Software Developer Salary

With the growth of Information Technology sector, the demand for talented and experienced software developers has increased to a great extent. The software industry has achieved tremendous progress in the United States of America and in Asian countries like India creating many job opportunities. As a result, the junior and senior level salaries of a software developer continue to show a strong upward trend.

Software Developer Salary Details

The salary for software developers largely depends on their several years of experience, their place of work, educational qualifications and skills. Software development salaries have always been an attraction for young students to enter this field. Though the average software developer salary is quite high as compared to several other professions, the entry-level software developer salary might be low in some regions. The median software developer salary is around USD 72,000 per year according to job market experts. Average software programmer salary can be around USD 60,000 per year. Junior software developer salary for those having an experience of less than two years can be in the range of USD 35,000 to USD 45,000 per year. The starting average software developer salary can be USD 50,000 to USD 60,000 per year for those who pass out of reputed colleges. The computer programmer salary for those having an experience of three to five years can be in the range of USD 45,000 to USD 70,000 per year. Software developer salary for those with around eight to ten years of ability can be in the range of USD 65,000 to USD 90,000 per year. Senior software developer salary can be in the range of USD 1,00,000 to USD 1,75,000 or even more.

Software Developer Job Description

Software developers do the task of understanding and interpreting the technical documents in the software company in which they work. They also change the current software and ensure that it is working efficiently. Senior software developers have to take up the responsibility of monitoring, supervising and checking the work of the junior software developers and technicians. Software developers have to take care of the needs and requirements of the users while preparing the designs. Understanding the needs of the clients while preparing the new software and conducting training sessions for users to learn the software are also a part of the duties of a software developer. They are also responsible for creating test plans and technical specifications. Software developers often work in teams and groups to complete the assigned tasks in time. Software developers generally work in plush offices in well-known I.T. parks.

In order to become a software developer, you need to get a degree in Information Technology or computer science from a reputed institute. Securing admission in such an institute would need you to score well in subjects like Computers, Mathematics, Physics and English in high school. A master's degree in computer science can be the ideal way of entering this field. Initially you might have to work as a trainee before you become a full-time employee of a multinational software development corporation. A knowledge of latest software and programming languages and relevant certifications can be an added advantage while securing jobs in good software firms.

The data on average software developer salary, job description and educational requirements shows that this is an exciting field for youngsters. So make the most of this opportunity and secure your career!

Software Testing Career Growth Path Explained

When we start our career in software testing, we often get confused about our roles and responsibilities. Even when we get promoted from one role to another it becomes sometimes difficult to understand the new role properly. In this Software Testing Careerpath article I have tried to explain some of the common roles and responsibilities in software testing career. Also this will give you a clear direction on various growth paths available in your software test career.

Let’s check some of the common testing roles first:

Junior Test Engineer (No experinece/College pass graduates)- This is an entry level role where the tester will have some manual testing experience to develop test scripts. He should also begin to learn the testing life cycle and various testing techniques;

The question is what is your starting point: check this site for various beginer's guides, also take participation in the test forums such as SQA forum, geek interview etc. At this point gain as much theoritical knowledge ad possible. Also there is a site called utest where you can do freelance work on test project. This will give you some practical experience which you will be able to mention in your resume.

Test Engineer (2/3 Years of relevant experience)– In this role the test engineer should be able to independently write automated and manual test scripts. In this role further expansion of knowledge in programming languages, operating systems, network and database is needed;

Senior Test Engineer (3/4 Years of relevant experience) – In this role people can develop or maintain  testing process or standards and is responsible for peer assessment, and be able to guide junior test engineers;

Team Leader(5/6 Years of relevant experience) - Generally have five years experience, responsible for managing a small team. Is also responsible for scheduling, scope of work / cost estimates, schedule and budget targets, delivery of testing artifacts.

Test Manager – Generally people having more 7 to 10 years experience perform this role. Under them multiple team leads work.

• Responsible for delivery of all testing activities.

• Management status reporting for the test work stream

• Resolution of all issues and management of risks in the test work stream

• Liaison with delivery and environment teams

• Liaison with other test phases (i.e. Unit, Link, UAT and confidence testing)

• Consolidate test progress from test teams and communicate through daily and weekly reporting channels.

• Assessing achievement of test entry and exit criteria to enable progress through test phases and for handover to UAT & deployment teams.

Project manager (Typically for testing project) - In this role peole have many years of experience (more than 10) of testing / quality assurance activities. Personnel engaged in a number of projects, as well as the entire development life cycle. He is also responsible for the direction and grasps the profit and loss for the project.

Now we know the various roles present in the software testing field. So let’s move forward and see how we can go up in the ladder for this ever growing field:

Software testing career growth path:

1. Phase I, learn how to write test cases and at least one automated testing tools.

2. Phase II, study the preparation of test plans, test programs, test cases;

3. Phase III, study configuration management, version control, project management, bug management;

4. The fourth stage, become a test or project manager.

People choose the testing career because of two main reasons - some people what to goto the management direction and other prefer to stay in technical stream typically called test architects. Now we will see how one can become test manager or test architect in their testing career path.

1. Management Direction:

If you are a tester or a high-level testers, who wish to move to test management eventually then you need to strengthen the following areas:

1.First and foremost make sure you are getting good domain knowledge of few areas such as banking, insurance or some other areas which are in demand. This is age of specialists. People are looking for consultants. So try to do more than one project in one domain are to get the stamp of the test consultant of that area.

2. The preparation of test plan. You must be able to understand the testing related requirements independently from the client and prepare the test plan with scope of testing, features you are going to test, environment etc. Please refer the standard test plan template for the same available in this site.Also you should be able to do proper estimation with minimum requirement visibility.

3. Must be familiar with BUG tracking tool and software testing processes. (Such as: TD, Bugzilla, CQ, etc.)

4. Should be familiar with configuration management tools. (Eg: CVS, VSS, etc.)

5. Should be familiar with automated tools. (For example: WinRunner, QTP, Robot, RFT, Automation and so on). Atleast you know the framework or process to run an automation project.

6. Should be familiar with stress and performance testing tools. (For example: LoadRunner, WebLOAD, silk performance and so on). Atleast you know the framework or process to run an performance test project.

7. Be familiar or proficient in atleast one scripting language. (For example: Java script, vb script etc)

8. Should be familiar with the database and can create basic to advance SQL quesries. (For example: Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, MySQL)

9. Should be familiar with the mainstream operating system. (For example: HP Unix, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, Red Hat Linux, SuSE Linux, Windows)

10. Must be very confident in the office tools such as MS Office and MS Project.

Soft skills:

1. Must have good communication skill and can write emails in good English

2. Should be able to firmly communicate his thought inform of upper management and client with data.

3. Must maintain a good energy level while communication with a positive body language.

4. Can quickly react To learn new technology.

5. Always proactively helping and mentoring others or taking ownership of the extra responsibility in the project. This will help you to create extra visibility for you quickly in the upper management layer and help you to go up in the ladder.

2. Technical Direction:

White-box testing: This is more of a development stream activity but of course from testing team you can do that also. Here you will have the exposure to the code of the application and will be testing them in units.

Automated Test direction: This is a very good technical position for the testers. You can learn testing tools say QTP, RPT and do the advanced level scripting using VB script, java script etc. The current trend for automation testing is very good.

Performance testing area: This is another vast and demanding area of software testing, also very technical. Here also you need to understand the internal architecture of the application and test performance of each component. So a good amount of knowledge can be gained in the current hot application framework by doing performance testing. Also you will analyze the performance data and provide correct direction to the development team to fix the performance issue.

Software testing Career in India:

Software testing is a growing industry in the IT field in India. There was a demand of 25,000 professionals of ST in 2006 itself. The activities of software testing in India is set to cross bar 700 million to 1 billion dollars for STS 2007.Demand quality is set to open in full, since Indian companies can offer testing in very low cost compared to their global counterparts. However, remember that software testing is very different from software development. The tests have emerged from the shadow of programming and can be treated as a separate career. Vocational training is necessary to start a career in software testing.

Building a Career in GIS

The use of geospatial technologies is increasingly being used in a variety of fields.  GIS is being used in many different industries and the skills required to be a successful GIS professional have evolved over the years.  Below are recommendations on building a strong background in preparation for a career in GIS based on what the majority of employers are looking for.  However, keep in mind you will find a wide variety of work and educational backgrounds among those working in GIS jobs.  This post is a work in progress and will be updated as new skills and achievements are identified as being essential for developing a successful GIS career.
The starting point in building a successful career in GIS is a solid education. This involves taking classes in cartography, GIS, spatial analysis, database management, web technologies, and programming.  There are a lot of GIS certificate courses emerging that help solve the confusion as to which classes to take, but any department offering GIS coursework is a great starting point. Start by taking a general “what is GIS” themed course. This is important because it is important to understand the general concepts in GIS before actually attempting some of the functionality. Taking a good cartography course is critical as well. Often overlooked by many seeking GIS knowledge, a comprehension of cartographic techniques is especially important for understanding mapmaking and for learning how to create maps that are effective in communicating geographic data. The end process of visualizing spatial analysis can be tricky. Understand the methods by which one can display data is essential to effectively communicating with maps.
Most employers strongly prefer at least a bachelor’s degree.  Depending on the industry of the job listing, that degree would preferably be in Geography, Computer Science, Engineering, or Urban Planning.  Job seekers that have a bachelor’s degree in another major should supplement their college education with a certificate program.  Those striving for managerial positions in GIS will be more successful if they also have a master’s degree.

Learning GIS Software Applications

The next step is to take coursework that applies the concepts of GIS and cartography. These courses are always software specific so it’s important to choose a class that teaches the software you will be using once employed. Currently, ESRI products dominate about 70% of the GIS software market with MapInfo the nearest competitor. If you are unsure which software to learn, I suggest learning about ESRI’s ArcGIS suite of software, as these are the software applications most often required by employers. You can also do a job search of companies and agencies in the area you want to work in to see what GIS software they are requiring for employment. Classes specific to a GIS software package can be taken at most universities and colleges, through satellite courses from the software companies themselves, or through online or distance learning. ESRI offers free modules online for many introductory courses to their products.

The Next Level

The current trend in GIS is customization and application. More and more GIS packages are being altered to serve a specific GIS purpose. This could range from an Emergency Response System to an application customized to allow a user to generate mailing lists based on a spatially selected area. Many of the software packages contain some ability for customization using programming languages. The type of language will be affected by the software application. There are two different areas of customization: desktop applications and browser based applications. For the browser based mapping applications, understanding the various web-based languages such as HTML, Javascript, ASP and so forth is critical.
Since GIS analysis is involves the integration of spatial and tabular data, some knowledge of relational database management (RDBMS) is a must. Taking a class in SQL (structured query language) is important to mastering RDBMS and understanding structured query language (SQL).

Getting GIS Experience

As with all fields, nothing beats real-world experience. Internships are extremely popular in GIS as they allow the employer a cheap source of labor for lower level GIS tasks and, in turn, provide a valuable training experience for the intern. The only way to truly become proficient in GIS is to simply use it. The coursework will only serve to provide a base knowledge of the field and without some form of practical experience, most companies will not be interested in hiring. To find internships check with your school’s geography or urban planning department. Oftentimes companies and agencies looking for student help will advertise there. You can also directly inquire with places that you are interested in working for. Internships can lead to full-time positions.

Finding a Job

Once you’ve completed your coursework and gotten hands on work experience, where do you look for a job? There are quite a few job sites on the internet specializing exclusively in GIS employment opportunities. So write up a resume and cover letter and hit the internet. Aim for jobs that meet your education and experience level. In general, the hierarchy and required GIS experience for hands-on (i.e. non-managerial) positions is as follows:

Intern – Almost every higher level (Technician, Analyst, etc.) position will require some hand-on job training.  The best way to achieve this is through an internship.  Internships are mostly low-paying, part-time jobs but they are the best way to get further GIS training and to develop your GIS skills in a real world setting.  Learning GIS out of a textbook is a great way to get started, but in reality, few GIS tasks are solved as neatly as the “follow steps 1-10″ of your workbook.  Getting an internship has become more competitive in recent years.  To be a competitive candidate for an internship, only apply once you’ve taken a solid groundwork of GIS courses especially an “Introduction to GIS” class, a second advance GIS class, a separate cartography class (if available), and a class covering databases.  While an internship provides on-the-job training, you will mostly be expected to learn on your own so it’s important to already have a good baseline to start from.

Technician/Specialist – 1-2 years hands on experience with GIS based software. If you first took an internship you should be able to aim for these types of jobs. The job titles Technician and Specialist tend to be used interchangeably.  They are both journey level positions.  GIS Technicians should have a solid grasp on the most common GIS tasks.  Examples of those are: the ability to edit vector data, create data in a GIS software application from a multitude of sources (paper documents, Excel files, hand written maps, etc.), be able to work with external databases (such as Access and SQL Server) including understanding structured query language (SQL), understand projections and coordinate systems, work with GPS receivers to collect data, and  strong cartographic design skills.   While it’s not the only software package out there, a good majority of GIS positions are looking for proficiency in ArcGIS.  Having a good grasp on working with KML and KMZ files is also critical as some companies are using Google Maps and Google Earth for some tasks. Common tasks involve cartographic output (mapmaking) and data manipulation. A lot of positions are also starting to look for some basic programming experience.

Which IT jobs pay well and do NOT include software programming?

I am getting my Bachelors in Computer Systems Engineering and am in my third year. I have taken courses like CCNA, CCNET, C++, Java, microprocessors, databases, systems programming, logic design, and computer architecture. I am not a good software programmer, so I am looking for a career path related to computers that is not software programming but still pays well in the future. Which possible paths could I choose to pursue my further education? I appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Answer Wiki:

Dear Sir or Madam:

The best way to garner this kind of information is to look at IT salary surveys across a broad range of publications. If you were to do so, you'd see that numerous non-programming technical specialties in IT pay extremely well (but they also take years of experience, which you'll need to acquire on your way to such lofty compensation):

1. Information Security
2. Networked Storage Technologies (NAS, SAN, etc.)
3. Enterprise Resource Planning software (especially SAP)
4. Network Convergence Technologies (Voice, Video, Data & high-speed QoS infrastructures)

In short, there are many paths to a good career that don't involve programming. What you need to do is to find some topics where your interests and good opportunities coincide. You should probably be able to get some good help from your college or university recruiting/placement office or staff in this regard as well, and you may also want to talk to some of your professors about this subject while you're at it.

Good luck with your career planning, and thanks for posting,
--Ed--

Highest paid jobs in the UK 2011

We look at Britain's highest paying jobs and what sort of increases (or cuts) they've had in 2011, according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Ashe), conducted every year by the Office for National Statistics, uses data taken from a sample of 1% of company employees who pay tax via PAYE. Because of that, it's widely considered to be the most accurate assessment of what most people in the country earn – but equally there are several important pay factors that Ashe cannot show.
First, the data only applies to employees on company payrolls, so cannot reflect the earnings of the self-employed entrepreneurs, athletes and celebrities who between them constitute many of the country's really top earners.
Second, the survey only measures base pay and does not take into account additional methods of reward such as bonuses, pension payments, share options and so on.
Third, it cannot reveal the earnings of those with multiple income streams, such as legal and accounting partners, or directors of multiple companies.
This may explain why Ashe figures for directors and financial workers, although top ranked, look surprisingly low. The median full-time base pay in this category rose by 15.3% this year, partly due to a trend of shifting executive earnings away from bonuses and towards basic pay.
The gross median full-time salary in the UK for the year ending April 2011 was £26,244, up 1.4% year on year. Overall though, once part-time workers are included, median salaries increased by just 0.5%. The total number of full-time workers fell by 380,000 in 2011, with 72,000 more part-time employees reflecting the shift for many towards part-time work.
With UK economic growth at 0.5% in the third quarter of 2011, the survey therefore appears to offer a fairly accurate reflection of the economy in general.

Median or mean?

Unless stated, the salaries listed are gross full-time medians – so there are as many people earning less than the quoted figures as there are earning more. When comparing uneven sets of figures such as rates of pay, the median is considered more accurate than the mean, which can be skewed by high salaries. The percentage increase or decrease shown is relative to the corresponding 2010 figure.
To give a sense of how salaries are spread across workforces, the lowest and highest available percentiles for each job group are also shown – Ashe tries to give salaries from the 10th to the 90th percentiles, but where data has been deemed unreliable, we have given the lowest (*) or highest (✝) value available.

1. Head of major organisation £114,549 +15.3%

10th pct: £49,762. 80th pct^✝: £219,345.
Also known as: Chief executives; directors; general managers; managing directors. What they do: Lead enterprises and organisations employing more than 500 people. Plan, direct and co-ordinate resources for operations like processing, production, construction, maintenance, transport, storage, handling and warehousing, the resources of offices performing clerical and related functions and the specialist activities of enterprises. Well I never: In a recent PWC survey, 4.8% of directors claimed their board meetings lasted longer than 10 hours.

2. Medical practitioner £82,962 +1.5%

10th pct: £35,105. 80th pct^✝: £120,048.
Also known as: Anaesthetists; hospital service consultants; doctors; general practitioners; physicians; psychiatrists; psychoanalysts; registrars; surgeons. What they do: Diagnose mental and physical injuries, disorders and diseases, prescribe and give treatment, recommend preventative action; refer patients to a specialist. Well I never: 88% of GPs say their workload has risen in the last five years.

3. Senior national government official £78,182 +3.4%

40th pct*: £73,565. 60th pct^✝: £80,470.
Also known as: Assistant secretaries/Grade 5 (government); diplomats; MEPs; MPs; permanent secretaries. What they do: Formulate and ratify legislation and government policy, act as elected representatives of national, European or regional parliaments, and represent and direct diplomatic operations. Well I never: MPs elected to the last (2005-2010) parliament were four times more likely to go to prison than the average Briton, Private Eye reports.

4. Aircraft pilot £74,442 +8.8%

20th pct*: £45,054. 70th pct^✝: £89,318.
Also known as: Airline captains; commercial pilots; flight engineers; flying instructors. What they do: Flight deck officers check, regulate, adjust and test engines and other equipment prior to take-off; navigate and pilot aircraft; give flying lessons. Well I never: Pilots flying high-altitude, high-latitude routes are in the top 5% of all workers exposed to radiation, ranked by dose.

5. Dental practitioner £60,098 (2010 figure; 2011 unavailable)

Percentile data unavailable.
Also known as: Dental surgeons; orthodontists; periodontists (this is the only salary quoted as a mean, rather than median, value, as Ashe contained no data on the latter). What they do: Diagnose dental and oral diseases, injuries and disorders, prescribe and administer treatment, recommend preventative action and refer patients to other specialists. Well I never: Alfred P Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, US, invented the electric chair in the 1880s.

6. Finance manager/chartered secretary £59,301 +4.4%

10th pct: £27,367. 80th pct^✝: £104,099.
Also known as: Company registrars; treasurers; credit managers; financial directors; merchant bankers. What they do: Plan, organise and direct financial information and advise on company financial policy. Chartered secretaries organise and direct work associated with meetings of directors and shareholders, act as company representatives, control share registration work and advise on company law. Well I never: A third of hiring finance managers think job applicants stretch the truth in interviews.

7. Senior police officer £58,746 +3.5%

10th pct: £51,544. 75th pct^✝: £63,578.
Also known as: Chief constables; assistant chief constables; chief inspectors; chief superintendents; deputy chief constables. What they do: At inspector level and above, they plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources and activities of police work. Well I never: A Police Federation national survey showed 98% feel morale in the force has fallen owing to planned police budget cuts.

8. Air traffic controller £56,800 +9.6%

25th pct*: £47,299. 60th pct^✝: £69,992.
Also known as: Flight planner; ground movement controller. What they do: Prepare flight plans, authorise departures and arrivals and maintain radio, radar and/or visual contact with aircraft to ensure their safety. Well I never: To prevent on-the-job fatigue, controllers in Germany and Japan have beds at work so they can cat-nap during breaks.

9. Mining/energy manager £53,741 -0.8%

20th pct*: £38,520. 60th pct^✝: £63,915.
Also known as: Operations managers (mining, water and energy); overmen/women; quarry managers. What they do: Supply, plan, and direct activities and resources for the extraction of minerals and other natural deposits and the production, storage and provision of gas, water and electricity. Well I never: Each person in the UK consumes an estimated four tonnes of quarried aggregates per annum.

10. Business/financial broker £52,902 (2010 figure; 2011 unavailable)

10th pct: £23,726. 40th pct^✝: £49,310.
Also known as: Commodity traders; financial brokers; foreign exchange dealers; insurance brokers. What they do: Deal in commodities, stocks, shares and foreign exchange on behalf of clients or on own account, broker insurance and reinsurance, and buy and sell shipping and freight space. Well I never: Stockbrokers are more likely to be reckless and manipulative than diagnosed psychopaths, a study by the University of St Gallen says.

11. Public service admin professional £51,090 +5.4%

10th pct: £34,215. 80th pct^✝: £60,271.
Who they are : Area officers (local government); civil servants (Grade 6, 7); divisional officers (local government); principal/Grade 7 (government); registrars of births and deaths; superintendent registrars. What they do: Advise on the implementation and formulation of government policy, develop and implement administrative policies of government departments, and direct resources of local and national government offices. Well I never: More than 4,000 full-time employees have left Whitehall civil service departments since the October 2010 spending review.

12. Solicitor, lawyer, judge, coroner £48,449 2.2%

10th pct: £24,000. 80th pct^✝: £85,497.
Also known as: Articled clerks; barristers; coroners; judges; solicitors. What they do: Advise and act on behalf of individuals, organisations, businesses and government departments in legal matters, prepare and conduct court cases on behalf of clients, preside over judicial proceedings, and pronounce judgments within a variety of court settings and tribunals. Well I never: 40% of high court judges in a 2009 poll opposed redesigned robes, one claiming they looked like "a cross between a Star Trek costume and a fascist stormtrooper's uniform".

13. Research/development manager £47,895 +0.2%

10th pct: £28,634. 80th pct^✝: £70,783.
What they do: Managers in this group plan, organise, co-ordinate and direct resources for the systematic investigation and development of new products, or in the enhancement of existing ones. Well I never: The average age of a product manager is 39.

14. ICT manager £47,254 +2.1%

10th pct: £26,932. 90th pct: £87,216.
Also known as: Computer managers; computer operations managers; data processing managers; IT managers; systems managers; telecom managers. What they do: Plan, organise and co-ordinate work to operate and provide information communication technology services, to maintain and develop associated network facilities and provide software and hardware support. Well I never: 72% of global IT managers think securing corporate data is more stressful than divorce, says a poll.

15. Senior local government official £45,420 -12.7%

10th pct: £21,877. 70th pct^✝: £58,164.
Also known as: Chief executives (local government); town clerks. What they do: Formulate and implement local government policies, ensuring legal, statutory and other provisions concerning the running of a local authority are observed, and organise local authority office work and resources. Well I never: John Carpenter, town clerk of London from 1417 to 1438, wrote the first book of English common law.

16. Hospital/health service manager £45,412 +6.0%

10th pct: £31,293. 80th pct^✝: £63,282.
Also known as: Clinical managers. What they do: Plan, organise and direct resources and activities of healthcare providers and purchasers, at both district and unit level. Well I never: South African hospital managers rated healthcare delivery skills among the least important required to do their jobs, a 2008 academic study found.

17. Higher education teaching professional £45,364 +0.4%

10th pct: £28,715. 90th pct: £69,575.
Also known as: University lecturer; senior lecturer; professor; reader. What they do: HE teaching professionals deliver lectures and teach students to at least first-degree level, undertake research and write journal articles and books in their chosen field of study. Well I never: Four out of five lecturers describe their job as being stressful, a recent UCL survey found.

18. Marketing/sales manager £45,263 -0.5%

10th pct: £23,495. 90th pct: £96,103.
Also known as: Business development managers; commercial managers; export managers; product managers; sales and marketing directors. What they do: Plan, organise, direct and undertake market research and formulate and implement an organisation's marketing and sales policies. Well I never: 43% of marketing managers say they have no time to fully engage with social media.

19. Electrical engineer £44,867 +1.2%

25th pct*: £36,668. 70th pct^✝: £51,600.
Also known as: Generating engineers (electricity supplier); power engineers; power transmission engineers. What they do: Similar to electronics engineers, they often apply their skills in more industrial settings towards electrical equipment, power stations and other products and systems. Well I never: William Gilbert, widely considered the founder of electrical engineering, died of bubonic plague in 1603.

20. Financial institution manager £44,161 +6.5%

10th pct: £24,984. 80th pct^✝: £71,223.
Also known as: Bank managers; building society managers; post office managers; sub-postmasters. What they do: Plan, organise and direct the activities and resources of banks, building societies, insurance companies and post offices. Well I never: A third of bank managers in a 2006 survey said they were working class.

21. Electronics engineer £43,772 -2.9%

20th pct*: £35,105. 70th pct^✝: £51,233.
Also known as: Broadcasting engineers; microwave engineers; radar engineers (research); radio engineers (professional). What they do: Research and design, direct construction and manage the operation and maintenance of electronic motors, communications systems, microwave systems, and other electronic equipment. Well I never: Nikola Tesla, inventor of alternating current electricity, claimed in 1902 to have invented a fuel-free power generator that ran off "cosmic energy" – but his designs have never been discovered.

22. IT strategy/planning professional £43,667 -8.5%

10th pct: £24,000. 80th pct^✝: £63,693.
Also known as: Analyst-programmers; computer programmers; software engineers; systems analysts; systems designers. What they do: Provide advice on the effective utilisation of IT in order to enhance business functions. Well I never: A recent poll suggested IT consultants have unusually adventurous personalities.

23. Personnel/training manager £43,369 +2.8%

10th pct: £25,616. 80th pct^✝: £67,122.
Also known as: Human resources managers; industrial relations managers; works study managers. What they do: Plan, organise and direct the human resources policies of organisations, advise on resource allocation and utilisation problems, measure the effectiveness of an organisation's systems, methods and procedures and advise on, plan and implement ways to improve the use of labour, equipment and materials. Well I never: City HR professionals received bonuses worth 18% of their salaries in 2010 – double the previous year, HR recruiter Ortus says.

24. Purchasing manager £43,263 +2.8%

10th pct: £27,096. 75th pct^✝: 63,152.
Also known as: Purchasing directors; supplies managers. What they do: Organise and direct the buying policies and activities of industrial, commercial and government departments. Well I never: A 2004 survey showed 93.5% of American supply chain managers were male.

25. Train driver £42,350 +3.2%

10th pct: £35,830. 80th pct^✝: £46,640.
What they do: Pilot diesel, diesel-electric, electric and steam engines transporting passengers and goods on overground and underground railways. Well I never: Once a staple kids' dream job, train driving featured last in the top 10 of children's' career choices in 2009.

26. Production/maintenance manager £41,539 +2.1%

10th pct: £20,160. 90th pct: £89,795.
Also known as: Engineering managers; factory managers; production managers; service managers; shift managers; works managers. What they do: Plan, organise and direct the activities and resources necessary for production in manufacturing industries and the maintenance of engineering equipment. Well I never: One in three factory managers play music on the shopfloor to boost worker productivity, according to a recent survey.

27. Construction manager £41,375 -0.7%

10th pct: £22,321. 80th pct^✝: £60,305.
Also known as: Clerks of works; contracts managers; site managers. What they do: Plan and organise the building and maintenance of civil and structural engineering projects including houses, flats, factories, roads and runways, bridges, tunnels and railway works, harbour, dock and marine works and water supplies, drainage and sewage works. Well I never: A 2009 Chartered Institute of Building survey showed construction managers over the age of 60 as the fastest-growing age group in the sector.

28. Physicist/geologist/ meteorologist £41,177 +2.7%

20th pct*: £30,867. 70th pct^✝: £52,722.
Also known as: Geophysicists; mathematicians; seismologists. What they do: Study relationships between matter, energy and other physical phenomena, the nature, composition and structure of the Earth and other planetary bodies and forecast weather conditions and electrical, magnetic, seismic and thermal activity. Well I never: 29% of US TV meteorologists in a 2010 survey said that they thought global warming was "a scam".

29. Advertising/PR manager £41,110 +2.8%

10th pct: £22,743. 75th pct^✝: £55,061.
Also known as: Media directors; publicity managers. What they do: Plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the advertising, public relations and public information activities of an organisation. Well I never: The coalition government spent more than £200m in its first five months on consultants, PR and marketing.

30. Broadcasting associate professional £40,778 +1.4%

10th pct: £25,216. 70th pct^✝: £47,429.
Also known as: Broadcasters; news reporters; production assistants; radio journalists; television producers; video editors. What they do: Introduce, present and participate in radio and TV programmes, research material for broadcasts, and assume organisational and financial responsibility for the production of programmes. Well I never: The London borough of Camden has the highest concentration of entertainment and media professionals in the country, the 2001 census reveals.

31. Mechanical engineer £40,476 +2.7%

10th pct: £26,096. 80th pct^✝: £53,717.
Also known as: Aeronautical engineers, automobile engineers; hydraulic engineers; marine engineers; welding engineers. What they do: Research, design and direct the manufacture and manage the operation and maintenance of engines, machines, aircraft, vehicles and ships' structures and other mechanical items. Well I never: George Stephenson, dubbed the father of railways, became the first president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1847.

32. Management consultant/actuary/statistician £40,199 +0.4%

10th pct: £23,236. 80th pct^✝: £62,500.
Also known as: Business analysts; economists; management services officers. What they do: Advise businesses on a variety of management, personnel, computing and technical matters; apply theoretical principles and practical techniques to analyse and interpret data. Well I never: In 1858, Florence Nightingale was the first woman to be elected into the Royal Statistical Society.

Nursing tops list of high-paid jobs of the future

If you decided on a new career path today, wouldn’t you like to know which jobs will be in high demand and pay the most once you were out of school? To serve as a guide, 24/7 Wall St. has identified the best-paying jobs of the future. These jobs will grow the most in the next decade and have median incomes well above the national average. Almost without exception, these occupations will be in highest demand because of changes in the nation’s population and in the way the country’s businesses operate.

One change that will create high demands for some professions is the increasing amount of data available to businesses. It is expected to grow 50 times over the next decade, according to predictions from technology research firm IDC. In an effort to make sense of the vast quantities of information, businesses will need employees who can understand and organize the data in a meaningful way. Professions such as market research analysts and management analysts will be in high demand.
Another change is the aging population. This year, the first baby boomers turned 65. As this generation grays, their needs will change. Their growing numbers and increasing medical needs will require more health care professionals to care for them. In particular, doctors, nurses and dental hygienists will all be in much greater demand. These new retirees will also increasingly look for help from personal financial advisors to navigate their investments.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Employment Matrix, which provides projected growth between 2008 and 2018 for the Bureau’s 750 major job categories. We then identified the jobs that are going to add the largest number of new positions — at least a 20 percent increase — and then selected those that had a median annual income of at least $60,000. These reflect the best-paying jobs that will also have the highest demand for new workers in the future.
10. Personal financial advisors Total new jobs (2008-2018): 62,800
Percentage increase: 30.1
Median income: $64,750
States with most jobs per capita: New York, Connecticut, Delaware
Personal financial advisors assist people with their taxes, investments, and insurance. According to the BLS, “Growing numbers of advisors will be needed to assist the millions of workers expected to retire in the next 10 years. As more members of the large baby boom generation reach their peak years of retirement savings, personal investments are expected to increase and more people will seek the help of experts.” By 2018, the number of personal financial advisors is expected to increase by more than 60,000, a 30 percent growth from 2008. This rate is well more than the national average of job growth of 10.1 percent. Because of the level of certification required, as well as the long hours and heavy traveling, advisors are paid well. The median wage for this position is $64,750.

9. Dental hygienists Total new jobs (2008-2018): 62,900
Percentage increase: 36.1
Median income: $68,250
States with most jobs per capita: Michigan, Idaho, Utah
Dental hygienists work alongside of a dentists, cleaning teeth and assisting in surgeries. The position pays a median annual salary of nearly $70,000 — that’s without going to medical school. Many colleges have dental hygiene programs, most of which can be completed in less than four years. According to the BLS, “The demand for dental services will grow because of population growth, older people increasingly retaining more teeth, and a growing emphasis on preventative dental care.” In 2008, there were roughly 175,000 dental hygienists in the U.S. By 2018, that number is expected to increase to nearly 240,000, an increase of more than 36 percent.

8. Civil engineers Total new jobs (2008-2018): 67,600
Percentage increase: 24.1
Median income: $77,650
States with most jobs per capita: Alaska, Washington, Colorado

While engineering jobs are expected to grow at roughly the national rate of 10 percent, the number of civil engineers is projected to grow at a rate two-and-a-half times faster. This is because this type of engineering, which involves overseeing transportation, municipal and industrial infrastructure development, is the most closely linked with population growth. By 2018, there will be nearly 70,000 new positions in the U.S.
7. Market research analysts Total new jobs (2008-2018): 70,100
Percentage increase: 28.1
Median income: $60,570
States with most jobs per capita: District of Columbia, Delaware, Massachusetts
Market analysts work with large companies to provide insight into demographics and target audiences. Over the next decade, these individuals are expected to be in hot demand. According to the BLS, “Market research analysts, the larger specialty, will experience much faster than average job growth because competition between companies seeking to expand their market and sales of their products will generate a growing need for marketing professionals.” By 2018, there will be more than 70,000 new such positions. The job has a median income of more than $60,000 and only requires a bachelor’s degree, although a master’s or PhD. is helpful.

6. Computer systems analysts Total new jobs (2008-2018): 108,100
Percentage increase: 20.3
Median income: $77,740
States with most jobs per capita: Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey
Computer systems analysts build and manage computer networks for companies for use in file sharing and inter-office communication. They also maintain web security within the network. This position, only 30-years-old, is expected to grow by 20 percent, adding nearly 110,000 jobs before the end of this decade. While an increasing number of businesses are requiring bachelor’s degrees, it is still very possible to get a job as a systems analyst with just a high school diploma and some certification. The median annual income, $77,740, is also one of the best salaries one can get without a college degree.
5. Physicians and surgeons Total new jobs (2008-2018): 144,100
Percentage increase: 21.8
Median income: $94,000-$153,000
States with most jobs per capita: New Mexico, West Virginia, Wyoming
24-7 Wall St.: 7 jobs that will make you sick
Some areas don’t have enough medical professionals, and the need for them will only increase as the population grows by several million each year. According to the BLS, “In addition to job openings from employment growth, openings will result from the need to replace the relatively high number of physicians and surgeons expected to retire over the 2008-18 decade.” The level of training required to become a licensed doctor or surgeon is one of the most difficult, but the potential payoff is high. Depending on whether they are neural surgeons or general practitioners, doctors’ salaries range widely, but they are without exception lucrative. Of the different kinds of doctors, the lowest median wage is $94,000.

4. Computer applications software engineers Total new jobs (2008-2018): 175,100
Percentage increase: 34
Median income: 94,180
States with most jobs per capita: Washington, Colorado, Virginia
In the age of the mobile app and cloud computing, few positions are becoming as essential as software application developers. In 2008, 514,000 people worked in this position. By 2018, the BLS National Employment Matrix projects there will be 175,000 additional positions. According to the BLS’s description of the job prospects for software developers, “As a result of rapid employment growth over the 2008 to 2018 decade, job prospects for computer software engineers should be excellent. Those with practical experience and at least a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field should have the best opportunities.” Those willing to put in the time to get certified will be well compensated. The median annual income is nearly $100,000.
3. Management analysts Total new jobs (2008-2018): 178,300
Percentage increase: 23.9
Median income: $78,160
States with most jobs per capita: Massachusetts, New York, Georgia
Management analysts act as consultants for businesses, aiding them in the process of navigating their industries, operating efficiently, and maintaining fluid inventory. According to the BLS, “Employment of management analysts is expected to grow by 24 percent, much faster than the average, over the 2008-18 decade, as industry and government increasingly rely on outside expertise to improve the performance of their organizations.” With more than 178,000 positions expected to be added by 2018 and a median annual income of nearly $80,000, management analysis is one of the most promising careers to pursue.
2. Accountants and auditors Total new jobs (2008-2018): 279,400
Percentage increase: 21.6
Median income: $61,690
States with most jobs per capita: District of Columbia, Colorado, Delaware
There are very few business that do not make use of an accountant to manage their books, tax payments, and prepare financial statements. To date, there are more than a million accountants and auditors in the U.S., and that number is expected to grow by more than a quarter million. According to the BLS, “An increase in the number of businesses, changing financial laws and corporate governance regulations, and increased accountability for protecting an organization's stakeholders will drive job growth.” Becoming a certified accountant requires at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field as well as certification. But accountants have a median annual income of more than $60,000, with the top tier making more than $100,000.
1. Registered nurses
Total new jobs (2008-2018): 581,500
Percentage increase: 22.2
Median income: $64,690
States with most jobs per capita: Rhode Island, South Dakota, Massachusetts
Registered nurses provide basic medical treatment, manage patient records, and are the primary providers of long-term care for patients. Like dental hygienists, registered nurses are not required to have medical licenses, but still earn healthy salaries. While the number of doctors and surgeons is expected to jump by 144,000 by 2018, the number of nurses is truly set to explode. According to the BLS, “Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly.”

5 High-Paying, Low-Stress Jobs

If you're like thousands of other job seekers, you may dream of earning the big bucks without having to deal with the extreme stress that goes hand-in-hand with top-paying jobs. Of course, a high-salary, low-stress job sounds too good to be true. Or is it?

Believe it or not, you don't have to take on a heart-pounding career as a brain surgeon, airline pilot or stock broker to bring home some serious bacon. As a matter of fact, some of the highest-stress jobs pay surprisingly scanty salaries. Just think about police officers, firefighters and social workers. These folks have quite possibly the most nerve-racking jobs in the world, yet most of them earn less than $45,000 a year. What about combat soldiers who face death on a daily basis? They typically earn less than $30,000 a year.
In other words, high stress does not always equal a hefty salary, or vice versa. Fortunately, there are plenty of laid-back career choices that pay quite generously.
Physical Therapist
Although physical therapists (PT) work in the notoriously stressful medical field, they enjoy some unique advantages over ER nurses and doctors. First of all, PTs have flexible hours and generally aren't expected to work nights. Secondly, many physical therapists are self-employed - which means they don't have to deal with the stress of a boss breathing down their neck while they work.
Plus, as the massive Baby Boomer generation continues grow older and face new physical challenges, PTs are constantly flooded with patients. As a result, physical therapists rarely suffer from dry spells.
To top it all off, physical therapists can earn anywhere between $50,000-105,000 a year. Now that's therapeutic.
Computer Software Engineer
If you're a tech geek seeking a relatively low-pressure career, you may want to check out the software engineering field. Software engineers design and test a variety of different types of software, from computer games to operating systems to business applications. These days, many software engineers can work from home, since their jobs can be done from practically anywhere.
Software engineers also bring home steep salaries, normally ranging between $54,000-130,000 a year. There's nothing nerdy about that.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers design and build our nation's infrastructure, from public buildings and roads to water supply and pollution control systems. Obviously, these projects aren't pressure-free, but civil engineers generally work in teams, which helps alleviate some of the stress. As a bonus, these experts also enjoy long deadlines. As a matter of fact, most engineers have a few years to design and plan out a project before the construction company even breaks ground.
Even less stressful? Civil engineers don't have to work too hard to hunt down jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineers are expected to see a 24% spike in employment growth over the next 10 years - well above average for all U.S. occupations. Civil engineers bring home a respectable $50,000-115,000 a year.
Massage Therapist
Massage therapy is an extremely low-pressure, relaxing career for most people. (As long as the thought of touching a stranger's back doesn't drive your stress level through the roof, of course.) Not only are most massage therapists self employed, but they also get to smell smoothing aromatherapy scents and listen to calming background music or ocean sounds all day while they work.
Because many massage therapists work part-time, yearly salaries vary wildly in this field. However, most of these massaging masters charge by the hour. On average, they earn between $10-35 an hour.
Of course, if you take on plenty of clients, you could easily earn a salary of $45,000 or more. That kind of cash will certainly not rub you the wrong way.
Technical Writer
In this high-tech age, new groundbreaking tools, mobile devices or innovative gadgets are released on practically a daily basis. Obviously, someone has to write about these ingenious doodads and complicated thingamabobs. That's where technical writers come into play.
Although they sometimes face tight deadlines, technical writers typically enjoy flexible hours and a comfortable, quiet workspace. Quite a few of them have an enviable 10-second commute - from their bedroom to their desk. Because all they need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection, many technical writers work from home.
What's more is that technical writers are extremely high in demand. As technical companies continue to release pioneering new products, someone has to transform their complex technical-ese into everyday language the average customer can comprehend. Technical writers generally earn between $47,000-98,000 a year.
Lower Your Stress; Raise Your Salary
So, it turns out that you don't have to risk life and limb, save lives or suffer from stress-induced stomach ulcers to make a decent salary. From sales managers and graphic designers to college professors and training consultants, there are plenty of rewarding, angst-less jobs out there that come with generous salaries.

Software Jobs: Jobs that Pay Well

It industry is booming again, and there is a glut of software jobs out there. But just because there is a good availability of jobs does not mean that they are jobs that pay well. If you are building a career in IT industry, it is essential to go for jobs that pay well. This articles talks about software jobs that pay well.
A lot has been said about the resurgence of IT industry in recent years, and the readiness of IT companies to pay top bucks to good developers and designers. This sounds like great news for students of IT and for IT professionals and you’d think that anyone with good grades and skills would get jobs that pay well.
But it’s not as simple as that; while there are many software jobs that pay well, it does not mean that each and every software job is a dream job. It’s a simple question of demand and supply: if you have the skills to do a job that not too many others can do, the likelihood of you getting a well paying job increases. Here is a list of software jobs that will help utilize your skills and you collect enough cash to buy your dream house and car.
Software Programmer: Developers and programmers form the backbone of any software company; they are the people who bring home the bacon. As a computer programmer you will be entrusted with developing, coding and maintaining numerous programs. You don’t have to be a genius to do this job, but you do need have a logical bent of mind and the ability to grasp relatively complex concepts. A good programmer gets paid anywhere between $60,000 to $80,000, depending on his skills and organization he’s working for.
Software Engineer: To be a software engineer, you need have programming knowledge and the ability to grasp complex concepts and build software on the basis of this. Software engineering jobs are often taken by experienced programmer and developers. For instance, you might get a concept of video game: you will need to use your creativity to make it function. Many find this a rearing career and the average pa is $85,000.
Systems Engineer: This is one of the toughest and the most lucrative careers in the IT industry. Not only does a systems engineer need to maintain systems, he also needs to design software and network systems. You need to have complete knowledge of how the hardware and networks function, and you also need to have a good grip over programming. A systems engineer ensures that the company or institution he is working for does not lose any time due to software or network-related problems. Average salary is above $90,000.
Networking Engineer: An IT company needs internet connectivity and network functionality 24 hours a day.

Such jobs don’t pay well in small organizations (also, they don’t demand that many skills), but working as a network engineer or specialist in big companies or government institutions or large government institutions pays $90,000 to $100,000. The job is not easy and you need to be able to function under pressure and take responsibility.
Freelancing: Perhaps freelancing cannot be listed under the title ‘software jobs’, but the income generated by the best of freelancers easily outstrips that of computer professionals working in IT firms. A number of small firms and individuals happily pay good money for the services of a talented freelancer. You can work on projects and if you can work fast and provide quality services, the sky is the limit when it comes to you earning ability.

6 Hot IT Jobs That Will Pay Well in 2012

IT professionals looking for new jobs in 2012 are in luck: The job market is robust across the U.S., and IT salaries in a variety of fields are on the rise. Here are the six IT jobs that IT staffing industry executives expect to be in greatest demand in the coming year. The best part? Many of these jobs are also fun. 

Indeed, Jerry Irvine, CIO of Chicago-based IT outsourcer Prescient Solutions, says he has hired 30 people so far in 2011 and plans to add another 30 to 40 next year. Currently, he has 13 open positions for senior project managers, SharePoint programmers, infrastructure engineers, systems engineers and ITIL helpdesk technicians.
Aggressive hiring is good news for the many IT professionals seeking new jobs. According to the latest IT Employee Confidence Index from staffing firm Technisource, 32 percent of 257 employed IT professionals plan to look for a new job.
IT staffing experts also anticipate that IT salaries will finally spike after years of stagnation, as employers realize they need to pay premiums for certain IT skills in a competitive job market.
"Tech salaries have been flat for a number of years," says Alice Hill, managing director of IT job site Dice.com. Hiring managers have tried their best to poach good people from competitors, she says, but now they're going to have to increase pay to compete on the staffing front.
Shane Bernstein, managing director of Los Angeles-based IT staffing firm Q, concurs: "Salaries and [contract] rates will be higher [in 2012] because the economy seems to be getting better in the tech sector. More companies are hiring. The supply of talent is extremely low and the demand for talent is extremely high."
Want more good news? The job opportunities and earning potential aren't centered solely in Silicon Valley. Across the country, from New Hope, Penn. to Scottsdale, Ariz., companies are vying for IT talent, adds Hill.
Here are the six IT jobs that staffing experts say will be in greatest demand and will command the highest salaries in 2012. The best part: Many of these jobs are also serious fun.

1. Mobile Application Developers

IT professionals who can develop applications for mobile devices are hands down the hottest commodity in IT these days. IT staffing experts agree that this group will remain in this enviable position through 2012, as companies race to adapt their Websites and apps for smartphones and tablets.
Demand for mobile application developers is obvious on Dice.com, where job postings for Android and iPhone developers are up 129 and 190 percent, respectively, over last year, according to Hill.
The technology division of staffing firm Robert Half International projects starting salaries for mobile application developers to increase 9.1 percent in 2012, to a range of $85,000 to $122,500 per year.
Yoh's Browning says salaries for mobile game developers range from $110,000 to $140,000 per year, but she notes, they tend to prefer to work as free agents. "On average, an Android developer can demand $70 per hour to $100 per hour on a contract," she says.
Adds Hill, "It's never a bad time to be a software developer, especially right now, and if you're a mobile software developer, it's your year."

2. Software Developers

Programmers writing PC-based applications should not feel slighted by their mobile counterparts. Companies need their share of Java, .NET, C#, SharePoint, and Web application developers. Yoh's Browning says Java is hot because it's an open platform that speaks to any back-end system, so large organizations use it to transfer data from legacy systems. Consequently, the salary range for Java developers runs from $60,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on experience. The average contract rate for Java developers is $90 per hour. Base salaries for Web developers range from $61,250 to $99,250 per year, according to Robert Half.

3. User Experience Designers

Because so many of the apps companies are developing—whether for PCs or mobile devices—are customer facing, they need user interface or user experience designers to ensure the apps are fun and intuitive to use. Robert Half anticipates starting salaries for user experience designers to rise 6.7 percent, to between $71,750 and $104,000 per year.

4. IT Security Professionals

As security threats from Duqu to data breaches mount, organizations need IT professionals who can fend off malware makers and cyber thieves. Hill says job ads on Dice.com for various "cyber security" professionals increased a whopping 141 percent in 2011 over the prior year.

Similar to this Article

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Organizations' shift to cloud computing is also spurring the need for infrastructure security professionals, says Prescient Solutions' Irvine. "By putting applications in the cloud, companies have more Internet paths," he says. "They have to have a more secure environment to control entrances and exits to and from their environment."
Irvine also anticipates application security specialists—people who run application scanners through individual Web pages in search of vulnerabilities—will have a good year for finding jobs in 2012.
Robert Half expects base salaries for data security analysts to rise six percent, to a range of $89,000 to $121,500 per year.

5. Data Warehouse Architects, Analysts and Developers

Companies' desire to extract insights from the petabytes of data streaming into their back office systems is driving demand for data warehouse architects, analysts and developers. Q's Bernstein says companies will be making a big push in 2012 to clean and organize their data so that they can better mine it.
Robert Half expects base salaries for data warehouse analysts to climb 6.7 percent, to a range of $88,000 to $119,000 per year in 2012. According to Q, data warehouse developers command average salaries in the range of $120,000 to $135,000 per year or contract rates ranging from $65 to $85 per hour. Data warehouse architects can earn $130,000 to $160,000 per year or $80 (or more, depending on experience) per hour on contract, also according to Q.

6. Infrastructure Professionals

Cloud computing has yet to eliminate IT infrastructure jobs. Now and through 2012, cloud computing—and Windows 7 migrations—are creating demand for network engineers and systems administrators.
Dice.com's Hill says companies are seeking IT professionals who can set up and manage virtual server and virtual storage environments, who can identify which applications are used the most, and who know how to reallocate hard drive storage among those various applications.
The move to Windows 7 is necessitating infrastructure upgrades for some companies, while others eye opportunities to consolidate their data centers and move applications to the cloud, says Sean Ebner, vice president of strategic accounts for Technisource. In the short term, IT departments need infrastructure professionals who can help them plan and execute upgrades and consolidation initiatives, he says.
Network engineers should see their salaries rise 5.8 percent due to increased demand in 2012, to a range of $75,000 to $107,750 per year, according to Robert Half.
"The demand for this talent is so high right now," says Yoh's Browning of these hot IT jobs. "Hiring managers need to move quickly and waste no time putting offers out. There are bidding wars right now for this talent."

 

50 Best Jobs in America

What makes a great job? High pay. Great prospects. And work that--even on a tough day--gives you a charge.

(MONEY Magazine) - Forget "plastics." Today's career advice, in a word: computers. In two words: health care. Job opportunities in those fields will abound over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And many of them will offer high pay--and high satisfaction too. That explains why, by the reckoning of MONEY and the compensation experts at Salary.com, technology and health care account for nearly a third of the 50 Best Jobs in America. Besides crunching numbers on job growth and pay, we graded jobs on stress level, flexibility in work environment and hours, creativity, and ease of entry and advancement in the field. America's top job? Look to your right and read why that man is smiling. This Guy Has the Best Job in America Don't You Just Hate Him? Mark Dochtermann, 34 DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC ARTS
"When I saw my first computer, it was love at first sight. As a kid I spent a lot of time on a Commodore 64, writing my own programs, figuring out games, hacking. You can learn an awful lot about programming doing that. I majored in computer engineering but never thought I could work in the game industry--it was a dream job.
After college I sent one of my creations to a small game company. Next thing I knew, I was their programmer. Since then I've built a career in the "first-person shooter" category with games like Duke Nukem 3D. During the tech boom, when others left games for the money in start-ups, I stayed. I make a good living, and I'd rather work on a game I don't care for than write code for a financial company.
I'm building a product that entertains. Unlike engineers in commerce or aerospace, I can push the envelope without someone getting hurt. Still, there's stress. The worst is a bug or defect. And you can't waste time tweaking that last whiz-bang feature, given the market pressures. But there's no better feeling than seeing your game on the shelves.
Today I manage a team of 65. The hours remain a challenge, and I still do a lot of coding. It's important to work with the group, and it's the best way to stay on the cutting edge."
1 Software engineer
$80,500 AVERAGE PAY 46% 10-YEAR GROWTH 44,800 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS B FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY A EASE OF ENTRY C
WHY IT'S GREAT Software engineers are needed in virtually every part of the economy, making this one of the fastest-growing job titles in the U.S. Even so, it's not for everybody. Designing, developing and testing computer programs requires some pretty advanced math skills and creative problem-solving ability. If you've got them, though, you can work and live where you want: Telecommuting is quickly becoming widespread. The profession skews young--the up-all-night-coding thing gets tired--but consulting and management positions aren't hard to come by once you're experienced.
WHAT'S COOL Cutting-edge projects, like designing a new video game or tweaking that military laser. Extra cash from freelance gigs. Plus, nothing says cool like great prospects.
WHAT'S NOT Jobs at the biggest companies tend to be less creative (think Neo, pre-Matrix). Outsourcing is a worry. Eyestrain and back, hand and wrist problems are common.
TOP-PAYING JOB Release engineers, who are responsible for the final version of any software product, earn six figures.
EDUCATION Bachelor's degree, but moving up the ladder often requires a master's.
2 College professor
$81,500 AVERAGE PAY 31% 10-YEAR GROWTH 95,300 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS B FLEXIBILITY A CREATIVITY A EASE OF ENTRY C "You have a lot of interaction with creative, interesting, motivated people, and you have new ideas all the time. Every time you go to class, something unexpected happens." --JEAN ANN LINNEY, 55, VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE PROVOST AT NOTRE DAME
WHY IT'S GREAT While competition for tenure-track jobs will always be stiff, enrollment is rising in professional programs, community colleges and technical schools--which means higher demand for faculty. It's easier to break in at this level, and often you can teach with a master's and professional experience. Demand is especially strong in fields that compete with the private sector (health science and business, for example). The category includes moonlighting adjuncts, graduate TAs and college administrators.
WHAT'S COOL Professors have near-total flexibility in their schedules. Creative thinking is the coin of the realm. No dress code!
WHAT'S NOT The tick-tick-tick of the tenure clock; grading papers; salaries at the low end are indeed low.
TOP-PAYING JOB University presidents' pay can hit $550,000 or more, but most make about half that.
EDUCATION Master's or professional degree; Ph.D. for most tenured jobs.
3 Financial adviser
$122,500 AVERAGE PAY 26% 10-YEAR GROWTH 6,100 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS C FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY B EASE OF ENTRY B "Most people don't know their goals. I know how helpless I felt years ago when my husband died young. It's the best feeling to bring people from defining their goals to realizing them." --DEBORAH FELDMAN, 55, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, CHICAGO
WHY IT'S GREAT Twenty years ago, no one ever said, "I want to be a financial adviser when I grow up." Now there are nearly 300 college programs for financial planning, and M.B.A.s, lawyers and accountants are jumping to this lucrative but more people-friendly profession. As company pensions die out and Americans increasingly have to manage their own retirement savings, financial planning is no longer just for the rich. And with Gen X-ers entering their peak earning years and boomers nearing retirement, business will get better still.
WHAT'S COOL If you have a knack for numbers and a way with people, you can use Wall Street skills without selling your soul. You can work for yourself, for a small shop or for a giant financial services firm.
WHAT'S NOT Compliance rules mean lots of paperwork. Stress? You have to build a practice from the ground up.
TOP-PAYING JOB Advisers who manage client portfolios earn $200,000-plus.
EDUCATION A college degree, plus certification and continuing education.
4 Human-resources manager
$73,500 AVERAGE PAY 23% 10-YEAR GROWTH 32,300 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS B FLEXIBILITY A CREATIVITY B EASE OF ENTRY A "Our ability to attract the right employees, keep them engaged and provide intellectual stimulation is what differentiates us. My role: Create a culture that makes us the employer of choice." --SEAN WOODROFFE, 42, SENIOR V.P. OF HR, FINANCIAL GUARANTEE INSURANCE CO.
WHY IT'S GREAT At more and more companies, HR is no longer about benefits administration and the employee newsletter. Those tasks are increasingly outsourced, and directors and v.p.s are considered strategic planners. Even lower-level managers are expected to design employee programs that also benefit the bottom line. International HR and compliance are especially hot. There's a wide variety of work, from self-employed benefits specialists to corporate recruiters and HR generalists.
WHAT'S COOL The mission: to make work more rewarding for workers. You help shape corporate culture and strategy.
WHAT'S NOT Fighting the "fluffy HR" stereotype; firing people.
TOP-PAYING JOB Senior HR directors make around $285,000; at the C-suite level, it's more like $1 million-plus.
EDUCATION Bachelor's degree, often followed by master's level work or professional certification.
5 Physician assistant
$75,000 AVERAGE PAY 50% 10-YEAR GROWTH 4,000 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS C FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY B EASE OF ENTRY C "We can focus on medicine and spend time with patients. To shake the hand of someone who was nearly dead or cure someone of an illness, there is no feeling like that in the world." --LAWRENCE HERMAN, 52, PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT, HOLBROOK, N.Y.
WHY IT'S GREAT For most doctors, the worst part of their job is filling out paperwork and battling insurers. Physician's assistants get to skip all that. Under a doctor's supervision, they provide routine health care--conducting physical exams, ordering lab tests, prescribing medications, treating illnesses. PAs can specialize, from the E.R. to pediatrics to orthopedics, and they can switch fields. Thanks to an aging population and demand for more cost-effective care, this job offers a level of security other professions can't match.
WHAT'S COOL Doctors' work, bankers' hours. PAs average 35 to 40 hours a week, and they can work part time and in a variety of settings.
WHAT'S NOT You're not the ultimate decision maker on patient treatment; there's little room for advancement.
TOP-PAYING JOB Specialists in cardiothoracic surgery earn over $100,000.
EDUCATION Four years of college, two to three years of training in an accredited program, plus national exam for certification.
6 Market research analyst
$82,500 AVERAGE PAY 20% 10-YEAR GROWTH 16,000 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS C FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY C EASE OF ENTRY B
WHY IT'S GREAT If you want to know what the next big thing is, this is your field. Before launching a product or service, companies turn to market research analysts who collect and evaluate data about consumer wants, needs and buying habits. You get to work on a huge variety of projects: In a single day you might run a taste test on a new vodka flavor, evaluate a rebranding campaign for a hot dog and analyze political polling data.
WHAT'S COOL Testing products before they hit the market. You talk to lots of people and get to ask them personal questions you wouldn't dare pose at a party.
WHAT'S NOT Being mistaken for a telemarketer; deadlines; number crunching.
TOP-PAYING JOB A senior exec or partner in a consulting firm can earn more than $200,000.
EDUCATION B.A.; M.A. in statistics helps.
7 Computer/IT analyst
$83,500 AVERAGE PAY 36% 10-YEAR GROWTH 67,300 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS C FLEXIBILITY C CREATIVITY D EASE OF ENTRY B
WHY IT'S GREAT Seems like the entire world is at the mercy of information technology folks, thanks to the rapid spread of computers and swell of the Internet. And all of these jobs pay well, from desktop support technician to Webmaster to database wonk. Entry-level analysts make $60,000 and above. Senior database specialists and IT managers command six-figure salaries and decent bonuses. A bachelor's degree is enough to get started.
WHAT'S COOL Telecommuting and freelance gigs abound. Plus: e-mail snooping!
WHAT'S NOT Carpal tunnel syndrome; outsourcing will mean fewer entry-level and nonspecialized jobs.
TOP-PAYING JOB Network operations directors, who are responsible for a company's intranet, earn $250,000-plus.
EDUCATION From a B.S. to a Ph.D.
8 Real estate appraiser
$66,000 AVERAGE PAY 23% 10-YEAR GROWTH 4,500 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS A FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY D EASE OF ENTRY B
WHY IT'S GREAT The housing boom has meant beaucoup bucks for appraisers in recent years, but the field hasn't gotten as crowded as real estate brokerage. And because valuations are needed whenever any property is sold, mortgaged, insured, taxed or developed, there's going to be work even when the market slows. A quarter of appraisers have steady nine-to-five government gigs assessing property for tax purposes.
WHAT'S COOL Abundant self-employment opportunities. Research isn't the pain that it used to be, thanks to the Internet.
WHAT'S NOT There's still a lot of legwork; advancement is limited.
TOP-PAYING JOB Collateral appraisers, who work with lenders, earn $130,000-plus.
EDUCATION Bachelor's degree; licensing and certification requirements vary by state.
9 Pharmacist
$92,000 AVERAGE PAY 25% 10-YEAR GROWTH 10,100 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS B FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY C EASE OF ENTRY C
WHY IT'S GREAT Demand for pharmacists is exploding as the population ages and new medications are developed. By 2010 the number of prescriptions filled is expected to rise 27% to 4.1 billion. Pharmacists also give advice on over-the-counter meds and help patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes. About 60% work in retail settings, the rest in hospitals and nursing homes and in research or sales for drug companies.
WHAT'S COOL Pharmacists are in such demand that graduates today can expect multiple job offers, signing bonuses and $90K-plus salaries.
WHAT'S NOT Dealing with insurers and angry patients; limited advancement.
TOP-PAYING JOB Pharmacists at major retail chains can earn six figures.
EDUCATION A doctor of pharmacy degree program is six years long.
10 Psychologist
$66,500 AVERAGE PAY 19% 10-YEAR GROWTH 6,800 ANNUAL JOB OPENINGS STRESS C FLEXIBILITY B CREATIVITY A EASE OF ENTRY C
WHY IT'S GREAT Feel stressed or anxious? So do a lot of people. That and the decreasing stigma attached to seeking help have fueled demand for psychological services. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and it's pretty hard to top the psychological benefit that comes with bringing relief to a troubled mind. Greater awareness of how mental health and behavior issues affect learning makes school psychology a particularly fast-growing specialty.
WHAT'S COOL Shrinks are four times as likely to be self-employed as other professionals.
WHAT'S NOT Years of training; stiff competition for slots in graduate programs; insurers.
TOP-PAYING JOB Clinical and counseling psychologists can earn $95,000-plus.
EDUCATION Ph.D. and one-year internship; to be a school psychologist, three years of graduate study and a one-year internship.

The 30 Top Paying Jobs in IT

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Here are the 30 IT job titles with high-range average salaries topping $100,000 in 2008, according to Robert Half Technology:

• Applications Architect
• Applications Development Manager
• Applications Development Project Manager
• Business Continuity Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Chief Information Officer
• Chief Security Officer
• Chief Technology Officer
• Consulting and Systems Integration Director
• Consulting and Systems Integration Practice Manager
• Consulting and Systems Integration Project Manager/Senior
• Consultant
• Data Architect
• Data Modeler
• Data Security Analyst
• Data Warehouse Analyst
• Data Warehouse Manager
• Database Administrator
• Database Developer
• Database Manager
• Information Technology Manager
• IT Auditor
• Lead Applications Developer
• Network Architect
• Network Security Administrator
• Senior IT Auditor
• Senior Web Developer
• Software Development Project Manager
• Software Engineer
• Systems Security Administrator
• Vice President/Information Technology

10 Top Paying IT Jobs

Here are the average salary ranges for the top 10 paying IT job titles in 2008, as projected by Robert Half Technology.

Title Average Salary Range   Low High Chief Information Officer $126,750 $210,000 Vice President/Information Technology $112,250 $166,250 Chief Technology Officer $107,250 $165,250 Chief Security Officer $100,750 $150,000 Consulting/Systems Integration Director $93,240 $137,500 Consulting/Systems Integration Practice Manager $92,500 $125,500 Database Manager $88,750 $122,750 Information Technology Manager $86,750 $122,000 Data Warehouse Manager $90,750 $120,750 Applications Architect $87,250 $120,000

The 30 Top Paying Jobs in IT

Everyone knows the top paying IT job is the CIO. But, a new survey reveals that 29 other IT positions will have six-figure salaries in 2008.

No one is surprised that CIOs are the highest paid IT professionals, with a projected average annual salary of between $126,750 and $210,000 in 2008. But, 30 other IT titles also are projected to have average annual salaries that will top $100,000 next year, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology 2008 Salary Guide.
Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing firm, projects that nine new occupations will for the first time have starting salaries averaging, on the high end of the range, in six figures:

• Business Continuity Analyst, $100,250;
• IT Auditor, $102,750;
• Data Modeler, $103,000;
• Network Security Administrator, $103,000;
• Systems Security Administrator, $103,500;
• Data Security Analyst, $104,000;
• Data Warehouse Analysts, $104,250;
• Software Engineer, $104,500.

 

5 Entry-Level Tech Jobs That Pay Well

Choosing a tech major is probably one of the smartest decisions you’ve made up until this point.
Tech is not only one of the hottest fields for new grads, demand for tech professionals will only grow. Even in, like, a hundred years when robots will have taken over the rest of our jobs – someone has to keep building and fixing those robots that build and fix other robots, right?
In the meantime, we wanted to see what kind of market value a new IT grad has right now. So, our techy data guy — we’re talking about you, Jimmy —  saved the day (again) and dug up some research from our massive salary database to find some of the highest paid entry-level tech jobs.

Compared to the nation’s overall average income for new grads (roughly $40,000 for the class of 2010, according to National Association of Colleges and Employers), IT degrees really pay off:

1. Software Engineer I

As a software engineer rookie, you’ll be working with a team to design and develop computer software applications. You and your team would be a major stakeholder to any company/organization – channeling your inner coding powers to both analyze what users might need and making it happen.
Average software engineer 1 Salary: $54,876

2. Network Specialist

You’d be the glue that holds an entire network together, figuratively of course. As a network specialist, you’ll learn the ropes of implementing a computer network and shooting down trouble. Some employers might encourage you to earn networking certifications, like Cisco and Microsoft.
Average network specialist salary: $52,616

3. IT Specialist

This one’s very broad — you could specialize in a variety of tech areas, including data management, customer support, operating systems, security or system analysis. The tech-world is your oyster! Since such specialists are responsible for making sure that all systems are good to go 24-7, you might have to wake up from your Saturday afternoon naps when you’re on call.
Average IT specialist salary: $51,754

4. Junior System Administrator

You’ll lend a hand in maintaining and upgrading the entire computer system for a given company or organization. Often times, the not-so-tech-savvy folks that actually use the intricate computer systems will (aka the end-users) will have pesky questions. You’ll come to the rescue. Oh, and there might be some heavy lifting of system equipment involved so hit the gym once in a while as part of your prep.
Average junior system administrator salary: $46,246

5. Postdoctoral Research Assistant

If you’re a techy who’s also in love with learning — continuing your higher education is not a bad idea, especially if your research is in IT. Assisting PhDs with their research is the first step to becoming a doctor in information technology (has a nice ring to it!). You’ll also be much more marketable later with a higher degree!
Average postdoctoral research assistant salary: $43,613

Embedded Software Engineer: One Part of Many

Software engineers are one of the world’s most sought after professionals today. The very market of software engineering has grown in such leaps and bounds that it has very quickly toppled even an MBA degree from the post f being the most formidable degree in the world. There are several ways for being a software engineer. Many universities and educational institutions offer degrees and diplomas for being a software engineer. However, software engineering is divided into various fields and you have to decide which field best suits you, so that you can progress well and quick in your job and professional life.
Embedded Software is one type of software engineering. Strictly speaking, the principle of embedded software is not information technology. Embedded software is related to the interaction of the software with the physical world, like how the car opens when you press the car lock button, or when any and most of your electronic appliances work, or even when your digital watch changes its hour. Therefore, embedded software is just another type of software that makes our daily life that much the simpler and therefore enhances our quality of living. Embedded software is usually quite sophisticated when it is written in applications that are used by missiles, airplanes and other important process control systems.
Embedded software engineers are much sought after in the software industry. Needless to say, embedded software is quite a different niche of the software industry, and this would make embedded software engineers to be one of the highest paid software engineers on a global level. In addition, embedded software is much more important than the normal software. For example, a computer crash in a busy office would not be as dangerous and risky as the software that lands a plane malfunction. Therefore, being a embedded software engineer would require much more concentration than other types of software engineers.
There are several courses offered by the educational institutions and colleges for embedded software systems and embedded software engineers. Once you have decided to be a embedded software engineer, you should carry out the proper research and know specific details about such educational institutions and colleges that offer embedded software courses. The Internet is the best place to find and search information about just about anything. You can browse through the internet and search the relevant details and information about embedded software courses. Make sure that you go through their brochures and other literature before you opt for their course.