What are the highest-paying tech roles in the Philippines right now, and what do those same roles command as a contractor? This page ranks technology skills by median salary and pairs each with verified contractor day rate benchmarks, so you can see the full picture whether you are a permanent employee benchmarking an offer, a hiring manager setting budgets, or a contractor deciding what to charge. All figures cover 2026 and include P25 to P75 ranges, not just a single average.
Highest paid at a glance · 2026
Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect is the highest-paying tech role in the Philippines in 2026, with a median of ₱1365K.
#1 Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect
₱1365K
₱1260K to ₱1620K range
#2 AI Product Manager
₱1365K
₱1260K to ₱1620K range
#3 AI Research Scientist
₱1365K
₱1260K to ₱1620K range
| Skill | Median Salary | Average Salary | Salary Range | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect Security & Risk | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #2AI Product Manager Artificial Intelligence | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #3AI Research Scientist Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #4AI Strategy & Solutions Architect Smart City & Deep Tech | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #5Algorithmic Trading Systems Engineer Quant & FinTech | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #6Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Cybersecurity & GRC | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #7Data Center Facilities Manager / Architect Smart City & Deep Tech | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #8Engineering Manager Software Engineering | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #9Enterprise Architect Software Engineering | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #10Generative AI / LLM Engineer AI, Machine Learning & Deep Tech | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #11Principal Software Engineer Software Engineering | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #12Quantitative Developer (C++ / Python) Quant & FinTech | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #13SAP S/4HANA Lead Enterprise Systems | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #14Senior Cloud & Infrastructure Lead Cloud Infrastructure | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #15Web3 Security Engineer Web3 Blockchain & Payments | ₱1365K | ₱1403K | ₱1260K-₱1620K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #16Data Architect Data & Analytics | ₱1157K | ₱1193K | ₱840K-₱1620K | High ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #17API & Integration Architect Architecture & Integration | ₱1146K | ₱1178K | ₱1056K-₱1362K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #18Application Security (AppSec) Engineer Cloud & Cybersecurity | ₱1146K | ₱1178K | ₱1056K-₱1362K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #19Core Banking Systems Specialist (Temenos / Mambu) Quant & FinTech | ₱1146K | ₱1178K | ₱1056K-₱1362K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
| #20Data Governance & Privacy Lead Data AI & Analytics | ₱1146K | ₱1178K | ₱1056K-₱1362K | Moderate ConfidenceHigh Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only. |
Put the data to work
Open the full salary benchmark for the leading role, compare the contractor rate where it is available, or run your own figure through the calculator.
Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect salary
See the full range, seniority bands, and city context.
View salary benchmark Contract marketCybersecurity Specialist / Architect contractor rate
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Turn a gross salary or rate into a take-home figure.
Open calculatorMedian salary benchmarks across technology role categories in the Philippines. The same disciplines that top the salary table tend to command the strongest contractor day rates, use this as a reference for both permanent and contract compensation planning.
Artificial Intelligence
1 tracked roles
₱1365K median
Smart City & Deep Tech
2 tracked roles
₱1365K median
Cybersecurity & GRC
1 tracked roles
₱1365K median
AI, Machine Learning & Deep Tech
1 tracked roles
₱1365K median
Quant & FinTech
3 tracked roles
₱1292K median
Web3 Blockchain & Payments
3 tracked roles
₱1219K median
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
3 tracked roles
₱1162K median
Security & Risk
5 tracked roles
₱1149K median
Architecture & Integration
1 tracked roles
₱1146K median
How we rank this data
Roles are ranked by median base salary from verified the Philippines compensation benchmarks for the current year. Each role carries a confidence label reflecting how well established its benchmark is, and we show the P25 to P75 range so you can see the spread, not just the midpoint. Roles with thin or unreliable data are held back rather than ranked.
The headline median is a starting point, not a target. In the Philippines, the gap between the median and the P75 on the highest-paying roles is wide, because the same job title spans very different levels of scope, seniority, and sector. If you bring deep experience or a scarce specialism, the P75 is your realistic anchor, and total compensation including bonus, equity, and pension can move the real number higher again. Contractors should not read the salary median as a ceiling: convert it to an annualised day rate equivalent, then add the premium that compensates for carrying your own tax, pension, and downtime. Used together, the salary ranking and the contractor day rates lower on this page give you both sides of the the Philippines market before you negotiate.
The top of the Philippines's technology pay scale, both permanent salary and contractor day rate, is shaped by the same conditions: roles that combine scarce execution capacity with direct revenue or infrastructure impact. AI and data platform engineering, cloud architecture, and security leadership are pushing into the highest pay bands as employers compete for talent against global benchmarks. For contractors in these disciplines, the premium is often more pronounced, because contractors absorb their own tax, pension, and benefit costs. Roles at the top of the salary table with wide ranges signal active, contested markets where contractor rates are also under upward pressure. If you are benchmarking either a permanent offer or a contract rate in one of these roles, the P75 is a more reliable reference point than the median.
Verified median day rates for top-paying tech contractor roles. Click any role for the full benchmark including P25, P75, and take-home calculations.
Security & Risk
Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Artificial Intelligence
AI Product Manager
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
AI Research Scientist
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Smart City & Deep Tech
AI Strategy & Solutions Architect
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Quant & FinTech
Algorithmic Trading Systems Engineer
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Cybersecurity & GRC
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Smart City & Deep Tech
Data Center Facilities Manager / Architect
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Software Engineering
Engineering Manager
₱137/mo
₱133–₱144/mo typical range
Based on verified 2026 salary benchmarks, Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect is the highest-paying tech role in the Philippines, with a median of ₱1365K. Senior and specialist variants at the P75 mark earn meaningfully more, which is why this page shows the full P25 to P75 range rather than a single figure.
The roles at the top of this ranking sit well above the the Philippines tech average, led by Cybersecurity Specialist / Architect at a ₱1365K median. Pay climbs further with seniority, specialism, and sector, so treat the range shown for each role as your benchmark, not the headline median alone.
The main ranking shows permanent base salary medians. Because many top earners also contract, this report pairs the salary data with the highest verified contractor day rates for the same the Philippines market lower down the page, so you can compare both tracks side by side.
Anchor to the P75 rather than the median if your experience is strong, and bring the specific role benchmark to the conversation. Contractors should convert the permanent median into an annualised day rate equivalent, then add the premium that compensates for carrying their own tax, pension, and downtime.
These rankings reflect 2026 benchmarks and are refreshed on a rolling basis as new verified data lands. The confidence label on each role indicates how well established that particular benchmark is.
What do Philippines's top-paying roles actually take home?
Every salary and day rate above is gross. Use the Philippines salary calculator to convert a gross figure into net pay before you negotiate.