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The realm of Information Technology (IT) continues to evolve rapidly and offers immense flexibility. Studies show that honing expertise in high-demand technologies can lead to higher salaries. If you're considering a career shift or aiming to grow in your current field with new tech certifications and knowledge, these are the key skills to focus on.
Employers are actively seeking professionals with the latest tech skills. Technology plays an increasingly critical role in daily business functions, creating valuable opportunities in the workforce. Stand out by mastering the perfect blend of hands-on experience, technical know-how, and essential software capabilities.
10. Cybersecurity
Prior to the last quarter of 2020, over 2,935 cybersecurity breaches were publicly reported, making it the most devastating year in terms of security breaches. To address this growing issue, executives have boosted cybersecurity budgets by at least 55% in 2021, while many are hiring additional full-time security experts to protect their systems.
But where should you focus your tech expertise within the expansive online security sector? While all areas in cybersecurity, cloud security, and application development security have their value, cloud security and app integrity are expected to experience significant growth—projected at 115% and 164% respectively. Key skills for app development include security code reviews, secure containers, and microservices security.
DevSecOps stands out as a major trend, with professionals in this field earning up to 19% more than their base salary. This role involves embedding application security throughout the development lifecycle. Cloud security experts can specialize in areas like Google Cloud security, Azure security, public cloud security, cloud architecture, and infrastructure.
Looking beyond 2021, cybersecurity certifications will continue to hold great value, commanding higher salaries and standing out in the competitive job market. Many IT companies offer salary increases for these credentials:
- CEH or Certified Ethical Hacker
- CCSP or Certified Cloud Security Professional
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Advanced Security Practitioner from CompTIA
9. Full Stack Development
While not a new skill in the tech world, developers remain highly sought after, especially front-end, back-end, and full-stack experts with advanced coding abilities.
According to Indeed’s ranking of top tech skills for 2020, full-stack software development holds the 2nd spot, with a growth rate of 161.9%. Hiring rates for full-stack engineers in the US have been increasing by around 35% annually since 2005. These coding skills are highly in-demand globally:
- JavaScript
- Python
- Go
- Swift
- React
- Angular
- Spring
- Django
JavaScript and its various iterations remain the most popular programming language, while Go is gaining traction due to a shortage of developers skilled in it. Angular and React are essential for front-end development, while Spring and Django are crucial for back-end frameworks.
8. Blockchain
Although cryptocurrencies experienced a significant decline last year, blockchain technology remains crucial for applications such as crowdfunding, identity management, peer-to-peer payment systems, digital voting, and file storage.
Given its flexibility, many employers are eager to hire developers skilled in blockchain for creating decentralized apps and smart contracts. Key blockchain skills in demand include database design, networking, and proficiency in programming languages like JavaScript, Java, Solidity, Python, Go, and C++.
7. Cloud Computing
As more companies transition from traditional on-site servers to cloud-based systems, expertise in cloud computing has become increasingly valuable. Cloud platforms now host services like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, with job openings in this field increasing by 107% in the US between 2017 and 2020.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands as the leading cloud service provider, and developing skills in this area will make you a highly sought-after professional. AWS certification is a great way to enhance your earning potential, with cloud computing professionals making an average salary of $130,272, well above their uncertified counterparts.
AWS cloud solution architects boast the highest tech certifications in the US and Canada, while other key cloud computing skills include DevOps, Microsoft, Kubernetes, Docker, and Azure. As more IT solutions transition to cloud platforms, cloud engineering continues to see sustained demand in the tech industry.
6. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly integral to a rapidly evolving business landscape. Many current tools and services are powered by AI and ML, and the demand for AI experts has increased by 74% in recent years.
A 2019 report from Indeed revealed that job opportunities for Machine Learning engineers had skyrocketed by 344% over the past four years. ML and AI specialists skilled in Python, natural language processing, Java, TensorFlow, and R are highly sought after, with salaries averaging up to $140,000 annually in the US.
Mastering these in-demand tech skills includes creating chatbots, one of the most desirable specializations within AI and ML. Numerous major corporations are utilizing AI-driven customer service tools for website inquiries, and expertise in this area can secure the highest IT salaries in 2021 and beyond. As an AI professional, you’ll also enjoy a wealth of job opportunities across various fields such as data science, product management, and software engineering.
Machine learning encompasses a wide range of techniques, including statistical pattern recognition, neural networks, unsupervised learning, deep learning, recommender systems, and anomaly detection.
5. Virtual, Augmented, and Extended Reality
Extended Reality (XR), which merges Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), is being embraced across multiple industries, including education, manufacturing, entertainment, advertising, and healthcare. The demand for software professionals in this field is rapidly increasing, with job openings for VR/AR engineers soaring by 1400%.
Though the full potential of XR technology is still unfolding, there is a pressing need for specialists in this field. Expert forecasts estimated the AR/VR market size at $6.1 billion in 2017, and it has since surged to an astounding $215 billion in 2021.
4. Analytics and Data Science
Data analytics and data science are two highly coveted tech skills, frequently paired with big data, which is expected to grow at a rate of 14.1% by 2026. Around 84% of tech companies are launching big data and advanced analytics initiatives to improve accuracy and expedite decision-making processes.
LinkedIn’s emerging jobs report has ranked data science as the top tech job for three consecutive years. While closely related, data analysis is typically an entry-level skill, whereas data science represents a more advanced career.
Key sectors that require data specialists include finance, software development, healthcare, education, and e-retail. Data scientists earn an average salary of $101,000 and are recognized by Glassdoor’s annual report as holding the third-best jobs in the US.
Data analysis and science professionals drive better decision-making by analyzing and interpreting big data. Mastering these skills will enable you to work on projects involving neural networks, classifiers, and machine learning algorithms.
3. User Experience and User Interface Designer
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) are related tech skills, yet they differ fundamentally. UI experts specialize in designing interfaces for apps and websites, ensuring they are visually attractive, user-friendly, and seamless to navigate.
A UX professional focuses on research and testing to understand how users interact with websites or apps. They collaborate closely with UI designers and developers, balancing analytical and creative skills. While UI designers work on the visual layout and overall appearance, UX experts rely on testing to tailor designs to meet user needs.
According to Adobe, 87% of managers revealed that their top priority is hiring more UX specialists, with over 14,000 job opportunities available in the US alone. To excel as a UI/UX designer, proficiency with design tools and platforms like AI, VR/AR, and wearables is essential.
2. Robotics
Robotics involves both hardware and software engineering, working with both physical and virtual robots. This field covers specialties such as automated manufacturing, exploration robots, medical devices, and entertainment animatronics. Automation tools, including virtual assistants and customer service bots, are examples of software-driven virtual robots.
LinkedIn reports that the robotics industry, which includes both physical and virtual robots, has experienced an annual growth of 40%, becoming a key part of the $1.2 trillion AI market. With an AI certification, professionals in this field can earn up to $181,430.
As a robotics engineer, you will be responsible for programming robots to carry out real-world tasks such as navigating disaster zones or assisting in healthcare. Mastering this tech skill means programming both physical and virtual robots to perform movements or flight tasks, using languages such as SQL, Python, Visual Basic, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
To become a Robotics Process Automation (RPA) engineer, you must possess a wide range of technical expertise for development, architecture, and problem-solving. Proficiency with Microsoft .NET Framework for creating RPA platforms, alongside a solid understanding of business processes, communication, and process mapping, is essential.
1. IoT or Internet of Things and Big Data
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a vast concept, encompassing any device that connects to the internet and allows for communication between devices. Often referred to as objects that 'speak', IoT (or edge computing) includes devices like smartphones, wearable technology, and smart sensors.
A major concern surrounding connected devices is data security, which is why professionals proficient in IoT technology are in high demand. On average, IoT experts earn $101,000 annually, with the field expected to be the next big career boom in the tech industry.
By 2025, the Internet of Things is projected to contribute up to $11 trillion to the economy, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. Currently, 94% of businesses are investing in IoT readiness, and mastering this technology involves identifying security risks, network components, and data management solutions for prototype development.
