’ compensation rose
5.8% .
Specialized roles like LLM developers reached averages of
“Applied expertise and AI fluency are key factors to career and hiring success,” James Vallone, president of Motion Recruitment, said. “Specialized skills in data engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and applied AI are driving the strongest compensation growth.”
AI Adoption Slows Hiring for Entry-Level and Generalist Roles
Demand for entry-level and generalized IT roles has slowed due to widespread AI adoption and ongoing economic uncertainty. Skills shortages persist, requiring organizations to recruit or train more advanced, specialized talent. According to 2025 job posting data, among the most in-demand tech skill sets are:
- AI specialization roles increased by
49% , reflecting rapid growth in AI-focused hiring. - Data security roles increased
30% , driven by rising protection and governance needs. - Platform engineering roles increased
29% , supporting scalable and resilient infrastructure. - Data warehouse roles increased
10% , tied to continued investment in digital infrastructure.
"The tech market is becoming increasingly specialized, and the pace of innovation is widening the skills gap faster than most teams can close internally,” James Vallone, president of Motion Recruitment, said. “The organizations that thrive in 2026 will be those who secure the right resources to fill critical skill gaps and scale capabilities quickly.”
As hiring needs shift, tech professionals must demonstrate implementation, not familiarity. Resumes that clearly show hands-on experience in AI, data, and cloud infrastructure through deployed projects or systems are more likely to stand out. Employers are prioritizing adaptability and continuous growth, favoring candidates who actively upskill through industry-recognized courses and remain engaged in relevant networks. Providing proof such as certifications, digital badges, or portfolios signals readiness for applied future-focused roles.
Job Seekers and Employers Clash Over Flexible Work Arrangements
Salary remains the top motivator for job changers, but tech workers continue to prioritize flexibility as more employers around the country move them back to the office.
While remote tech workers saw a higher pay jump than the national average at
“In tech, the return-to-office conversation is not just about location, but about expectations and retention,” Vallone said. “As a result, companies that tighten workplace policies without balancing compensation, role clarity, or flexibility, risk losing experienced IT talent to employers willing to meet those expectations.”
Trusted Pipelines Gain Importance as Scammers and Bots Flood Applications
Hiring tech workers is becoming more difficult, as scammers and bots are more prevalent, making it nearly impossible for hiring managers to validate applications in a timely manner. The overall number of applications for tech positions and associated fraud risks have risen exponentially, and employers increasingly rely on referral-driven pipelines and returning employees to ensure quality and reduce risk.
“Verified networks matter more than ever,” Vallone said. “The most in-demand technologists, those with deep, applied expertise, are also the hardest to reach, which is pushing organizations to be more deliberate and relationship-driven.”
Marketplace changes and AI adoption will continue to reshape role design and the skills required across teams in 2026, the Motion Recruitment analysis has found. The Tech Salary Guide empowers both candidates and employers with the latest market data, offering a comprehensive look at salary trends across cities and technology stacks. Validated with leading industry reports, it delivers actionable insights for mid to senior-level technologists navigating today’s competitive IT career landscape. To explore the full report, access the 2026 Tech Salary Guide here.
About Motion’s 2026 Tech Salary Guide
Motion Recruitment’s 2026 Tech Salary Guide provides compensation ranges by role, location, and skill specialization, alongside market insights to support workforce planning, budget alignment, and career development. The guide is built from Motion’s proprietary data, verified job placements and employer demand trends, supplemented by survey findings and real-time labor market intelligence across the United States.
About Motion Recruitment
Motion Recruitment, a Kelly company, provides IT staffing and consulting solutions across North America to meet demand for technology expertise in contract, direct hire, and project-based delivery. Motion specializes in connecting exceptional talent across Software, Mobile, Data & AI, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Product & UX, and Functional technology disciplines. Through Motion Consulting Group, Motion’s dedicated solutions arm, we help clients accelerate digital projects across Motion's tech specializations, as well as Workplace Modernization, Data, AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity & Governance.
Motion is also the proud creator of Tech in Motion, a North American technology networking and awards program connecting more than 350,000 tech enthusiasts to meet, learn, and innovate. With more than two decades of success, Motion’s teams are experts at aligning people, processes, and technology, turning complex business challenges into opportunities for growth. Together with Kelly, we’re shaping the future of work and technology, one solution at a time.
About Kelly
Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) helps companies recruit and manage skilled workers and helps job seekers find great work. Since inventing the staffing industry in 1946, we have become experts in the many industries and local and global markets we serve. With a network of suppliers and partners around the world, we connect more than 500,000 people with work every year. Our suite of outsourcing and consulting services ensures companies have the people they need, when and where they are needed most. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, we empower businesses and individuals to access limitless opportunities in industries such as science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy. Learn more at kellyservices.com.
Media Contact
Christian Taske
248-561-8823
christian.taske@kellyservices.com
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
FAQ
What are the headline salary changes in Motion Recruitment's 2026 Tech Salary Guide (KELYA)?
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Which tech job postings grew most in 2025 per Motion Recruitment (KELYA)?
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