The tech industry has one of the fastest growing job markets around, and there is plenty of demand for talented developers and engineers. Best of all, this demand means the jobs come with great pay and benefits. Of course, these jobs can vary wildly in their descriptions and responsibilities. With such a diverse array of jobs out there, it isn’t too hard for someone interested in the tech industry to find one that would suit them. If you’re just starting your research in the tech field, you might be wondering which tech jobs are best. Being familiar with what’s out there can help you define your learning path and decide what skills you want to learn.
In this Career Karma blog, we’ll be looking at some of the best tech jobs available in 2019, what you can expect from these jobs, and the average salaries they offer.
*All salary figures in this article were pulled from Glassdoor.
Data Scientist
Data science is a field that is steadily growing every year. With big data becoming more prevalent in nearly every industry, talented individuals are needed more than ever. This is a great field to get into now, as demand for this skill is only going to grow from here on out.
Being a data scientist requires you to use programming to develop algorithms that can process large data sets and observe trends from said data. Part of their job is making these large data sets more readable for users, creating actionable data that businesses can use to potentially increase their bottom line. Some of the skills you’ll need to become a data scientist include:
- Knowledge of programming languages, such as SAS, Java, and Python.
- Knowledge of querying languages like Hadoop.
- A good grasp of statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and recognizing data patterns.
- Ability to collaborate with other departments.
While data science can be quite the demanding field, it’s not without its rewards, pay being one of the top ones. Typically, a data scientist can expect an average salary of around $117,345. Senior data scientists typically make an average of $137,000.
Software Engineer
Software engineering is one of the most versatile jobs on this list. Think about it– you probably use the work of software engineers nearly every day. The apps on your phones were developed by software engineers; your chosen Internet browser was designed by software engineers; nearly every industry in the world uses some kind of software, meaning the demand for software engineers isn’t waning anytime soon.
As a software engineer, your duties will include developing new software, creating patches for and finding bugs in software, designing systems, maintaining databases, and much more. Your day to day work can be quite varied. Here are some of the skills you might need to be a software engineer:
- Fluency in one or more programming languages.
- Ability to review and test code.
- Problem solving skills.
- Knowledge of the development process and computer systems.
- Ability to work on a team.
There are quite an array of software engineering jobs out there; this means that salaries can vary quite a bit, but the average salary for a general software engineer is around $103,035. Senior software engineers can expect an average salary of around $129,328.
Information Security Analyst
As they say, knowledge is power, and that knowledge needs to be protected. Information is highly valuable to companies, especially if that information is private. Information about a company’s customers is of the utmost importance and needs to be protected at all costs. A company can lose the trust of their customers and ruin their reputation if information is stolen or leaked. That’s why the role of an information security analyst is so important in today’s information-driven world.
An information security analyst ensures the networks and systems at companies and government agencies are secure, properly encrypted, and protected from hacking and viruses. They analyze these security systems, recommend updates and upgrades to security software, and find any potential weaknesses that would allow a security breach. Since data will always need protecting, the demand for this job is always there. Here are some skills that are required to be an information security analyst:
- Knowledge of cybersecurity and IT security.
- Knowledge of network security.
- Ability to audit and test security systems.
- Analytical and problem solving skills.
- Risk management skills.
- Ability to use data visualization software, like Tableau.
The average salary of an information security analyst is around $80,865, with senior positions averaging around $97,511.
Java Developer
Java is a robust programming language that’s extremely useful for financial industries, building Android apps, research, big data, and much more. A Java developer uses their knowledge of Java to develop and test applications. Due to the fact that Java is used so widely in a variety of big industries, demand for developers fluent in Java will continue to rise. Here are some of the skills you might need to become a Java developer:
- Proficiency with Java and additional languages, like HTML and CSS.
- Design skills to take an application from the concept phase of development all the way to completion.
- Analytical and testing skills to provide ongoing support for Java applications and create patches for bugs that are found.
These are just a few of the skills a Java Developer might need. You also may need to have some industry-specific knowledge depending on which field of work you take your Java skills to. The average salary of a Java Developer is around $88,116, and senior developers can expect to average around $106,542.
Data Analyst
In today’s business world, data is king so more and more roles in companies have a heavy focus on data and making data useful. One such role is that of data analyst. Data analysts have to be particularly skilled at interpreting data as they ensure data accuracy and find the best way that the uncovered data can be used.
A data analysts day might consist of creating comprehensive reports and data breakdowns, identifying any issues in data sets, and cleaning bad data. In short, their job is to take these difficult to decipher sets of data and make them easily digestible for anyone else in the company who may need to see them. Here are some of the skills a data analyst may need:
- Experience with SQL and SAS.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong communication skills.
- Experience with programming languages like Python.
- Strong grasp on numbers and statistics.
The average salary for a data analyst is $67,377 with Senior Data Analysts averaging $83,794.
Web Developer
A web developers primary job is to build websites and build web applications. The website you’re reading this blog on, for instance, was built by a web developer. There are several different types of web developers out there.
There are front end developers, backend developers, and full stack developers. Front end developers take the website design from the designers and use code to implement this design on the web. Backend developers make sure servers are working, website speed is optimized, databases are working, and applications powering the website are running. Full stack developers have the skills to do both front end and backend web development work, making them the most in demand. Here are some skills you would need to become a web developer:
- Knowledge of multiple programming languages, such as CSS, HTML, Java, and Python.
- Ability to implement UI/UX design.
- Analytical skills.
The average salary of a web developer is around $75,487, with senior positions averaging around $96,500.
Computer Programmer
If you love to code, being a computer programmer might be the right path for you. Computer programmers spend most of their time creating code for software applications and operating systems. They must also make sure this code runs properly by testing it and making any adjustments necessary. They also look at current applications and operating systems, evaluate them for upgrade, and make upgrades and patches when they are needed. Here are some of the skills that a computer programmer might need:
- Problem solving and critical thinking skills.
- Knowledge in multiple programming languages.
- The ability to test and implement computer applications and operating systems.
- The ability to evaluate current applications and systems.
The average salary of a computer programmer is around $67,090, with senior positions averaging around $81,131.
IT Manager
IT managers are in charge of overseeing the information technology sector of a company. They plan and coordinate everything this department does and looks for ways to improve the IT systems. IT managers will typically be the head of a team of highly skilled, technically proficient employees. They need to be able to manage and delegate responsibilities to these employees. A couple examples of what an IT manager might do is update a company’s software if the old software isn’t scalable or up to date. They might also analyze the IT budget to see if such an update is feasible. Here are some skills you’ll need to be an IT manager:
- Team management
- Strategic planning
- Budgeting
- Organizational
- Time management
- Experience and knowledge of various IT systems and concepts
The average salary of an IT manager is around $97,461, with senior positions making around $117,316.
AI/Machine Learning Developer
AI/Machine learning is one of the fastest growing fields in the tech industry. This job has the responsibility of developing artificial intelligence systems; machine learning, a subset of AI and the method used to teach artificial intelligence systems, will be a part of this role too. The developers often build large data infrastructures that automate decision making by using data. This highly technical field requires skills such as:
- Proficiency in multiple programming languages, such as Java, Python, C++, and Scala.
- Deep knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning concepts, and more.
- Experience with SQL.
- Mathematics and algorithm knowledge.
- Proficiency in statistics.
The average salary for an AI/machine learning developer is around $90,430, with senior positions averaging around $105,168.
Python Developer
Python is another extremely popular and widely used programming language. A Python developer will create and test code for a variety of applications, software, and systems in fields such as data mining, cloud and web infrastructure development, machine learning, and much more. They’re also responsible for evaluating these programs and updating them on a regular basis. Here are some skills you would need as a Python developer:
- Knowledge in the Python programming language.
- Knowledge of various other coding languages.
- Design and communication skills.
- Familiarity with developing applications from concept to final product.
The average salary for a Python develop is around $83,187, with senior positions making around $150,053 on average.
PHP Developer
PHP developers primarily use their skills to improve websites and software. Using their knowledge, they can add functionality to websites and applications to make them more dynamic. Here are some of the skills needed to be a PHP developer:
- Strong grasp on PHP, CSS, HTML, Java, and MySQL.
- Ability to work with PHP frameworks.
- Understanding of user interfaces.
- Strong communication skills.
The average salary for a PHP developer is around $93,987, with senior developers averaging around $113,766.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps engineers primarily work with the production of software, overseeing code releases to make sure everything goes smoothly. Their job is to find inefficiencies in the software and ensure that everything runs as efficiently as possible. They do this by monitoring the software, troubleshooting it, and editing or configuring it if need be. Here are some skills a DevOps Engineer would need:
- Familiarity with IT infrastructures.
- Strong communication skills.
- Process re-engineering knowledge.
- Experience with multiple programming languages.
The average DevOps engineer salary is around $115,666, with senior positions making an average of $135,112.
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