If you’re thinking about embarking on a career in information technology, your mind is in the right place. As of June 2019, there are a staggering 700,000 unfilled tech jobs in the U.S.
The demand is huge, and the supply can’t keep up. There are jobs available for data scientists in California, web developers in the Midwest, and IT engineer jobs in NYC. That makes it an excellent time to get started in a tech career. If you’re not sure which direction you should take your skills, here are 7 of the most in-demand IT jobs for the upcoming year.
1. Information Security Analyst
Median annual salary: $98,350 per year
Growth outlook: 32%
Data breaches terrify customers, create a huge loss of trust, and can even result in massive fines. High-quality Information Security Analysts are in high demand. These IT professionals build systems to keep business and customer information safe from hackers and cybercriminals.
A bachelor’s degree in information security, network security, or a similar field is a must for this role. There are also credentials that you can earn, like Certified Information Security Manager or CompTIA’s Security+ certifications that will boost your desirability in this field.
2. Development Operations Engineer
Median annual salary: $91,293
Growth outlook: 24%
DevOps Engineers help to bridge the gap between IT staff and developers. The goal is to help organizations quickly respond to feedback and release new software features quickly. They must have broad technical knowledge so they can oversee database management, software development, cloud storage, and more.
DevOps Engineers need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field. A master’s degree could also be helpful.
3. App Software Developer
Median annual salary: $105,590
Growth outlook: 21%
App Software Developers build applications for platforms like mobile devices, web, or desktop. Since it seems like every single company is releasing its own app these days, they’re in high demand. Jobs can be diverse and include adapting existing apps to mobile, creating games, or developing complex databases. Knowledge of different aspects of databases may be useful such as Kubernetes PostgreS among others.
To break into app development, you’ll want to start with a bachelor’s degree in mobile app development, software engineering, or something similar.
4. Applications Architect
Median annual salary: $106,399
Growth outlook: 19%
Applications Architects are usually employed by large companies. Their job is to make sure that new software projects fit into the company’s established development parameters and technology infrastructure. In short, they make sure new software can talk to old software.
Applications Architects need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems. Some roles may require a master’s degree as well.
5. Data Scientist
Median annual salary: $118,370 per year
Growth outlook: 16%
Data Scientists collect, store, and analyze data for organizations and government agencies. They analyze the information they collect for actionable insights to improve systems and understand product usage. They’ll communicate their findings to the rest of the team and often provide direction.
Data scientists require extensive education. A bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a similar field is a must. A master’s degree may be required for certain roles and education in business administration or analytics could be useful.
6. Web Developer
Median annual salary: $69,430 per year
Growth outlook: 13%
Web Developers build websites, including layout and navigation. They try to create the best user experience, as well as optimizing the site for SEO on the back end. Web developers can work for development firms or private companies, or as independent freelancers.
Web developers usually have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer programming, or a similar field. They may have a master’s degree as well.
7. Information Technology Manager
Median annual salary: $142,530 per year
Growth outlook: 11%
IT Managers oversee the IT teams within an organization. They help to assess the need for new technology, as well as troubleshooting existing systems. Because they’re in a managerial role, they must combine computer science knowledge with business management skills.
IT Managers usually have a bachelor’s degree in information technology management, computer science, or a related field. They may need a master’s degree as well. A business administration or similar degree can also be helpful.
These are just some of the great IT jobs out there right now. There are dozens more, and while they may not be growing as quickly as these, there are plenty of open spaces to fill!