Top 10 Tech Jobs in the United States

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Hi Guy's, not sure if this has been posted here or not yet, but...

Posted: May 23, 2006 on the MCP website

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

Top 10 Technology Jobs in the Future (data specific to the United States)

With nearly 20,000 new tech jobs created this year, the US Information Technology industry appears to be in healthy shape. In addition, the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report points to employers' confidence in expanding their payrolls in the coming months. The Robert Half survey found that 12 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) intend to expand their IT departments in the second quarter of 2006, while only four percent plan staff reductions. Business growth is the primary motivation for adding IT staff. Other factors driving IT hiring include customer support, ERP installation, systems upgrades, information security and regulator compliance.

"Many CIOs are adding IT personnel gradually to support recent business growth," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Competition is increasing for professionals skilled in the hottest applications and specialties, and multiple offers are increasingly common."

This personnel growth provides a great opportunity for Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) to use Microsoft Certification as a differentiator, making it simple for employers to validate the skills you can contribute to a growing IT department on a specific technology.

According to executives, the technical skill set most in demand within their IT departments is Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administration (81 percent of the response). Wireless network management was cited by 52 percent of CIOs, followed by SQL Server management at 49 percent.

When asked which overall job category was experiencing the most growth within their IT departments, the top reply was help desk and end-user support, with 21 percent of the response. Networking followed at 15 percent and data and database management was third, with 13 percent of the response.

As an MCP, you might hold a credential—MCSE, MCSA: Security, MCDST, or new SQL Server 2005 certifications, for example—that is a clear first signal to employers that you hold the technical skills required on their team.

The improved hiring landscape may encourage some unhappy workers to look for better opportunities this year. Nineteen percent of IT workers report being dissatisfied with their jobs, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual forecast. One-third of IT workers plan to change jobs in 2006, and 38 percent of workers say they have changed jobs five or more times over the course of their careers.

If you are in the market to switch jobs this year, here, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are 10 of the hottest IT jobs and their median salaries in United States Dollars

Computer applications software engineers Median salary: $74,980
Computer systems analysts, systems developers or systems architects Median salary: $66,460
Software quality assurance analysts Median salary: $66,460
Programmer-analysts Median salary: $66,460
Technical support specialists Median salary: $40,430
Help-desk technicians Median salary: $40,430
Network administrators and computer systems administrators Median salary: $58,190
Computer security specialists Median salary: $40,430
Computer systems software engineers Median salary: $79,740
Network systems and data communications analysts Median salary: $60,600
*From 2004 — most recent data available from the BLS.

About the author: Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Thought that some may find this useful...

-Ken