The Adecco Salary Guide Portugal 2026 shows that leadership positions in technology, data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are becoming more valuable in Portugal. Some positions like IT VP or Head of SAP can earn up to €150,000 a year, indicating a growing need for innovation, security, and scalability.
The study asserts that the IT sector continues to be an important force in digital transformation, and companies are looking for professionals with strong technical skills, a good understanding of strategy, and the ability to work in complicated situations.
Three key areas of value are especially important in 2026:
- Leadership positions in technology, such as CIO and CTO, can earn up to €130,000 and €120,000 a year.
- Positions related to data and AI, such as Head of AI or VP of Data, can have salaries ranging from €70,000 to €150,000.
Cybersecurity is becoming more important as digital threats increase and new regulations are being implemented. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are now earning up to €120,000 due to the growing need for strong security measures.
Infrastructure and cloud roles continue to be very important, and Solutions and Enterprise Architects can earn between €65,000 and €110,000. Software development remains in high demand, with Tech Leads and Software Architects earning up to €90,000, and more experienced developers earning around €75,000.
ERP, especially SAP, continues to be one of the highest paid areas due to the lack of qualified workers and the complexity in implementing and managing these systems.
Although salaries are rising, it is becoming more difficult to find and retain qualified IT workers. Career growth, work flexibility, and participation in meaningful projects are now as important as salary, demonstrating that IT is becoming a key part of a company's plan to remain solid and innovative.
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