With Information Technology practically permeating every aspect of how we live and how we work, it’s natural that jobs that have to do with IT are some of the highest paying ones ever in the market today. As such, if you have an IT-related degree and you’re ready to start earning some serious cash, then read on as we list down the highest paying IT jobs that you should be aiming for ASAP.
By knowing these before you hop onto the job market, you’ll be able to better prepare yourself for the tough competition ahead, as well as help you figure out what kind of prep you need to start getting the big jobs, such as choosing the right proposal software for your clients. Proposal software, after all, helps you generate compelling client job proposals that will make you look irresistible to your prospects and help you score that huge contract.
Hardware Engineer
Hardware engineers draw on their computer engineering skills and knowledge in order to develop hardware, either for in-house purposes or to be sold commercially. They work in teams with other professionals in order to design, build, and manufacture this hardware from the ground up. They also troubleshoot and improve currently-existing hardware, making them a huge asset for any large corporation using extensive in-house tech for their product and/or service.
Hardware engineers can expect to earn a median salary of around US$85,000 so long as they have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field. Some employers do require a master’s degree, however, so be sure to inquire beforehand.
Network Administrator
Network administrators oversee networks and communications in businesses. They are hired to ensure that the flow of information in and out of the company are always flowing smoothly. They do this through certain tasks, such as implementing and maintaining network software/hardware, fixing connection issues, and ensuring everything is up to security and performance standards. Besides this, they’re also tasked with optimizing or repairing systems to reduce costs and increase productivity. With nearly every company all over the world requiring stable networks to function properly, network administrators will never run out of work.
Network administrators may not earn as much as hardware engineers, but they’re still very well paid, with a median annual salary of US$57,000 and up. To get this job, you must have a bachelor’s degree in network administration, computer science, systems engineering, or any other related field. You may also be asked to provide a master’s degree.
Data Architect
One of today’s biggest business trends is to take the voluminous amounts of data a company produces every single day, store it, and then analyze it for deeper insights and solutions to workflow problems. As such, data architects are in very high demand at the moment. They’re tasked with ensuring that the data in a system is accurate and readily accessible, while also having the analytical skills to massage the data for the results the business wants. They may also be asked to oversee data handling processes and systems, and improve them as necessary.
Data Architects’ annual median salary can reach up to US$112,000 or higher, so long as they have a bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, computer science, or any related field. Some positions may also require a master’s degree in those fields.
Computer Network Architect
Computer network architects are tasked with the design, building, and implementation of computer data networks in companies and businesses. They may work with local area networks, wide area networks, or intranets during their tour of duty, and they may also be asked to update those networks as necessary. Again, as nearly every company nowadays needs a computer network to function, those in this particular position will always be in high demand.
Computer network architects stand to earn up to a US$116,000 and above median annual salary. To get into this IT job, you need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or a related field. You may get more callbacks if you have an MBA.
Computer Technical Support Specialist
These hardworking individuals engage in helping to troubleshoot the technical problems of a company’s customers as well as their own employees. They draw on their general knowledge of computer systems, software and hardware, as well as knowledge of specific products, to help solve these technical problems. They may be employed in technical support service companies, to be hired out to other companies as an outsourcing asset or as an in-house employee. As they are a direct customer-facing employee, customer technical support specialists are required to be up-to-date in terms of product knowledge at all times—along with a healthy patience when it comes to dealing with unruly customers.
Customer technical support specialists can earn up to US$48,000 as a median annual salary. Getting this job requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, information technology or any relevant/related field.
Software Engineer
Software engineers design, develop and test computer software. This software can be any of the following: operating systems, business applications, network control systems, video games, social networks and so on. This is a very wide and diverse field that can easily involve any number of careers and professional roles, so if you’re currently undecided as to what kind of software you want to make, it’s a good idea to decide beforehand. They can be employed in the private industry or even in the government, working solo or in teams.
Software engineers can look forward to up to US$81,000 and above median annual salary. They must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer programming, computer engineering or related field. Just like with other positions in this list, an MBA will let you go farther in this job.
Conclusion
With IT paced to become more and more ingrained in our daily lives, IT jobs will continue to flourish and be some of the most lucrative in the employment market. Choose from any of these IT-integral positions and you should be set to earn quite a bit of money during the span of your career. Just remember to always strive for a robust work-life balance, as your health is just as important as your wealth.
