Professional development

Can I make six figures working in tech? Here are the best tech jobs for 2022

Technology is the industry to be in these days. New jobs are being created every day, and organizations worldwide are investing in everything from emerging technologies to cybersecurity, data analytics and much more.

In fact, Glassdoor — a job and recruiting website — recently released its list of the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022. We aren’t the least bit surprised to discover that 21 of the top 50 jobs on the list are tech jobs. Even better, 16 of them have a median base salary of $100,000+.

Of course, we must make it clear that the data this list is based on represents data aggregated on the Glassdoor platform. But the information presented is not wildly exaggerated. It tracks with CompTIA data, too.

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For example, the CompTIA Tech Jobs report shows that employment in the U.S. technology sector increased for the 14^th consecutive month in January 2022, continuing to prove to be a great career path for IT professionals breaking into the industry. Employer job postings for open positions grew from 332,000 to over 339,000 in January alone.

The demand is there. Organizations are looking for qualified IT pros to bridge gaps and fill newly created positions — and they are willing to pay a pretty penny. But how do you get the skills you need to make that kind of money? That’s where IT certifications can help.

CompTIA categorizes technology jobs across five buckets:

1. IT support
2. Computer networking and infrastructure
3. Cybersecurity
4. Software and web development
5. Data and analytics

IT support is considered a launching pad for a career in technology, and CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for getting started. The other four buckets include entry-level, intermediate and advanced-level jobs. Following these career pathways could earn you a paycheck with lots of zeros. Let’s look at the training, skills and experience you need to land one of these most in-demand and high-paying technology jobs.

Cybersecurity jobs

There’s always something new to learn in technology — and staying at least one step ahead of cybercriminals is the goal. If you have a technical background and an interest in cybersecurity, do your homework and inventory what skills you need to specialize in.

If you don’t have a technical background, start by establishing that core foundation of knowledge, getting some experience, and then upskill. Think of every position you have as steppingstones to something bigger and better.

The following cybersecurity job roles appear on the Glassdoor Best Jobs in America for 2022 list. While it is helpful to have a degree in computer science or a related field, there are multiple pathways to becoming a cybersecurity professional, and earning IT certifications can accelerate learning.

Glassdoor Ranking

Tech Job

Cert(s)

Experience and/or Skills Required

Salary*

#1

Enterprise architect CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Threats, attacks, security protocols, firewalls, VPNs, IDS, backup and recovery systems $144,997

#15

Information security engineer

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

CompTIA PenTest+ Programming languages, network security technologies, database platforms and operating systems $116,919

*Median base salary based on Glassdoor data. See what these positions earn in your area with the CompTIA IT Salary Calculator.

Software and web development jobs

There’s already an app for everything, yet somehow new ideas are born every day! If you know how to program and code, the job opportunities in this area are endless. Software developers must identify the core functionalities that users need, while web developers are responsible for the design and look of the site as well as performance and capacity. Both roles require customer-facing skills to determine client wants and needs.

The following software and web development job roles appear on the Glassdoor Best Jobs in America for 2022 list. While holding a degree in computer science or a related field is helpful, further developing specific skills via IT certifications can help you home in on your creative and technical passions.

Glassdoor Ranking

Tech Job

Cert(s)

Experience and/or Skills Required

Salary*

#6

Machine learning (ML) engineer AWS Machine Learning Plan ML platforms, programming languages, probability and statistics, data modeling, ML algorithms and software development $130,489

#8

Software engineer ICCP Certified Software Engineer, Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) Programming languages, coding, software development, UI toolkits and frameworks, troubleshooting and testing $116,638

#11

Back end engineer

Coding boot camp(s)

Back end developer boot camp(s) Coding, server-side programming languages, application code, data structures and development frameworks $112,384

#9

Java developer

Coding boot camp(s)

Java course(s) Java, other programming languages, DevOps tools, relational databases, web technologies and application containers $107,099

#2

Full stack engineer

Coding boot camp(s)

Web development boot camp(s) Programming languages, coding, front end and back end technologies $101,794

#24

UX designer UX design boot camp(s) UX design fundamentals, user and market research, strategy and product development $97,047

#37

QA engineer

Certified Test Engineer (CTE)

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) Software quality assurance approaches, SQL and scripting, application development and software testing $87,626

#38

Front end engineer Web development course(s) Coding languages, server-side CSS, graphic design applications, SEO and version control $81,136

*Median base salary based on Glassdoor data. See what these positions earn in your area with the CompTIA IT Salary Calculator.

Data and analytics jobs

For years, organizations have been collecting all sorts of data, but they’ve only been scratching the surface when it comes to utilizing it. The data and analytics job market is booming because companies are seeking qualified people to fill these roles. This demand is one reason CompTIA recently released CompTIA Data+, an early-career data analytics certification for those tasked with promoting data-driven business decision-making.

The following data analytics job roles appear on the Glassdoor Best Jobs in America for 2022 list. While considered a technology position, many of these jobs don’t require the technical skills you’d expect but instead require a knack for visualization, communication and big picture thinking.

Glassdoor Ranking

Tech Job

Cert(s)

Experience and/or Skills Required

Salary*

#47

Database architect CompTIA Data+ Database administration, Oracle, Linux, SQL skills, data analysis, management and reporting $140,000

#3

Data scientist

SAS Certified Data Scientist

CompTIA Linux+ Data models and algorithms, programming languages, command line, big data patterns and trends $120,000

#7

Data engineer

CompTIA Data+

Google Professional Data Engineer Big data management, complex queries, data design and architecture $113,960

#35

Data analyst CompTIA Data+ Data interpretation and visualization, databases, data collection systems, data models and data analytics methodologies $74,224

*Median base salary based on Glassdoor data. See what these positions earn in your area with the CompTIA IT Salary Calculator.

Computer networking and infrastructure jobs

We hear a lot about innovative software and app development, the high-stakes world of cybersecurity, and the sheer potential data and analytics has to offer. But none of these technologies would even be possible without secure and stable infrastructure.

Security, mobility, agility and resiliency all depend on a solid network architecture, and companies need qualified IT pros to support and manage it. Additionally, the accelerated need for digital transformation and remote work will continue to push demand for workers in the future.

The following IT infrastructure job roles appear on the Glassdoor Best Jobs in America for 2022 list. While it is helpful to have a degree in computer science or a related field, it’s not always a deal breaker. Earning IT certifications can help you validate the specific skills you need to land one of these jobs.

Glassdoor Ranking

Tech Job

Cert(s)

Experience and/or Skills Required

Salary*

#29

Site reliability engineer Boot camps and skill-specific courses Software development, operating systems, CI/CD, version control tools, monitoring tools, cloud-native apps and distributed computing $137,252

#4

DevOps engineer Coding boot camp Software development, networking and IT infrastructure operations $120,095

#12

Cloud engineer

CompTIA Cloud+

CompTIA Linux+ Networking, security, programming, cloud computing and project management $118,999

#32

Scrum master

Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Registered Scrum Master (RSM) Scrum/Agile, project management, foundational understanding of software development processes $109,284

#45

Solutions engineer CompTIA Network+ Software and hardware for business, sales, customer service or product-focused work $100,915

#30

Systems engineer

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Server+ Information security, systems engineering, integration or systems architecture $100,831

#21

Automation engineer Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) Robotics, databases, statistics, AI and control systems $86,832

*Median base salary based on Glassdoor data. See what these positions earn in your area with the CompTIA IT Salary Calculator.

What are you waiting for?

There is a place for everyone in the technology industry. If you have the desire to learn and the dedication to succeed, there is a pathway that’s right for you. The trick is finding that pathway and sticking to your plan. Start your journey to a stable, lucrative and rewarding career today.

What should you learn next?

From SOC Analyst to Secure Coder to Security Manager — our team of experts has 12 free training plans to help you hit your goals. Get your free copy now.

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This article originally appeared on CompTIA's blog.

Sources

• 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022, Glassdoor
• CompTIA Tech Jobs Report, CompTIA