The pace of our technological development has increased exponentially just in the last decade. And when we consider the fact that the Internet’s official birthday was in 1983, just less than 40 years ago as of 2021, we have certainly gained some impressive ground.
Today, tech jobs are in the highest demand. And this is because the need for having professionals who understand how our tech works is critical to its evolution. In fact, studies show that career outlooks for tech jobs are all above an average percentage across the board.
But what are the best jobs to land going into 2022, and what type of education do you need in order to get your foot in the door?
If you’re embarking upon a career in tech, the following will detail a few job opportunities that you might want to consider.
Web Developer
If you’re looking for an above-average salary, a great work-life balance, and the flexibility to work from home if you desire, becoming a web developer is actually among the most satisfying careers in tech today.
Web developers specialize in a variety of disciplines, but most of them help develop web applications that are used on a variety of devices. And this industry has a current above-average job growth of 37 percent.
In order to become a web developer, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of web-based applications, and in-depth knowledge of coding.
As such, many web developers get their start by enrolling in a training program like a coding bootcamp to learn the basics of web development. Further, many professionals who attend bootcamps go on to attain higher degrees in order to diversify their knowledge and to have greater hireability across the tech landscape.
Front-End Developer
A front-end developer also falls into the field of web development. However, front-end developers focus primarily on the front-facing code which corresponds to the interface that a user interacts with.
Often a front-end developer is referred to as a User Interface (UI) designer. But the overall job duties require a healthy knowledge of human-to-computer interaction psychology. Basically, you need to know how people feel when they interact with computers, and how to make this experience better.
Front-end developers are often considered to have the most “fun” part of the web development process, as they help to design all of the aesthetic elements that a user will interact with. And this can be a lucrative career as well.
Most front-end developers hold at least a Bachelor’s or an advanced degree in computer science and enjoy mid-career salaries of near 100,000 dollars per year depending on location.
Software Engineer
A software engineer is essentially a computer programming specialist who helps to develop and create a variety of the technology that we all use today. And these professionals enjoy a median annual salary of approximately 110,000 dollars per year.
Software engineers have advanced knowledge of computer frameworks, coding, programming languages, databases, and many other complex areas of computer science. And this can be used to create a variety of web tools.
At the end of the day, software engineers help to create network systems, operating systems, apps, games, robots, and a host of devices. And while software engineers are responsible for creating these devices, they often work in teams alongside other developers and engineers to build a product from the ground up.
Software engineers often have at least a BAchelor’s degree in computer science or software development. But many hold advanced degrees within the field as well.
We owe a good bit of our technological development to web developers and those who specialize in the advancement of computer science. And without these individuals working hard to propel our technology into the future, we may all be still looking at green screens and fumbling around with a hard-wired mouse.