If you’re considering going back to school for a career in information technology, of course you want to make sure that the time and financial investment you make will pay off with a lucrative career. Read on to learn more about the ten best computer jobs, evaluated by projected growth over the next decade as well as salary. The ranking methodology of the list first takes into account number of new jobs over the next ten years as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; salary is a secondary factor, with level of education needed as a tertiary consideration. By preparing for one of these careers, you ensure that you and your family will enjoy job security that will persevere.
Discover the ten best computer jobs for the future:
Mobile Application Developer
Mobile App Developer Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 32% (much faster than avg.)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 292,000 new jobs
- Average Salary: $95,000
- Mobile App Developer Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsMobile application development is one of the world's fastest growing occupations. As smart phones and tablets continue to change the way we communicate, do business, and access news & entertainment, the demand for new and innovative mobile apps is growing at an incredible speed. This increased demand translates to one of the largest IT skills gaps ever realized – there are simply more mobile app development job openings than skilled application developers to fill them. Google's Android and Apple's iOS (iPhone & iPad) platforms will continue to offer the most job opportunities for mobile developersDatabase Administrator
Database Administrator Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 31% (much faster than avg.)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 33,900 new jobs
- Average Salary: $82,000
- DBA Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsBusinesses are accumulating record amounts of digital information, spurring the need for trained and certified DBAs to store, organize, analyze and secure this data. In addition, as more databases are connected to the Internet and cloud, data security will become increasingly vital & complex; database administrators and developers - especially those with information security skills - will be hired to protect corporate databases from hackers and other security threats.Software Engineer
Software Engineer Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 30% (much faster than avg.)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 270,900 new jobs
- Average Salary: $90,000
- Software Engineer Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsThe demand for software engineers will rise along with technological advancements and the proliferation of emerging network technologies. For example, increased corporate adoption of cloud and virtualization strategies will create a surge in demand for applications software engineers who can design and develop secure web-based programs. Likewise, as the sophistication and adoption of electronic data-processing systems continues to rise, the need to implement and upgrade to these new computer systems will fuel job creation for systems software engineers.Video Game Designer
Video Game Designer Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 30% (much faster than avg.)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 270,900 new jobs
- Average Salary: $80,000
- Video Game Designer Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsThe $65+ billion dollar gaming industry has more than tripled in size over the last decade with no signs of slowing. Beyond the booming market for traditional console and PC games, the increased popularity, processing power and graphics capabilities of mobile devices has unlocked a new world of employment opportunities for game designers, artists and programmers. Video game designers with mobile software development expertise will be especially sought after as smart phones & tablets, such as the iPhone and iPad, continue to change how video games are accessed and played. Game designers will also benefit from growing public and private sector demand for intelligent simulation programs, e.g., military flight simulators.Network Administrator
Network Administrator Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 28% (much faster than avg.)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 96,600 new jobs
- Average Salary: $69,000
- Network Administrator Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsDemand for network administrators will continue to rise as organizations invest in new systems and network technologies to increase productivity and gain a competitive advantage. The rapid adoption of tablets and smartphones – and "Bring your own device" (BYOD) policies – into corporate culture means more organizations will use the Internet to conduct business online, translating to increased job opportunities for network administrators and network managers who can help businesses securely utilize these emerging technologies to communicate with employees and customers.IT Security Specialist
IT Security Specialist Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 22% (faster than average)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 65,700 new jobs
- Average Salary: $87,000
- IT Security Specialist Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsSecurity will remain a top concern for IT executives and hiring managers as the frequency, scope and complexity of cyber attacks continues to escalate. IT executives interviewed in Computerworld’s 2012 IT forecast survey report actively seeking professionals with information security skills, but finding it difficult to locate good talent. This indicates an incredible opportunity for technology professionals to advance their security skills and credentials. Computer security skills in the greatest demand in 2012 and beyond include IT operations security, mobile device security, risk management, information assurance, network and cloud/virtualization security.Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analyst Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 22% (faster than average)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 120,400 new jobs
- Average Salary: $79,000
- Computer Systems Analyst Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsAs organizations continue to increase their reliance on technology, computer systems analysts will be hired to architect new systems across all industries. Healthcare is a key field for systems analyst job growth, as aggressive government mandates and funding initiatives continue to drive rapid increases in electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, electronic-Rx services and other healthcare software projects that require the development of custom computer systems. The U.S. Department of Labor also predicts a 43% increase in systems analyst hiring at IT consulting firms, which translates to a huge amount of freelance and contract employment opportunities.Web Developer
Web Developer Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 22% (faster than average)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 65,700 new jobs
- Average Salary: $91,000
- Web Developer Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsEach year, a record number of businesses bring their offerings to the Internet. As the number of products and services available online continues to grow, web developers and designers will enjoy increased job opportunities. Proliferation of social media, social networking and other Web 2.0 communities will boost demand for web developers as businesses look to engage a new generation of customers and spur a competitive advantage in these rapidly growing platforms.Health Information Technician
Health Information Technician Employment Proj. | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 21% (faster than average)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 37,700 new jobs
- Average Salary: $46,000
- Health Information Technician Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsHealth care will produce more new computer jobs from 2012 through 2020 than any other single industry. Aggressive government mandates and funding incentives for hospitals and private health practices to adopt centralized electronic medical record (EMR) systems, is driving unprecedented hiring of health information technicians who are trained & certified in these new technologies. Health information technicians earn the lowest starting salary on this list, however the required education is the quickest (typically a 2-year degree program in Health IT), plus candidates learning now will be well-positioned for lucrative management positions as the health IT job market continues its rapid expansion.Technology Manager
Technology Manager Employment Projections | 2010 - 2020- 10-Year Growth Pct: 18% (faster than average)†
- 10-Year Growth Volume: 55,800 new jobs
- Average Salary: $111,000
- Technology Manager Career Path ››
Key Growth FactorsJob growth for information technology managers is directly tied to the growth rates of the IT workers they supervise. Record-breaking growth in a wide range of technical career fields – including networking, mobile development, software engineering, databases and virtualization – will continue from 2013 through 2020 and beyond, in turn fueling demand for talented IT managers. Additional growth will be driven by increased focus on information security and the hiring of additional IT security personnel.