The Best Jobs in Informational Technology
How do you see yourself in 2022? Are you still working in the same industry as today, or has technology changed your career path entirely? What about your job? Will you be looking for work during this period, or will you be in a stable career with many years of experience under your belt? Maybe you’re looking forward to retirement and spending more time with your family. There are many factors that can affect what kind of job you’ll have and how it will change in the future, so we’re here to give you an overview of what jobs might be the best fit for the next 10 years.
IT Management
Tech has a bright future. According to U.S. News & World Report, Informational technology jobs are growing more than twice as fast as non-IT jobs and pay higher average salaries (U.S. News & World Report). In our opinion, IT management is one of the top areas to go into if you want to work in tech because it puts you in charge of implementing and using technology—the most exciting part of any job!
Cyber Security Experts
The cyber security field is growing as companies and government organizations are focusing more on data breaches. As with any job, you’ll want to make sure you have a background that aligns with what that specific company or organization is looking for. Data analysis, cryptography, and software engineering can all be helpful skillsets to develop if you want to excel in a career related to cyber security.
Programmers/Developers
According to PayScale, Mobile applications and software are becoming more widespread than ever before, meaning that those with programming skills will have plenty of work. There is also a trend toward developing apps for smart devices such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Microsoft Cortana—all of which are projected to be best-sellers over the next five years. Projected growth: 22 percent
Cloud Computing Specialists
The rise of cloud computing will create a number of new opportunities for professionals specializing in virtualization, server administration, and other IT areas. Cloud computing—in which software is stored on servers rather than individual computers and run from remote data centers instead of local systems—has become increasingly popular among companies as a way to reduce operating costs. As cloud-computing specialists, these workers help manage networks of machines within large data centers that are then sold as services to companies around the world.
Project Managers
The role of project manager is growing fast. With so many tech jobs on offer, it’s important to choose a position that will allow you to flourish. These roles can involve overseeing a team and working with software, hardware or data processing—in fact, more than half of top-ranking project managers are also software developers. If you’re looking for a long-term career with great benefits and job security, consider entering IT project management.
Data Analysts
The demand for data analysts is exploding. According to Forbes, it’s one of those professions that just about any business today needs at least a couple of people working in. Data analysts work with some of the most cutting-edge tools and equipment on earth—if you enjoy figuring out how stuff works, and you have a knack for math and statistics, then becoming a data analyst might be your dream job.
Computer Network Administrators
As computer hardware and software continue to become more complex, companies will hire computer network administrators to monitor networks, configure systems, and install upgrades. Network administrators work closely with other IT professionals, as well as salespeople and executives. An associate’s degree is usually required for these positions; many employers prefer candidates who have completed at least some courses toward a bachelor’s degree. Starting salaries for network admins were around $48,000 per year in 2010.
Help Desk Specialists
These IT professionals help computer users with basic issues, resolve hardware and software problems, manage networks and set up new computers. Help desk specialists need good customer service skills. Because technology evolves quickly, help desk specialists should have advanced knowledge of products and be able to train users on emerging technologies. According to PayScale, help desk specialists make $52,000 annually.