What Type of IT Career Makes the Most Money?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, overall, information technology (IT) jobs have an excellent projected rate of job growth based on 2009 data. Some fields such as computer network systems and database administrators are expected to rise up to 30 percent through 2018. Because so many IT jobs hold promise in terms of job security, looking at the types of jobs that make the most money in the industry helps to narrow down career choices.
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General Hierarchy
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Data from 2009 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and 2010 data from PayScale shows that computer developers and programmers outclass other IT workers in terms of salary. They earn anywhere from $49,670 to $129,922 per year. Next are network administration and IT information systems workers --- programmer analysts and IT directors fall into this category. These workers enjoy annual salaries between $58,363 and $98,445. The final category of workers is network/computer support technicians, such as those in customer service or repair. These workers make anywhere from $29,272 to $62,481 as of 2010, according to PayScale.
Comparison to Other Fields
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Because people are in constant need for new programs and systems that will fulfill their needs and work with new operating systems, software engineers consistently rank among the highest paid IT specialists. A 2010 article from The Wall Street Journal ranked the position of software engineer as second only to an actuary, with engineers earning $129,000 per year. Computer programmers, the lowest-ranked IT job in the same article, ranked 32 out of 200 jobs, having a salary of $111,000. IT jobs also listed included web developer and computer systems analyst with salaries of $91,000 and $118,000, ranking 15 and 3, respectively.
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Nature of Work
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The top paying positions in the IT field tend to be either solitary or managerial. For a job like web designer or programmer, you comfortably can work from your home with minimal interference from coworkers or your boss. In managerial positions, a knowledge of IT concepts, systems and languages is important, but is secondary to the ability to manage human resources.
Necessary Degrees and Certifications
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IT is one of the few fields where high pay does not necessarily have an advanced degree or certification as a prerequisite. If you have significant knowledge of information technology hardware and applications, you can enter the field without a degree or certificate. However, most employers look for candidates who have at least a bachelor's degree or higher in an IT-related field such as computer science. Certificates set apart candidates because they show specializations specific to the employer's needs.
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References
- The Wall Street Journal: Best and Worst Jobs 2010
- PayScale: Computer / Network Support Technician
- PayScale: Computer Software Programming/Development/Engineering
- PayScale: Network Administration/IT/Information Systems
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer Network, Systems, and Database Administrators
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Photo Credit computer image by fotografiche.eu from Fotolia.com
