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According to United States government and industry analysts, there will likely be a big demand for information technology specialists and software developers for years to come. That’s no big surprise—and no big change—from prior years. But are there any up-and-coming—or perhaps even well-established but overlooked—careers in the tech field that are due to grow at an even more impressive rate?  

Every year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an occupational outlook handbook¹ that is filled with projective data on what jobs are likely to grow over the next decade. Yes, due to the realities of data collection and analysis, the handbooks are always a year old, and industry analysts sometimes have a more updated take. But the handbook is still invaluable for its analysis of growing industry trends and has proven to be historically in line with industry analysis.

Here are five cutting-edge technology jobs that governmental analysts believe are projected to grow big, and how to get them: 

1. Data Scientists—36 percent growth

Data is the currency of the information age. And those who can best analyze and utilize it can look forward to lucrative careers over the coming decade. The BLS projects² that the demand for data scientists will grow 36 percent from 2023–33 (the most recent data it has)—far higher than the average growth of 3 percent across all occupations. And it pays remarkably well, with estimates ranging from a BLS median 2023 salary of $108,000 to estimates from Glassdoor placing the average 2024 salary at $160,000.

Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field to enter the occupation. Some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master’s or doctoral degree. 

2. Information Security/Cybersecurity Analysts—33 percent growth

With all that data being so valuable, there will always be those who want to steal it—or worse. That’s where information security analysts come in. They protect organizations from data security breaches, and they investigate when one occurs to find out what went wrong and to mitigate any damages. The BLS projected³ information security analysts job growth rate to be 33 percent from 2023–33 and placed their median 2023 salary at a hefty $120,000.

It should be noted that current industry analysts consider the BLS’s projections on the need for cybersecurity analysts and engineers to be too conservative; this may be due to those projections being over a year old in the faster-than-light information age. According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, a well-cited industry analyst, “The number of unfilled jobs...remains at 3.5 million in 2023, with more than 750,000 of those positions in the U.S. Industry efforts to source new talent and tackle burnout continues, but we predict that the disparity between demand and supply will remain through at least 2025.” 

3. Computer and Information Research Scientists—26 percent growth

Computer and information research scientists comprise a broad category, including those that specialize in such cutting-edge technologies as artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as cloud computing. As a whole, these scientists  work with algorithms to make computer systems and/or software as efficient as possible.

Again, it should be noted that the BLS’s projected⁴ 26 percent growth rate from 2023–33 is currently seen as conservative by many industry analysts, particularly in regard to AI.  

The BLS’s median 2023 salary of $145,000 is also somewhat conservative by currently industry estimates, with Glassdoor projections for machine learning engineers placed at $166,000⁵ in 2024 and $203,000⁶ for cloud architects in the same timeframe. This may be due to the fact that the true explosion in demand for AI jobs largely came after the 2023 data set was completed.

Computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. 

4. Software Developers—17 percent growth

You’re probably aware of this one: software development has been a growth industry for many years. And according to the BLS, that’s not going to change over the next decade. What’s worth noting is that the growth in software development jobs continues to grow even though there are already a huge number of them: 1.9 million in 2023⁷—far higher than the other professions on this list.  

Software developers design computer applications or programs. They typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology, though some employers prefer to hire developers who have a master’s degree. The median 2023 annual salary, according to the BLS, was $130,000. 

5. Computer Network Architects—13 percent growth

Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, whether they be local networks covering a single building or wide-area networks spanning large geographic areas. They typically need a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field. According to the BLS, their median salary in 2023 was $130,000⁸. 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re interested in exploring an educational pathway to one of the careers listed above, the Illinois Tech is the leading tech-focused university in �鶹APP. Its College of Computing, for example, focuses on real-world learning experiences such as research projects, internships, study away, competitions, and short courses that help students put their lessons to use throughout their coursework.  Also, the college’s empowers student researchers to tackle society's challenges using data and computing.

If you would like to explore a degree in AI or any other tech-driven field from Illinois Tech, you can request information from its Office of Undergraduate Admission or Office of Graduate Admission. 

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