Is Technology the Right Career Path for You?

From artificial intelligence programming to SQL coding, there are several in-demand tech careers for 2024 professionals to know about. Whether you’re passionate about creating programs or becoming a specialist who deep-dives into web development, there’s a career open to you.

Still, you may be asking: is technology a good career path in 2024? Read on to learn why the answer is a resounding “yes”… and how you can jumpstart your tech career ASAP.

Is Technology a Good Career Path?

Technology is one of the most promising career paths out there. No matter your age, starting your career in technology gets you into a competitive field.

Plus, those in technology will have an even better edge in the job market going forward. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that careers in the technology sector will grow by 15% before 2031.

Tech is going to be in demand no matter what happens because of our ever-changing and ever-evolving world. This makes it a great industry to hedge your bets on since you’ll have job security.

Technology is also lucrative and can make you a six-digit salary. IT professionals tend to make between $77,000 and $128,000 annually. Most specialists start with a pay range of about $50,000 and work their way up as they build skills and gain certifications.

What Career Paths Are There?

Of course, your exact salary will depend on what area of technology you plan to work in.

IT managers and consultants work to plan and coordinate computer activities for companies. They often work for corporations in-house, but there are contractor positions available for businesses that outsource IT operations. Some duties include fixing crashes, preventing downtime, upgrading servers, and keeping data organized.

Not everyone who likes tech is going to be interested in IT, and that’s totally okay.

After all, one of the biggest benefits of a career in technology is how diverse the field is!

Software Developers

Software developers are some of the highest-paid tech experts out there with a $120,730 median salary. This makes sense when you consider that they’re the foundation of the technology industry.

A software developer designs and builds both computer systems and software. They consider problems that individuals and enterprises have and create technology to resolve pain points.

Sometimes, this may mean creating AI-powered software to organize and update files. Other times, this may mean developing and launching user-friendly interfaces to collect communications on files within one convenient mobile dashboard. The possibilities are so diverse that they’re basically limitless.

There are three different kinds of software developers:

• Front-end developers who work on the user end of software
• Back-end developers who work on the behind-the-scenes functional backbone of software
• Full-stack developers who do both and develop full technologies

If you’re someone who enjoys creating and innovating, this is a great career path. Developing software requires a lot of skill and ingenuity, so it’s ideal for those who enjoy challenges.

Data Analytics

Becoming a data analyst means looking at and evaluating the raw data that a company uses each day. You figure out what the facts and figures are saying and what they mean for businesses. You can then bring data-backed insights to the organization and make recommendations for meaningful and sensible decision-making.

Data analysis is also sometimes called data science. Those who practice it have advanced analytical techniques and understand machine learning and predictive models. This allows experts to create insightful projections for the future and figure out what the company needs to do to foster success with the technology they use.

Cybersecurity Experts

Since a single data breach can cost a company $4.45 million, cybersecurity jobs will always be in high demand.

Cybersecurity experts dedicate themselves to assessing machines, networks, and systems for vulnerabilities. This often means ethical hacking with simulated malware to find the sites of potential breaches. Once these holes are found, the cybersecurity team will patch them up to keep cybercriminals out.

Those in digital security positions also understand the different types of firewalls and authentication software out there. They can install the appropriate one on your system to keep your business safe. As a cybersecurity expert, you’ll also upgrade software and make sure that it prevents against the latest malware.

You’ll also learn how to monitor trends in business networks to find suspicious activity. Part of your job will be troubleshooting potential issues and stopping threats before they become serious problems.

Other Positions

Of course, these are just a few options for those looking to begin technology careers. You also may want to look into:

• Quality assurance
• Help desk analyst careers
• Technical support specialist careers
• Cloud engineering
• Web design
• Web development
• Sales or network engineering
• Business intelligence analysis
• Data modeling
• Systems administration
• Operations and performance analysis

This is still just the tip of the iceberg, so research available jobs and determine which is right for you.

The Benefits of Technology Careers

Beyond high pay and diverse job options, one of the best things about a career in technology is how rewarding it is.

People and businesses use technology in lots of meaningful ways. For example, a software developer is responsible for creating apps that help people monitor their heart rate and blood pressure. A data analyst will help companies that offer useful products to both B2B and B2C consumers be more successful.

Plus, coming up with new ways to use technology contributes to innovation. This can mean scientific advancement, healthcare hacks, easier access to knowledge, and organized and accessible research. It also can just make people happy if you’re a video game developer or social media engineer!

No matter what, you’ll always go to bed knowing that you’ve done meaningful work.

Flexible and Convenient Careers

Tech jobs require a lot of skilled labor, and those who want to get positions need to take online bootcamp and get certification in their areas. Because it’s such an intense (but rewarding) process, you’ll be a really competitive hire even when you’re just getting into the field.

Because of this, you’ll have more leave to negotiate your hours and salary. You’ll be able to select your own hours and tackle whatever projects you choose.

Many people in technology also embrace the idea of being their own bosses. This means that they can choose what companies to contract with based on personal preferences. You’ll have the chance to be in control of your workload and develop a good work/life balance.

Remote Positions

Since 90% of tech companies allow remote work, structuring your job around your life is becoming the new norm in the industry. You’ll have a high chance at a work-from-home position when you choose a technology career.

This is partly because you can develop software from any location. As new technologies emerge, you’ll be increasingly able to control servers remotely. You already can access onsite machines from laptops and other devices from all the way across the world.

If you enjoy travel or are a night owl who doesn’t want to work regular 9-5 hours, technology jobs are bound to be more accommodating of your lifestyle than other positions.

Starting Your Career in Technology

Another great thing about a career in technology is that it doesn’t require a college degree. While you can get one, the only real thing you need to do is complete online coursework in whatever tech-related field you plan to go into.

The first step toward certification is to determine which Coding Temple class is right for you. From software engineering to quality assurance, we have multiple pathways for people with differing passions.

You can choose full-time courses or part-time ones depending on your schedule. If you’re balancing lots of responsibilities, there are also flex courses that let you study on your own time independently.

After choosing a course, you’ll take a basic skills assessment in under five minutes. This will test your cognitive skills to see how much you’re able to think like an innovative programmer.

After that, schedule an admissions call and secure your seat. You’ll then be able to pay either upfront or as you learn.

Once you know your course and payment method, it’s time to begin studying. You’ll learn the ins and outs of your desired position and how you can succeed while on the job. You’ll also take assessments that prove you know what you’re talking about.

This ultimately leads to certification!

Once you prove your skills and have access to professional certification, you can then present it to potential employers. This shows them that you have a thorough understanding of your career and gives them a concrete reason to hire you. You’ll have the potential to get more positions and higher pay!

Beyond Choosing Your Career Path

So, is technology a good career path? To say that it’s “good” is a massive understatement. It’s one of the best because of its in-demand, lucrative, and eternally-growing nature.

Now that you know how to learn technology skills and get a head start on your career, it’s time to get started. Coding Temple offers a wide range of courses to those looking to learn tech skills and get certified to work with computers and other machines. Apply for our courses today to make yourself competitive in an ever-evolving market.