9 Lucrative Career Paths in Tech & Computer 2024

Tech is the new gold. Some of the world’s biggest financial giants today have something to do with tech, and everyone suddenly wants to pursue a tech-related career. However, deciding to pursue tech is not a problem. The problem is finding out which exact tech/computer-related career to invest your time and assets in.

Computer and tech are no doubt among the top lucrative career paths you can pursue today. Here we are going to talk about the sub-category areas of tech and computer disciplines that you can begin pursuing now to become that tech-bro or tech-sis that you have always had a strong desire to become.

9 Career Paths in Tech and Computers Today

Whether you want to be the next Google, Facebook, or Apple, or you simply want to replace Microsoft or launch your own cryptocurrency, these career choices in tech are a great way to start.

1. Data Scientist

Data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from many structural and non-structural data. There is huge value in data analysis and being a data scientist is one way to actualize your dream of earning lucratively in tech.

Companies and industries rely heavily on projections from their past events and outcomes which they represent as data, both structural data (that can be formatted and stored in databases) and non-structural data. As a data scientist, you will need to acquire the skills required for converting raw data into interpreted forms useful to your client.

Check out this free data science course here or take a data science course in Hyderabad.

2. Software Developer

Softwares form the core of the many computer technologies we use every day. A software developer is someone who is involved in organizing a software’s design, building its functionalities, and integrating the software into the computer or other computer hardware devices, including mobile phones.

The field of software design has grown to include countless devices, frameworks, and applications. As a software developer, you can be involved in the creation of a program that performs a given function and can be applied in any discipline of choice, designing an interface (UI/UX, etc), testing, debugging and bug-fixing, building frameworks, finding security loopholes (ethical hacking, etc), the opportunities are endless.

Being a software developer begins with your interests in tech-related disciplines which I presume you have by being here in the first place. But getting started, you will need to understand the basic workings of the computer, and how programming languages work; then proceed with your programming language of choice – Python, Java, Javascript, HTML/CSS, SQL, etc. There are a ton of guides out there to help you through this.

Software development includes, but is not limited to the following areas:

• Mobile application developer – Android, IOS, etc
• Video game developer
• Computer games developer
• Computer applications developer
• UX designer (User experience/user interface)
• Agile software developer

There are tons of jobs for you as a software developer and the pay is most often encouraging and very competitive indeed. You can also decide to develop software for yourself that will impact your world positively and showcase your relevance to the world. Remember, the more value you create, the more you earn.

Mobile apps have become useful in the minute-by-minute activities of individuals in the world. This is because our mobile phones have become a strong part of our daily lives; an opportunity that can be harnessed as a software developer – that is, creating software that meets daily needs.

According to Glassdoor, a game developer can amass an average annual base pay of $101,932, aside from other side income he can also get. Mouth-watering, isn’t it?

3. Web Programmer

Everything you currently see on this page is the handiwork of a web programmer. Web programming is the application of the knowledge of programming/code in the creation of applications for the web, e.g., websites, blogs, e-commerce shops, etc.

Web programming is very fundamental to how people view and utilize the internet. Good thing you can join the league of web programmers by starting now, and the great news is that learning web programming is not as difficult as you think it is. With just a little practice, consistency, and dedication, you can make it to the very top.

There are two or three major aspects of web programming you should know. These are:

• Frontend developer.
• Backend developer.
• Fullstack developer.

A frontend developer focuses on implementing codes whose outputs the user can see on the webpage. Common programming languages for front-end development include Javascript, HTML/CSS, and their varying modules and frameworks.

A back-end programmer writes codes that interact with databases that the user cannot see. Databases carry data stored in servers that are ordinarily not accessible via web URLs on the browser, but backend programming fetches these data to the front end for users to see. Database management is another sub-discipline you can venture in.

The third group, the full-stack developer, is not an isolated group like the first two. A full-stack developer is one who has the capability of handling both the front-end and back-end by himself through the comprehensive knowledge of the programming languages involved for both front-end and back-end.

Full-stack developers are standalone professionals and this correspondingly increases the earning margins when working for any company. This is every web developer’s dream.

4. Computer Engineer

A computer engineer is an engineering professional who not only possesses the training of an electrical engineer but also has credentials related to the field of computer science. Computer engineering (CoE or CpE) is a branch of engineering that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software.

Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering (or electrical engineering), software design, and hardware-software integration, instead of only software engineering or electronic engineering. That is to say, a computer engineer specializes in the overall working of the computer system by adapting the computer structure (hardware) to functionality (software).

Computer engineers are responsible for manufacturing, production, and repairs of the computer and its various parts. Sub-field areas include:

• Computer hardware engineers.
• Computer hardware specialists.
• Artificial intelligence engineer.
• Computer network architect.

5. IT Security Specialists

Security is of paramount importance for computer systems, especially when involving complex connections and important personal data that should be protected. IT security has thus become of of the most sought-after computer roles in many corporate organizations including banks, schools, business organizations, and government agencies for obvious reasons.

A breach in the security of a computer network or system including databases can compromise the safety, financial wellbeing, and social presence of victims. Hence, the an extreme need for IT security personnel in large institutions.

A knowledge of programming is required to become an IT security specialist. Below are some of the sub-specialty areas:

• IT security specialist
• Ethical/legal hackers
• Computer system analyst

Organizations are confronted with different types of cybersecurity threats that pose a significant risk to them. IT security specialists deal with the installation of pre-designed software and antivirus programs that secure the firewall of the organization’s database systems.

Hackers use confidential and sensitive information in a way that causes significant danger to the business. Together with IT security specialists, ethical hackers use their knowledge of programming to ensure that all security loopholes that a hacker might exploit in the company’s software are detected and fixed. It is also known as white hat hacking, and certified ethical hackers have an annual income of up to $99,000.

Computer system analysts are charged with the main responsibility of evaluating and improving the computer systems in an organization to ensure that everything is foolproof. According to Forbes, the median salary of a computer system analyst is $78,000, and the demand for them was expected to grow by as much as 22% from 2010 to 2020.

6. Computer Statistician

Many institutions rely heavily on data trends for their planning and decision-making. However, historical data can be volatile and sometimes difficult to analyze, especially without any help. Statisticians, in this regard, become very helpful in studying data trends, past decisions, and their outcomes; conducting feasibility studies for a proposed idea based on existing theories, and economic and market factors; and advising the company accordingly.

Sub-specialties in this discipline include:

• Statistician
• Business intelligence analysts

Statisticians use available data to make well-informed decisions. Aside from determining what data needs to be collected, they conduct studies, design experiments, and report conclusions from their findings. According to U.S. News, the median annual salary of a statistician is $84,060, and over 12,600 jobs are available within the country.

Statisticians have a low unemployment rate of 0.9% and are employable in various settings like education, healthcare, sports, public safety, and environmental and social sciences. Knowledge of computer operation, at least, as well as statistics, is required.

Business intelligence analysts gather the information that an organization uses to make the right decisions. They maximize the utility of data and ensure their accuracy, making them useful in decision-making. By mining data from different sources, and analyzing data trends, they recommend better ideas for a more profitable business.

They often present their recommendations to the management after evaluating all available data and this information can help management make better decisions.

7. SEO consultant

In recent times, businesses have gone online over the internet, resulting in increased patronage by more than triple the initial numbers. This is achieved through search engine optimization (SEO).

When people put up their businesses online, they are required to make them visible to all users of the World Wide Web (billions of people and still rising). However, that is no easy task for everyone, or even for most people. By being trained as an SEO consultant, you can help personal and business websites grow their reach on the internet.

SEO consultants are well-sought after globally and they can earn up to $200,000 per year depending on the specific roles, the hierarchy of the roles, and flexibility. For example, you can work for multiple agencies at once and earn cumulatively from them all.

8. Cloud Administrator

With the recent global interest in cloud technology, the job of a cloud administrator will become even more lucrative over time. Cloud technology offers the benefits of improving collaboration and accessibility across remote areas, and also offers a secure database management system that is hardware crash-proof.
It is a green technology, and that means, if you venture in now, you’d be among the topmost individuals in the profession a few years from now.

9. Accessibility Specialist

These professionals improve the accessibility of certain products, making sure they are easy to use by different people. Accessibility specialists work closely with the product manufacturer (in this case digital products), user interface, and experience designers (UI/UX). Their job is to make products and content on websites and devices accessible to all users including those with physical impairments.

Web accessibility is the inclusive practice of ensuring that there are no barriers to users’ interaction with, or access to, websites on the World Wide Web by people with impairments, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed.

When sites are correctly designed, developed, and edited, generally all users have equal access to information and functionality. Aside from accessibility being best practice, it can increase the patronage for your web-based business products by making them more accessible to everyone.

Final words

If you love computers and you want to start up a tech-related or computer-related career, here are 12 lucrative areas you can look into first. It is always an advantage to start early, so if you have any of them in mind, don’t delay any further.

By way of giving you a head-up, you should know that most of these careers will require a great deal of commitment, resilience, and dedication, but in the end, they will pay off and will be totally worth the rigorous efforts.