Information Technology Professionals Are the Pillars of the Digital Age
IT, or information technology, has become one of the most important industries of our time. Our modern digital age without those who specialize in this field would be impossible. We are living in an information revolution, where the demand for access to, management of, and transformation of information is as powerful as the call for any other resource.
In broad terms, information technology can be thought of as the use of computing systems, in whole or in part, to develop, share, transform, manage, and store information in a variety of modes and forms. For example, some IT specialists focus on infrastructure, which includes cloud computing, the internet, and telecommunications. Others are experts in hardware such as mobile devices, network systems, and computers, and still others are authorities in software, and understand mobile applications, network security, and desktop apps.
The growth projections for this industry on the whole are phenomenal, with specific positions being some of the most in-demand jobs in the nation. For instance, need for information security analysts is expected to grow by 37 percent between 2012 and 2022. This is an increase from 75,100 workers to 102,500, and projections show a need for at least 200,000 financial security analysts within a few years after that. As more and more personal information becomes shared on the internet, and the need for increased online security grows, these estimates may actually be on the low end. Those who provide professional, scientific, and technical services will be looking to hire more than half of the information security analysts graduating in the next few years, followed closely by those in the healthcare and social assistance industries.
The outlook for computer systems analysts is rosy as well, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 25 percent growth for experts in this role. Analysts are the women and men responsible for integrating business management with data analysis, determining the best ways to use automated systems for solving complex problems, and making software and hardware recommendations. Those who go into computer systems analysis as a career will find the most job opportunities in healthcare and social assistance, and in construction as well.
While it may not seem like the internet has a tremendous amount of room for growth, the truth is that the need for web developers has been projected to grow by 20 percent between 2012 and 2022. These professionals bring with them a deep understanding of web technologies, applications, and coding tools such as JavaScript, HTML, AJAX, and PHP. It is their role to develop web-based applications, write site code, integrate back-end systems, and provide technical assistance. Companies that provide or rely on data processing, hosting, and other information services will employ over 30 percent of web developers, and the financial sector will scoop up over 25 percent of them.
The salary range for IT professionals sits well above the national average, at around $85,000 a year. Information security analysts average about $92,000, while web developers come in at around $67,000. Computer systems analysts are close to the mark, averaging a little over $87,000 annually. In other words, there’s never been a better time to pursue a career in information technologies.
