How much more will employers pay for skills in 2026?
Employers are prioritizing pay for specialized skills while job seekers negotiate with growing confidence, according to a new report from global consulting firm Robert Half.
The company’s 2026 Salary Guide, released this week, outlines salary benchmarks, projected starting pay and emerging workplace priorities across seven professional fields based on responses from nearly 2,000 workers and 2,200 hiring managers in the United States..
The findings highlight a shifting job market in which total compensation, including perks and benefits, plays a decisive role in career moves.
While overall salary growth has slowed, 84% of hiring managers said they plan to offer higher salaries to candidates with in-demand skills.
Areas expected to see stronger-than-average increases include:
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science (4.1%)
Public accounting, tax, and audit (3.7%)
Content strategy, digital project management, and marketing analytics (3.3%)
Customer support and healthcare administration (3%)
Legal contract management (2.7%)
Compensation and benefits (2.4%)
“Specialized skills are the currency of today’s job market,” said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half.
“To attract and retain in-demand talent, employers must provide competitive pay along with meaningful benefits and perks or risk losing top candidates if their offers don’t measure up.”
The research also shows that most professionals are entering salary discussions with confidence. Eighty-eight per cent of workers said they feel prepared to negotiate offers, though some pointed to difficulties in identifying what is negotiable (41%), justifying requests (36%), and gauging their market value (29%).
“A thoughtful approach to salary negotiations is critical,” Fay said. “It starts with knowing your value, doing the research and clarifying your priorities—so you can confidently ask for the compensation package you desire.”
Employers are also facing pressure to expand compensation beyond base pay. Half of hiring managers said adding new benefits and perks will be a key recruitment strategy in 2026. Workers identified financial incentives (53%), work-life balance perks (51%), retirement planning (42%), and health and wellness offerings (39%) as reasons they would consider switching employers if salaries remained equal.
Remote work remains important, but many workers are open to trade-offs. The guide found 66% of candidates would accept full-time in-office roles for higher pay, with most seeking at least a 10% increase.
Robert Half has published its annual salary guide since 1950. The 2026 edition draws on compensation data and surveys conducted in April with nearly 2,000 workers and 2,200 hiring managers across the United States.
