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Top Five Fastest Growing IT Careers

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 6 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

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Top 5 Fastest Growing IT Jobs

The future for IT careers is brighter than most people in the industry like to think. Here's an encouraging fact: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, five of the top ten fastest growing jobs between now and 2014 across all industries will be in technology.

How-To Start & Advance a Successful IT Career

- Salary & career information of the top IT careers
- All IT jobs from Dice, Monster, and over 5,000 career sites
- Best IT degrees & certificates for working adults
- Career highlights & industries

#1 - Networking & Data Systems 

Expected growth rate between now and 2014: 54.6%

Find all Networking & Security Management Jobs from 5,000+ job boards

As companies grow, they always need to maintain and upgrade their computer networks, or install new ones. Knowledgeable IT professionals who understand network architecture, design, testing, and costing - will be in demand. (Note: according to BLS government data, this job is the #1 fastest growing position across any industry.)

Job Prospects for Networkng and Data Professionals
The number of computer networks, and the interlocking relationship between the networks is expanding rapidly. Network systems and data communications analysts design, evaluate, test and maintain a diverse array of networks, including LANS, WANS, Internet-based networks, intranets, and voice communication and wireless systems. A network might connect offices across continents or offices right down the hall. Conceiving of these networks is complex work, requiring IT professionals who can perform modeling, analysis, and ROI benefit studies.

Salary Information
* The middle 50 percent earn between $46,480 and $78,060.
* The highest 10 percent earn more than $95,040.
* The lowest 10 percent earn less than $36,260.
* The median annual salary: $60,600.

Top Industries & Pay
* Wired telecommunications carriers: $65,130.
* Insurance carriers: $64,660.
* Company and enterprise management: $64,170.
* Computer systems design: $63,910.
* Local government: $52,300.

Computer Degrees for Working Adults
Networking & Security Management Online Degrees - Degrees for Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Information Technology Manager (IT Manager), LAN Administrator (Local Area Network Administrator), Systems Engineer, Information Technology Director (IT Director), Network Manager, Network Specialist

#2 - Computer Applications Software Engineer 

Expected growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 48.4%

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The voracious hunger for new software applications won't abate anytime in the foreseeable future. Firms of all sizes will require the services of developers who can write and customize software in response to constantly changing consumer and industrial needs.

Job Description
Armed with an alphabet soup of programming languages, including C, C++, Java - and several still being developed - the computer software engineer develops application for personal computers, servers, and computer networks. The work is extremely detail oriented; software developers construct code line by line. Yet it is also conceptual and creative, requiring the developer to understand the "big picture" needs of the program. Note: since this work can be done anywhere, this job is vulnerable to offshore outsourcing.

Salary Information
* The middle 50 percent earned between $59,130 and $92,130.
* The highest 10 percent earned more than $113,830.
* The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,520.
* The median annual salary: $74,980.

Top Industries & Pay
* Software publishers: $79,930.
* Technical consulting services: $78,460.
* Computers systems design: $76,910.
* Company and enterprise management: $70,520.
* Insurance carriers: $68,440.

Computer Degrees for Working Adults
Computer Programming Online Degrees - Degrees for Software Engineer, Software Developer, Systems Engineer, Network Engineer, Publishing Systems Analyst, Application Developer, Averaged HEND (High-Energy Neutron Data) Data Product Lead (AHD Product Lead), Customer Information Control System Programmer (CICS Programmer), Program Analyst, Systems Programmer

15 Month Software Engineering Degree

#3 - Computer Systems Engineer 

Expected growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 43%

Find all Computer Systems Engineering Jobs from 5,000+ job boards

Today's computer systems are growing obsolete by the minute. Consequently, top systems engineers, experts who can conceive of, build, and maintain networks and data centers, will find plenty of job openings.

Job title: Computer systems software engineer

Job growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 43%

Job Description
A systems engineer builds a company's computer system and/or data center, and so must understand the overall needs of the enterprise. The systems they design often encompasses all or part of an enterprise's inventory, employee communication, billing, and data storage requirements. Systems engineers must build these systems as cost effectively as possible, creating a secure system that allows for future updates.

Salary Information
* The middle 50 percent earned between $63,150 and $98,220,
* The highest 10 percent earned more than $118,350.
* The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,420.
* The median annual salary: $79,740.


Top Industries & Pay

* Scientific research and development: $91,390.
* Computer equipment manufacturing: $87,800.
* Software publishers: $83,670.
* Computer systems design: $79,950.
* Telecommunications carriers: $74,370.

Computer Degrees for Working Adults
Computer Systems Engineer Online Degrees - Degrees for Software Engineer, Application Integration Engineer, Programmer Analyst, Computer Consultant, Software Architect, Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, Business Systems Analyst, Programmer, Software Analyst.

#4 - Network and Computer Systems Administration 

Expected growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 38.4%

Find all Network and Computer Systems Administration Jobs from 5,000+ job boards

It'll be a hot job in the future and it's hot right now: in many tech job banks, "Windows network administrator" is one of the job titles with the most openings.

Job title: Network and computer systems administrator

Job growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 38.4%

Job Description
It's safe to say that the entire enterprise relies upon the network administrator. All those humming machines, the big interconnected servers that make everything function - without a skilled and ever-vigilant administrator, it all ceases to function. The employees can't even send a simple e-mail. Making the administrator's job that much more complicated: they often have to manage the IT support people who tend to the network.

Salary Information
* The middle 50 percent earned between $46,260 and $73,620.
* The highest 10 percent earned more than $91,300.
* The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,100.
* The median annual salary: $58,190.

Top Industries & Pay
* Wired telecommunications carriers: $65,120.
* Computer systems design: $63,710.
* Management of companies and enterprises: $61,600.
* Elementary and secondary schools: $51,420.
* Colleges and universities: $51,170.

Computer Degrees for Working Adults
Network and Computer Systems Administration Online Degrees - Degrees for Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Information Technology Manager (IT Manager), LAN Administrator (Local Area Network Administrator), Systems Engineer, Information Technology Director (IT Director), Network Manager, Network Specialist

#5 - Database Administrator 

Expected growth rate between 2004 to 2014: 38.2%

Find all Database Administration Jobs from 5,000+ job boards

Is there any doubt that the amount of information we store will grow faster than we can keep track of it? As archived information keeps doubling and tripling, the need for database administrators to organize and maintain these storage systems will increase as well.

Job Description
Think of them as the librarian - or rather, the meta-librarian - of the computer age. Database administrators maintain storage systems, running these archival networks with an eye toward maximizing user efficiency. (Indeed, part of a database manager's job is assisting management and employees with database use.) Administrators monitor their system's performance constantly. Going forward, security is becoming an increasingly important aspect of database maintenance.

Salary Information
* The middle 50 percent earned between $44,490 and $81,140.
* The highest 10 percent earned more than $97,450.
* The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,380.
* The median annual salary: $70,530.

Top Industries & Pay
* Wired telecommunications carriers: $65,130.
* Insurance carriers: $64,660.
* Company and enterprise management: $64,170.
* Computer systems design: $63,910.
* Local government: $52,300.

Computer Degrees for Working Adults
Database Administration Online Degrees - Degrees for Database Administrator (DBA), Database Analyst, Database Coordinator, Database Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Systems Manager

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Former IT Pro at Microsoft and other high tech companies, I enjoy helping people find work, and using the Internet effectively to land their next job.

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