The tech habits of high-earning professionals might surprise you

Here’s a variation on the chicken-or-egg-style question: does the judicious embrace of technology contribute to greater career success and satisfaction, or are higher achievers more likely to be tech-savvy? 

The answer could be both, but evidence suggests higher achievers’ technology habits differ from other users. That’s the prognosis from two recent surveys that attempted to call out the technology habits of higher-achieving or higher-earning professionals. 

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ResumeLab surveyed 1,000 professionals and found higher achievers are more likely to use laptops than desktop computers and are more likely to use Apple iPhones than Android-based devices. 

The study’s authors defined high achievement as overall lifestyle satisfaction. While income was among the leading contributors to success, only 6% of professionals believed they were highly successful in this area. Instead, people were more confident when it came to family (27%), relationship status (18%), mental health (16%), and physical health (16%).

At least 83% of high achievers used laptops compared to desktop computers (nearly 57%). In addition, almost half used an iPhone, compared to less than one in three who used a Samsung Galaxy device. As another point toward Apple products, 17% of highly successful respondents reported owning an Apple Watch, and 15% owned AirPods. 

A separate, just-released survey of 1,006 consumers by Liquid Web looked at higher achievement via annual income ($100,000 and above) and reported similar findings — laptops and iPhones are more prevalent among higher-income professionals. 

At least 36% of high earners in the QuickWeb survey prioritize Apple devices — iPhones and Apple Watches — over budget-friendly options. In addition, laptops dominate over desktops: high earners are 32% more likely to rely on laptops, favoring flexibility in hybrid and remote work settings.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption also prevailed among high achievers. Among the higher earners in the LiquidWeb study, 40% already use AI chatbots to streamline their work — being 11% more likely to rely on AI than their average-income colleagues. 

Time is a key asset for higher earners — 66% rely on calendar and scheduling tools to manage their workloads, at least 32% more likely than average users.

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Higher earners are also less inclined to have barriers between their work and personal time. Forty-three percent of the high earners report they check work-related emails and messages outside work hours compared to 38% of average income earners.

Still, the higher achievers in the ResumeLab study were highly conscious of maintaining a healthy work and personal life balance. These professionals are 12 percentage points more likely to travel. While spending more time and money on vacation “may sound like a byproduct of already being successful, spending time traveling can help boost productivity in the office before and after a trip.” A majority (57%) of higher achievers acknowledged using health apps. 

For social media use among the higher earners in the QuickLab survey, Reddit is their platform of choice, with 39% using it frequently. Higher earners are also greater users of LinkedIn, with 83% using the career platform compared to 62% of average income users.