Eden Scott’s Tech Salary Guide 2025/26 reveals a transformative year for Scotland’s tech sector, marked by soaring demand for AI talent, evolving hiring strategies, and regional innovation hubs driving national growth.
With Edinburgh and Glasgow continuing to lead in fintech and public digital services, Aberdeen is emerging as a standout success story. The city now hosts over 300 digital tech businesses and nearly 5,000 tech jobs, with projections to double both figures over the next decade.
Aberdeen’s rise is powered by its industrial AI and enterprise software ecosystem, supported by Opportunity North East (ONE) and the ONE Tech Hub, which provides incubation, mentorship, and investment access for startups. Recent additions like Energy Insider and VetAI highlight the region’s focus on AI-driven solutions in energy and healthcare.
The Tech Salary Guide outlines key national trends:
- AI roles dominate hiring, with salaries up to 58% higher than non-AI equivalents.
- Skills-first hiring is replacing traditional degree requirements, with employers prioritising GitHub portfolios and real-world experience.
- Public-private alignment is accelerating AI adoption, driven by UK Government partnerships with OpenAI and the AI Safety Institute
- Top roles include AI Engineers, Prompt Engineers, Cloud Architects, and Cybersecurity Analysts.
Lucy Nicoll, associate director
Aberdeen’s momentum is further amplified by the upcoming Future of Digital Tech 2025 summit, which will convene founders, investors, and academics to explore responsible AI growth and regional tech scaling strategies.
Peter Dunn, associate director of Tech & Digital Recruitment at Eden Scott, commented: “Scotland’s tech sector is evolving rapidly. Aberdeen’s emergence as a high-growth cluster shows the power of regional innovation. Organisations must adopt insight-led, flexible hiring strategies to remain competitive.”
Lucy Nicoll, associate director, Eden Scott Aberdeen said: “Aberdeen’s tech scene is certainly growing. The energy transition is sparking real innovation, and AI is helping local companies build smarter, faster solutions, especially in energy and healthcare. We’re seeing a shift in the kinds of roles businesses need, and our guide gives employers the insight to stay ahead and hire with confidence.”