The 10 Fastest-Rising Tech Jobs (and Skills They Require)
Like many others, the tech industry has experienced layoffs, furloughs and hiring pauses due to the economic impact of the coronavirus. However, new Indeed data shows that tech job interest has risen this year by around 35%.¹ At Indeed, we’re here to help. If you’re currently looking for tech jobs or interested in entering the field, we’ve identified the fastest-rising tech jobs determined by the increase in job postings this year along with the top skills commonly required for each of those job titles.
The most frequently-posted tech postings on Indeed
Methodology: We’ve identified which job titles in the tech category on Indeed have seen the highest percentage change in the share of job postings from January 2020 to September 2020. We’ve also identified the top skills for those roles by analyzing the most frequently mentioned terms in job postings for each job title from September 1 to October 1, 2020.
10. Senior technical director
National average salary: $196,397
Because more senior-level roles are less frequently available, you might find it encouraging that there has been a ~160% increase in demand by employers for senior technical director positions since January 2020. In this role, you might be responsible for the overall direction, coordination, quality and output of the technical support for an entire company. This role requires you to be a leader among leaders—driving leadership team members’ performance and working to increase team efficiency and effectiveness.
Top skills:
Read more: Learn About Being a Technical Director
9. Server architect
National average salary: $92,203
As a server architect, you would be responsible for the continuous development and growth of a company’s server and storage infrastructure. This includes server and storage systems planning, architecture and optimization. Employer demand for server architects has grown ~167% since January of this year.
Top skills:
Microsoft SQL Server
Middleware
Embedded software
8. Junior software consultant
National average salary: $58,594
Software consultants advise clients on how to configure large applications, write code and fix bugs. There are a variety of role opportunities available for software consultants, which have increased in demand by 167% since January. You can work temporarily or permanently with a single client, act as an internal consultant for a company or offer your services as an independent consultant.
Junior software consultants may be brought into a company to learn about the business goals and needs, analyze computer systems and offer recommendations for how software can make business processes more efficient. As a software consultant, you are acknowledged as an expert in your field, so it’s important to remain passionate and knowledgeable about advancements in tech.
Top skills:
C#
Java
Hadoop
DevOps
Python
7. Junior technical support
National average salary: $52,563
Growing in demand by employers 223% since January, junior technical support specialists troubleshoot customers’ technical problems. The support you offer can range from providing assistance with resetting passwords, digital interface maintenance and wireless and wired network maintenance, modems/routing, internet connections, wireless service and setting up email accounts. As a technical support specialist, you’ll diagnose the customers’ technical problems and provide accurate, prompt, and consistent resolution.
Top skills:
Software troubleshooting
Debugging
System administration
System design
Read more: Learn About Being a Technical Support Specialist
6. Senior CAD operator
National average salary: $67,650
Employer demand for senior CAD operators grew by ~234% this year. As a senior CAD operator, you should have multiple years of experience using computer-aided design systems to draft, edit and finalize design plans in industries like construction, building and manufacturing. Even though most of your work will be done on a computer, you should be able to prepare manual drawings when needed. In addition to a demonstrated proficiency with AutoCAD, you should have strong reasoning, mathematical and geometric skills.
Top skills:
Microsoft Excel
CAD
AutoCAD
Drafting
MicroStation
5. Junior technical consultant
National average salary: $60,057
Recent graduates with degrees in computer science or related technical fields should consider junior technical consultant opportunities. These roles have seen a ~256% increase in employer demands since January, with many accepting internships and school projects as demonstrated experience in the field.
As a junior technical support consultant, you will provide evidence-based analytics, data reporting solutions and critical communications management to clients by helping to design and implement effective solutions to deliver value and improve business performance. Strong communications are needed including the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively.
Top skills:
4. Junior enterprise architect
National average salary: $144,752
Companies face a growing demand to reduce costs, increase flexibility and use their IT assets effectively, making it easy to see why junior architect job postings have seen an increase of 278% over last year. Enterprise architects are responsible for making sure a company's information technology structure is in alignment to support the business to achieve its goals. Even at a junior level, you may be required to have a strong educational background and experience working in IT or a similar field for several years.
Top skills:
Read more: Learn About Being an Enterprise Architect
3. Entry level PC technician
National average salary: $18.37/hour
Entry-level PC technician roles are a great way to gain experience in IT. As a PC technician, you’ll offer desktop support to clients, helping to troubleshoot hardware and software issues on both PC’s and laptop computers.
Growing ~434% in employer demand since January, entry-level roles may require one to two years of experience working with Windows operating systems and a strong working knowledge of Microsoft products. Certifications like CompTIA A+ are encouraged but not required to be considered a strong candidate for this role.
Top skills:
Customer service
Heavy lifting
Microsoft Office
Windows operating system
Communication skills
Software development
Related: 5 IT Certifications for Your Career
2. Junior helpdesk
National average salary: $42,542
Junior helpdesk roles saw one of the highest increases in demand by employers this year with a ~501% change in share of postings on Indeed since January 2020. As a helpdesk technician, you’ll work as part of an IT department and act as the first line of defense when tech isn’t working properly.
Helpdesk roles provide technical support, troubleshooting software and hardware issues, and advise customers on product features. These roles require a mix of hard and soft skills to solve problems creatively while also communicating complex technical ideas to customers at their individual level of understanding.
Top skills:
Organizational skills
Customer service
Software Troubleshooting
1. Entry-level PHP Developer
National average salary: $73,334
Entry-level PHP developer roles saw the highest jump with an astonishing 834% increase in the share of job postings for the role on Indeed since January 2020. As a PHP developer, you can expect to work as part of a team to build code for web-applications. You may also troubleshoot, test and maintain the core product’s software and databases. Years of experience for entry-level roles can range from one to five years, and you can expect to be required to demonstrate experience scripting in PHP beyond education in an interview.
Top skills:
Software development
CSS
HTML5
¹ Methodology: Indeed analyzed the percentage change in the share of job seeker searches for jobs in the technology category on its job search site from September 2019 to September 2020
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