Hottest New Jobs in the IT Field

Even as the digital revolution enters its third decade, IT continues to add high-paying jobs faster than any other career field. by Robert Byun

During the first quarter century of the digital revolution the IT (information technology, i.e., computer-related) field has created over two million well-paying jobs. You probably already knew that. In fact, you’re probably thinking that IT is a has-been in terms of hot careers with growth potential. If so, you’re in for a surprise. Despite the turn-of-the-century tech crash, for at least the coming decade the IT field will continue adding more high-paying jobs than any other.

Take a look at the fastest growing occupations as compiled by the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://stats.bls.gov/). These are occupations in which the number of jobs are projected to grow between 35 and 59% during the period between 2002 and 2012. Of the thirty occupations listed, nine are in the IT field. That’s surpassed by the 16 in healthcare. But all seven IT occupations were in the top quartile in median annual earnings (i.e. $41,820 and higher) whereas only four of the 16 healthcare occupations were in the top quartile.

Bottom line: if you want to enter a field that pays well and will add lots of new jobs in the coming decade, IT is it (occupations highlighted in red in the list below).