Over the last decade, technology has deeply infiltrated our daily routines. The voice assistant you rely on for reminders and household tasks, the phone that’s always within reach, the watch that tracks your steps, sleep cycles, and blood oxygen levels. Smart technology has taken hold—and it’s here to stay. So, is technology a good career path? Let’s explore deeper.
Considering this rapid, global adoption of consumer technology, it’s no surprise that many tech jobs have experienced steady growth for years too—and are only forecasted to continue climbing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 356,700 openings are projected each year, on average, in tech occupations between 2023 and 2033.1 So, if you’re wondering if a career in the tech sector is a viable pursuit, many signs point to yes.
It’s easy to look at a large amount of capital in the private market—or at industry leaders like Meta, Amazon, and Google that make up a significant slice of the S&P 500—and think those are the only career options available. In reality, they barely scratch the surface of the IT industry. A career as a developer can fall into any of these areas:
- Information technology
- Computer science
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Software development
- Cyber security
- Data science
- Product management
Specific roles within each of these disciplines are highly sought-after because they pay well on average and typically offer flexibility and career growth opportunities. 2,1
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of a tech career, explore different industries in the tech world, pathways to these career opportunities, and how you can learn (and subsequently build) the job-ready skills needed for career success in tech.
Key takeaways
- Tech jobs offer versatile opportunities across industries: These roles are essential in a variety of fields, from agriculture and education to health care and manufacturing. This versatility makes tech careers appealing to those seeking job security and growth potential.
- Continuous learning is crucial: The fast-paced evolution of tech requires professionals to continually update their skills to remain competitive.
- Competitive salaries and benefits: Tech roles generally offer salaries above the national median, with the median annual salary for many tech positions reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to be significantly higher than in other fields.1 Companies also compete for talent by providing incentives such as signing bonuses, education stipends, and flexible work arrangements.
- Diversity challenges in the industry: The tech industry faces significant diversity issues, with the underrepresentation of Black, Hispanic, and female employees. Efforts to increase diversity are underway, but gaps remain in hiring, retention, and promotion.
Varied education and training paths: Multiple educational routes lead to tech careers, including degrees, bootcamps, certifications, and self-paced tutorials. Each path has its benefits, and the right choice depends on your goals, skills, and financial resources.
Pros and cons of a career in tech
Let’s state the obvious: No job is perfect. And sometimes a career switch isn’t always the right move. Below, we’ll explore how a technology career can be extremely fulfilling—as well as the challenges tech professionals might have to overcome.
Pro: You can work in nearly any industry
The BLS’ significant growth projection is a sign that nearly every industry needs technology roles to keep businesses afloat and thriving.1 Here are a few industries that may pique your interest:
- Agriculture: Measuring population growth, increased demand for water resources, changes in climate and weather patterns, and the use of agricultural products like biofuels are just a few of the areas you might focus on with a tech job in the ag industry.
- Education: Roles in education technology include building and managing online platforms for remote courses, digital curricula, and educational support tools. Digital classrooms and educational platforms are constantly improving and evolving—delivering better learning opportunities and outcomes through better technology.
- Healthcare: In 2008, the U.S. enacted the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) to promote and expand the adoption of health information technology, specifically the use of electronic health records (EHRs) by health care providers.3 This act has increased the number of health care tech jobs available, including roles in cyber security, information systems, clinical data analysis, EHR management, and more.
- Manufacturing: A tech professional in the manufacturing industry might be responsible for supply chain tracking, database management, product management, and more. Those who can analyze data, create business models, and analyze cost and return on investment (ROI) can help companies streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase profit.
Pro: Learning is continuous
If you consider yourself a lifelong learner, a technology career is likely a good fit for you. McKinsey & Company’s “Technology Trends Outlook” for 2024 highlights the relentless pace of advancements in AI, cloud computing, quantum technology, and other tech domains.4 These trends are reshaping tech roles, requiring continuous adaptation and reskilling to stay competitive. This constant evolution proves the need for a workforce ready to embrace new technologies and the rapid shifts in required skills and knowledge.
In short, staying current as a data scientist, cloud computing software engineer, data engineer, network administrator, DevOps engineer, or full-stack developer is imperative to job success. Before you embark on a tech career, it’s important to acknowledge that you’re moving into a field that will be unforgiving if you rest on your laurels.
Pro: Tech jobs typically pay well above the median U.S. salary
Like most jobs, tech salaries depend on the actual job and location—as well as the level of experience and education required to qualify.
The BLS reports that as of May 2023, the median annual salary for computer and IT professionals was $104,420, which was more than double the median annual salary for all occupations ($48,060).1
According to the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Technology Jobs for 2025, the most well-paid positions in the technology industry are:5
- IT manager: $169,510
- Software developer: $132,270
- Information security analyst: $120,360
- Data scientist: $108,020
- Computer network architect: $129,840
- Web developer: $84,960
- Computer systems analyst: $103,800
- Database administrator: $101,510
These claims are based on their unique methodology.6
Con: There’s a lack of diversity in the industry
There is a lot of progress to be made in the tech sector when it comes to diversity and equal pay. According to Forbes 2024 Tech Industry Statistics, diversity in tech remains a significant challenge, with low representation of Black and Hispanic employees—as well as women—in technical and leadership roles.7
The Forbes report claims, “men make up 52% of the private workforce but 64% of tech workers, while women hold 48% of private jobs but just 36% of tech jobs. The gender gap worsens at the executive level, where 80% are men and 20% are women, compared with 71% to 29% in the overall private sector.”
Major strides in HR practices across the nation are being made to hire, retain, and promote employees who come from a historically underrepresented population. To help push greater diversity in the workforce, it’s crucial to educate more people from different backgrounds on tech skills.
Con: The workforce is saturated with a lot of competition for jobs
According to the BLS, approximately 356,700 openings are projected each year, on average, in tech occupations between 2023 and 2033—due to “employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.”1 Demand is high for tech professionals; there are large gaps in the workforce, and companies are hiring, but those open roles come with tough competition.
On the plus side, a competitive job market means that top companies are offering more incentives like signing bonuses, unlimited paid time off, and education stipends to attract quality candidates. One way you could land one of these coveted positions is if you enroll in a coding bootcamp to continue to learn and build your skill set. The more quality apps you build—and the more experience you have solving business problems collaboratively—the better your chances are of standing out among other industry professionals.
Building the skills for an IT career
You can gain the tech and programming skills you need to shine in today’s competitive job market in a variety of settings—through traditional degrees, certificate programs, bootcamps, self-paced tutorials, and more.
With the many ways to learn programming languages, computer science, data science, machine learning, and software engineering available, it’s normal to wonder which option is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles—and some education routes may make more sense for your specific personal and professional obligations.
Explore your options:
- Associate’s degree: An associate’s degree is earned after completing around 60 semester units. It can be completed through community colleges or four-year universities. This degree also helps solidify the fundamentals and supports the path to transfer to a four-year university for a bachelor’s degree.
- Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree is earned after completing around 120 semester units at a four-year university. Computer science bachelor’s degrees are the most costly education option on this list, but a good fit for those looking for a more traditional education experience.
- Bootcamp programs: Coding bootcamps start with the basics, then progress into more advanced programming languages. These programs can take between three and 12 months to complete and incorporate lecture-based learning, real-world examples, and portfolio projects to train students to become software engineers. Traditional universities offer coding bootcamps to stay competitive in the space. Bootcamps are typically offered online—but some in-person bootcamps are available. These programs are typically more flexible and cost-effective than full degree programs; however, coding bootcamp providers are not typically accredited.
- Certifications: Certification programs typically require 30-45 units to be completed. They require passing an exam to demonstrate skill proficiency and allow learners to focus on a specialized area or learn fundamental programming concepts. Certifications are typically offered online.
- Self-paced learning with tutorials: There are several coding courses offered online that feature curated learning materials based on your interest and current technical abilities. One of the strengths of these programs is that they’re often free or low-cost, can be completed when it’s most convenient for you (try pitching to your boss why these should be woven into employee development), and help enhance your portfolio of projects. The downside is that most people need more guidance, and as a result, many find these difficult to complete.
No matter which path you choose, building your skills and knowledge is key to success in the tech industry. Advanced degrees can open doors to higher salary opportunities and specialized positions, helping you advance your career even further.
Advance your tech career: Find the right program for you
Overall, the professional options and pathways in the tech industry—and the educational options to hone new tech skills or programming languages—are vast and varied. Whether you’re brand new to tech, have some coding experience, hold a formal degree, or have only tried a couple of coding courses on your own, there are several accessible ways to break into a career in technology, and which path works best for you will depend on a number of different factors.
We hope this article has given you the information you need to answer the question: “Is technology a good career path?” If you’re looking for a quicker route into this highly desired industry, bootcamps might be a good fit for you. You can search for the right coding bootcamp for you by filling out our “Get Matched” form.
Sources:
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm
2https://www.simplilearn.com/highest-paying-tech-jobs-article
3https://www.hipaajournal.com/what-is-the-hitech-act/
4https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-top-trends-in-tech
5https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-technology-jobs
6 https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/how-us-news-ranks-the-best-jobs
7https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/it-and-tech/tech-industry-statistics-and-facts/
