There are these incredibly boring tech jobs that pay 150, 200, even 250k plus that nobody talks about. The best part? They’re always hiring because most people overlook them. I’m about to show you nine of these roles that are absolutely crushing in 2026. Some of these roles you’ve probably never even heard of. Let’s get into it.
Okay, starting at number nine, we have a mainframe engineer, 140 to 200k.
Okay, starting at number nine, we have a mainframe engineer, 140 to 200k. Yes, mainframes. These giant computers from the 1960s that you thought were totally extinct. They’re actually running 71 of mainframe engineer Fortune 500 transactions right now. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, they’re all stuck on mainframe systems and desperate for people who can maintain them.
The average mainframe engineer is 55 years old and retiring.
The average mainframe engineer is 55 years old and retiring. Companies are panicking, and I’ve seen offers for 180k for people with just two years experience. The entry barrier is to learn COBOL, and there are free courses available. Get an IBM certification for 200 and apply to banks and insurance companies right away. You can be job ready in 3 to four months and start collecting that bag.
Number eight, compliance automation engineers.
Number eight, compliance automation engineers. Let’s pay about 145 to 210k. This is where tech meets legal requirements. You’re building systems that ensure companies follow regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and about 47 other compliance automation engineer acronyms that nobody really cares about.
Why is it boring?
Why is it boring? You’re reading legal documents, building audit trails, and creating reports that prove your company isn’t breaking laws. There is absolutely zero creativity and maximum bureaucracy. Why does it pay? Every single company with over 500 employees needs this.
The fines for non-compliance are absolutely massive.
The fines for non-compliance are absolutely massive. We’re talking millions of dollars. So they’ll pay you 170k to make sure they don’t pay one of those. Plus, the role is recession proof. When companies cut costs, they can’t cut compliance. It’s literally illegal.
The entry barrier is a background in software engineering.
The entry barrier is a background in software engineering. Learn compliance frameworks. Get a CISSP or a CIS certification in 6 to 8 months. You’re job ready.
Number seven, database administrators, or DBAs.
Number seven, database administrators, or DBAs. That’s like 135k to 295k. Databases, the most boring critical part of every technical stack. While developers are building cool features, you’re making sure the database doesn’t crash and lose everyone’s data.
Why is it boring?
Why is it boring? Well, database administrator, you’re optimizing queries, backing up data, monitoring performance metrics.
So why does it pay?
So why does it pay? Database downtime costs companies an average of 9000 per minute. One minute. So they’ll pay you 160k to make sure their databases run 24/7/365.
The job market is insane right now.
The job market is insane right now. 23,000 plus open DBA positions in the US. Companies literally cannot find enough qualified people. So the entry barrier? You’ve got to learn SQL. Take two to three months and pick a database system, MySQL, Oracle, doesn’t matter. Get certified, and you could be hire worthy within 4 to 6 months.
Number six on the list, enterprise integration engineer.
Number six on the list, enterprise integration engineer. Your job is to make different software systems talk to each other. Company A uses Salesforce. Company B uses SAP. And they need to merge. You’re the person who makes that nightmare happen.
Why is it so boring?
Why is it so boring? Well, you’re dealing with APIs, middleware, data mapping, and endless enterprise integration engineer meetings with people who don’t understand technology. It’s like being a translator between systems that absolutely hate each other.
Why does it pay?
Why does it pay? Well, every company acquisition, every software migration, every system upgrade needs integration engineers. And those projects have budgets in the millions. They’ll pay you 180k because if the integration fails, the entire merger could collapse.
I know someone making 205k doing this for a healthcare company.
I know someone making 205k doing this for a healthcare company. He describes his job as digital plumbing, but he just bought a house in cash. So the entry barrier is to learn integration platforms like MuleSoft or Dell Boomi. Understand APIs and data formats. In 5 to seven months, you could be job ready.
Number five, we have IAM access management engineers.
Number five, we have IAM access management engineers. These pay really well, 155 to 225k. You manage who has access to what systems. You’re the person who decides whether Karen from accounting can access the finance database.
Well, you’re creating permission policies, managing user directories, IAM engineer dealing with password resets. It’s basically an IT help desk on steroids, but with way more documentation.
Why it pays is because security breaches from improper access cost companies on average 4.5 million.
Why it pays is because security breaches from improper access cost companies on average 4.5 million. One breach. So they’ll pay you 180k to make sure only the right people have access to sensitive data.
Plus, the remote market in this space is absolutely exploding.
Plus, the remote market in this space is absolutely exploding. IAM is more critical than ever. Every company needs this role, and there’s a massive talent shortage. Check out my article on SailPoint to see exactly just how bad it is.
Now the entry barrier here is to learn IAM platforms like Okta, Azure AD, Ping Identity.
Now the entry barrier here is to learn IAM platforms like Okta, Azure AD, Ping Identity. Basically understand authentication protocols like SAML or OAuth. Get CISSP or similar security certification, and in four to six months, job ready.
Number four, an SAP consultant.
Number four, an SAP consultant. These are like 160k up to 240k. We’ve even seen up to 300k. So SAP is the ERP software that runs supply chains, finances, and HR for massive corporations. It’s ugly, it’s complicated, and absolutely essential at the same time.
You’re dealing with endless configuration screens, business processes, and users who hate change.
You’re dealing with endless configuration screens, business processes, and users who hate change. Why does it pay? Well, SAP implementation costs companies 10 to 50 million. They need consultants who can make sure that investment doesn’t turn into a disaster.
I’ve seen SAP consultants bill 200 an hour as contractors.
I’ve seen SAP consultants bill 200 an hour as contractors. That’s basically 416k annually if you were working full time. The demand is insane because SAP is used by 77 of the world’s transaction revenue. Every major company is running SAP.
So the barrier to entry?
So the barrier to entry? Basically take SAP training courses, and SAP offers free training. Get SAP certified in a module, finance, supply chain, HR, and a 6 to 9 month investment, you can basically start as a junior consultant at 120k.
Okay, number three, that is a network security engineer.
Okay, number three, that is a network security engineer. Pay basically 165k to 235k. You’re building and maintaining firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection systems. Basically, you’re the person keeping hackers out of corporate networks.
Why does it pay well?
Why does it pay well? Cyber security threats are increasing 300 years over year. The average data breach costs 4.45 million. Companies will pay 190k to prevent that nightmare scenario.
Plus, this role is mandated by cyber insurance policies now.
Plus, this role is mandated by cyber insurance policies now. Companies literally cannot get insurance without proper network security staff. You’re not optional. You are required.
Well, the barrier to entry?
Well, the barrier to entry? Basically get your networking fundamentals, your CompTIA A plus, get security certifications, Security plus, CCNA. In 5 to 7 months, you will be entry level, and you will probably start well over 100k, probably 120 to 130k.
Number two is a Salesforce admin or developer.
Number two is a Salesforce admin or developer. And I’m going to eventually do a full deep dive on Salesforce careers soon. But Salesforce is the world’s number one CRM platform. Your job is to customize it for companies, build workflows, create reports, and train sales teams exactly how to use it.
Well, you’re basically clicking through configuration screens, building reports that sales managers will ignore, and dealing endlessly with change requests. Can you add a field here? Can you change this drop down? All day, every day.
I know Salesforce developers making 220k easy.
I know Salesforce developers making 220k easy, working fully remote, basically picking their hours. Some of them work multiple jobs at once. Some are running their own consulting practices, billing 150 to 200 an hour.
Well, the entry barrier is that Salesforce once again offers free training through Trailhead.
Well, the entry barrier is that Salesforce once again offers free training through Trailhead. Get your admin for 200, then developer for 400. You can be job ready in 3 to four months. Entry-level roles start at 85k. Within two to three years, boom, 150k.
And the number one boring job that really pays, we have a data warehouse engineer.
And the number one boring job that really pays, we have a data warehouse engineer. It pays about 170 to 260k. You basically build and maintain massive databases where companies store all their historical data for analytics.Think of it as building the library where all company data lives.Think of it as building the library where all company data lives. Why is it so boring?
Why does it pay well?
Why does it pay well? Every single data-driven decision a company makes depends on the data warehouse. If it’s slow, broken, or inaccurate, the entire company grinds to a halt. Companies will pay you 200k to make sure their data infrastructure is totally bulletproof.
Plus, this role is future proof.
Plus, this role is future proof. As long as companies collect data, which they always will, they’ll need data warehouse engineers. As far as the entry barrier, basically learn SQL, pick your cloud data warehouse platform, and understand data modeling. Get certified in Snowflake or something similar. In 6 to 8 months, you’ll be job ready, and starting salaries are around 120k.
So hopefully you started to notice a pattern here.
So hopefully you started to notice a pattern here. Every single one of these jobs solves a critical business problem, has massive demand and low supply, and requires specialized but easily learnable skills. And also isn’t sexy enough in a world where everyone is chasing AI dollars.
The last point is key.
The last point is key. Everyone’s fighting for 100 AI engineer positions. There are literally thousands of these boring jobs sitting unfilled. My advice? Pick the one that sounds the least awful to you. Invest six to nine months learning it, and get hired.
Once you’re making 150k plus, you can always pivot to something more exciting later.
Once you’re making 150k plus, you can always pivot to something more exciting later. But here’s what I’ve learned after years in tech. The boring jobs often have the best work life balance, the most job security, and ironically, the most freedom.
Or if you’re already working one of these jobs, tell everyone what the reality of the job actually is.
Or if you’re already working one of these jobs, tell everyone what the reality of the job actually is. Is it as boring as we’re talking about? If you want me to create a detailed roadmap for any of these, the exact courses, certifications, and projects to get hired, comment which one interests you the most, and I’ll make that article next.
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