Technology Careers

The role of a user experience (UX) designer is to comprehend and enhance how users interact with digital platforms or services. They must also work in sync with other team members and stakeholders to ensure the final product meets both user requirements and business objectives.

UX designers earn a median yearly income of $98,540, according to the BLS. Furthermore, the career outlook for UX designers is exceedingly positive, with a projected growth rate of 16% by 2032.

As a chief information officer (CIO), your primary responsibilities include aligning technology with business requirements, developing teams, and fostering talent. You’re also tasked with facilitating the company’s digital transformation, mitigating potential threats, and supervising the implementation of projects.

A bachelor’s degree in IT management or a related field is typically required, but employers often prefer candidates with advanced degrees and significant industry experience.

As of July 2024, chief information officers earned an average salary of $176,040.

Whitehat or ethical hackers use their skills to help companies identify and fix security gaps. They’re like detectives who find and fix the weak spots in a company’s security system, always looking at things from the angle of a potential attacker. Their goal is to spot these weak points before someone with bad intentions can exploit them.

Ethical hackers can be self-employed consultants, employees in a company tech department, or team members in a business focused on cybersecurity services.

An undergraduate degree in a computer-related discipline is recommended, along with the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certifications.

Ethical hackers make an average salary of $91,400, as reported by Payscale in July 2024.

IT support specialists play a crucial role in ensuring that a company’s technology systems operate without a hitch. To excel in this position, they must have a broad knowledge of hardware, software, networks, and systems; possess superior analytical and problem-solving skills; have exceptional customer service and communication skills; and demonstrate the ability to collaborate within a team.

IT support specialists earn a median salary of $60,810 per year, according to BLS data from 2023. This profession has a projected growth rate of 5%, which is about as fast as the average job growth rate across all professions.

Software developers design, create, and preserve software applications and systems.

A software developer can expect to earn a median yearly wage of $132,270 as of 2023, according to the BLS. Excitingly, the demand for software developers is projected to skyrocket, with a job growth outlook of 25% between 2022 and 2032.

A computer programmer’s main duties revolve around creating and testing code, enabling computer applications and software programs to operate efficiently. They usually adhere to specific guidelines set by software developers and employ a range of programming languages to construct, adjust, and fix code.

In 2023, computer programmers earned a median yearly income of $99,700. However, jobs for computer programmers are projected to decrease by 11% from 2022 to 2032.

As a data scientist, your duty is to dissect and decode intricate data, aiding organizations in taking decisions fueled by data. Data scientists operate in a range of fields like business, healthcare, finance, and technology. Their main objective is to unearth trends, patterns, and connections within vast datasets.

Being a constant learner and keeping abreast with the newest tools, techniques, and industry trends is key to thriving in this fast-paced field.

In 2023, data scientists earned a median annual salary of $108,020. Moreover, the career field of data science is anticipated to expand rapidly, with a projected growth rate of 36% between 2021 and 2031.

Web developers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining websites. They typically work on either the front-end (the part of the website users interact with) or the back-end (the part of the website that handles data and business logic). They might also specialize in full-stack development, which involves both front- and back-end work.

The median annual salary for web developers in 2023 was $92,750, according to the BLS. Employment prospects for web developers are projected to grow by 16% by 2032.

As an information security analyst, your main tasks involve keeping an eye on security risks to computer systems and networks, creating forward-thinking security strategies, performing security-focused audits and assessments, and consistently overseeing systems. Information security analysts must stay informed about the most recent methods of attacks while also educating other staff members about security practices.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a field like cybersecurity or computer science, along with relevant professional or internship experience.

The BLS projects a 32% growth in job opportunities for information security analysts by 2032. These professionals earn a median annual salary of $120,360.