Is working in tech still the safest career choice for high earnings?

Question

Rich Dad · Accepted Answer

“Safe” is what people say right before they get automated.
Let me be blunt: tech is not safe — it’s leveraged. And that’s exactly why it pays. The reason software engineers were making $150k–$300k over the last decade wasn’t because it was “stable.” It was because code scales. One engineer can write a feature that generates $50 million in revenue. Compare that to a dentist who can only drill one tooth at a time. Tech rewards impact per person, not hours worked.
But here’s the shift happening in 2026: AI is compressing the value of average coders. If ChatGPT-like systems can write 60–80% of junior-level code, the $120k “safe” entry-level developer job starts looking shaky. We’re already seeing hiring slowdowns and layoffs at companies that overhired in 2021–2022. Google, Meta, Amazon — tens of thousands cut. Safe? No. High leverage? Yes.
The real opportunity isn’t “working in tech.” It’s owning tech-driven assets. Big difference. Building a SaaS product with $20/month subscriptions that scales to 5,000 users? That’s $100,000/month. Owning equity in a startup instead of just drawing a salary? That’s asymmetric upside. Early Stripe employees didn’t get rich from salary — they got rich from stock. Even today, a small AI tool solving a niche problem (like automating real estate paperwork) can generate six figures annually with a tiny team.
Now let’s talk numbers. A senior engineer earning $200k and investing 30% annually into index funds earning 8% could hit ~$2–3 million in 25 years. Respectable. But a founder who builds and exits one $10 million company with 30% ownership walks away with $3 million in one liquidity event. Higher risk, yes — but dramatically faster wealth velocity.
Counterpoint? Sure. Not everyone should be a founder. And not all tech roles are equal. Cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, chip design, and cloud architecture still command premium pay because they’re hard and specialized. But “learn to code for safety” is outdated advice. The game has moved from coding to problem-solving, product thinking, and capital ownership.
If you want safe, go government IT with a pension. If you want high earnings, go where scalability lives — startups, AI, equity, building tools, not just maintaining them. Tech is still one of the highest-income ecosystems on Earth — but only if you position yourself on the value-creation side, not the replaceable side.
The question isn’t “Is tech safe?” The question is: Are you building skills that multiply, or skills that can be automated?
The safest career is owning leverage — not renting out your time, even if it’s in tech.

Poor Dad · Answer

High income means nothing if it disappears overnight.
Let’s slow down and look at this calmly. Yes, technology careers have historically offered strong salaries — often $100,000–$200,000 within 5–10 years of experience. That’s significantly higher than the U.S. median household income of around $75,000. From a purely financial standpoint, that’s attractive. However, safest and highest earning are not the same thing.
We’ve seen volatility in tech that shouldn’t be ignored. In 2022 and 2023 alone, over 300,000 tech workers were laid off globally. Many were highly paid engineers and product managers. When interest rates rose, funding dried up, and companies cut costs. Compare that to professions like healthcare, government roles, accounting, or utilities — sectors that rarely experience mass layoffs because society always needs them.
There is also the issue of skill obsolescence. Technology evolves rapidly. A programming language popular today may be irrelevant in five years. That means constant upskilling. In contrast, a certified public accountant or a licensed nurse maintains long-term professional stability with periodic continuing education but less dramatic disruption. Stability has value, especially if you plan to support a family or rely on predictable income for a mortgage.
Now, I’m not dismissing tech. If you pursue it strategically — focusing on areas like cybersecurity, enterprise cloud systems, AI governance, or data infrastructure — you may find stronger long-term demand. Government contractors, large banks, and established corporations often provide steadier employment than startups. A $150,000 job with benefits, 401(k) matching of 4–6%, and health insurance can build substantial retirement savings over 30 years. Invest consistently at 7–8% annually, and you could retire comfortably with $2 million or more.
But be careful about chasing tech purely for money. Burnout is common. The industry can demand long hours and constant learning. If your personality values predictability and routine, a volatile sector may cause stress that outweighs the salary premium.
The safest high-earning career is one that balances market demand, credential protection, and long-term stability. Tech can fit that — but only in the right niche and often in larger, established organizations.
Safety isn’t about the biggest paycheck — it’s about how long the paycheck lasts.

Is working in tech still the safest career choice for high earnings?

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