Careers in technology are growing

Ready for the future? Well, futuristic technology might be coming sooner than we thought. With cool new gadgets come more technological jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information technology (IT) occupations are projected to grow 13% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. With a lot of tomorrow’s careers involving technology, some schools are already teaching students the basics of code at an early age. Others are trying to push for more advanced classes to prepare children for job competition in the future. Sooner or later, technology will be integrated into every little part of our lives. Even today, different jobs and career paths are available. Here is some information on five careers in technology:

• By far, the most known job in the computer and IT field is a software developer. These people work with the technology we often take for granted. Software developers are creative and have the technical knowledge to produce innovative ideas. Most software developers need a bachelor’s degree, however, in 2018, they earned a median annual salary of $105,590. Two of the best-known software developers are Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. You might even use some of their products, Facebook and Microsoft. The job outlook from through 2026 is rapidly increasing by 24%, with about 302,500 new job openings expected! Although most of their time is spent designing programs, software developers also have to work with others, including fellow developers, managers or clients.
• Another big career opening up is a computer and information research scientist. Although these aren’t as well-known as software developers, they are just as important, if not more so. The typical entry-level of education these scientists need is a master’s degree. According to a study in May 2018, they earned an annual median income of $118,370. By 2026, this career is also predicted to grow much faster than average, 19%. The typical computer and information research scientist analyses and studies complex problems in technology. After that, they design innovative approaches, like inventing new computing languages, tools, and methods, to improve today’s technology. Most computer scientists work with other specialists in other fields on multidisciplinary projects.
• Computer and information systems managers, who are often called information technology (IT) managers, are the key leaders of direct computer-related activities in an organization. These managers plan, coordinate, and help determine the information technology goals for an organization. Rather than being in a server room, they are most likely found in a meeting room, discussing technology-related matters with top executives. In addition, it is their job to install and upgrade an organization’s computer system and protect the office network from hackers and malware. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, before becoming an IT Manager, the necessary work experience commonly considered by employers is about five years in a related occupation. On the higher end of the pay scale, they make a median annual income of about $142,530. With so many different responsibilities this job holds, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth for IT managers between 2016 and 2026.
• Another career in much demand, information security analysts, protects an organization’s computer networks and systems through improving cyber-security measures. Their job is very important in making sure that hackers don’t steal critical information or cause problems for computer networks in an organization. To prevent hackers from getting in, information security analysts have to think smarter and always be one step ahead of the criminals. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they predict information security analysts will continuously increase by 28% by 2026. That’s the highest growth rate on this list! Although most need a bachelor’s degree and a couple of years of work experience in the field, they make a median annual salary of $98,350.
• Perhaps the most important job in this field is a web developer because we would not even be able to read anything on The Armijo Signal otherwise. Web developers are responsible for creating the design and look of websites. Not only that, web developers have to come back to the website to check its performance and capacity. While companies tend to split responsibilities among web developers, some who work on their own have to design and program every little detail on a website. Actually, one-sixth of web developers are self-employed. Although it is not an easy job, anyone can be a web developer if they have the right tools and knowledge in both graphic design and programming. Education requirements vary with the type of work but can range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% employment growth for web developers between 2016 and 2026. In 2018, web developers earned a median annual salary of $69,430. As more and more people use the internet, more websites will need to be created, designed, and monitored.

With all these technological careers expanding in upcoming years, it’s also good to stay alert for jobs that haven’t even been created yet. For more information on these occupations or more, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm.