5 Jobs to Look for in 2022

As we move into the new year, top talent across the board will have the upper hand as companies continue to scramble to fill positions, particularly those in security, development and few other select fields.

If you’re looking for new employment, here are a few jobs that are the most in-demand nationwide.

DevOps

DevOps professionals allow for faster code deployment with fewer deployment failures. They oversee coding, scripting, and processes development, often managing IT structure, overseeing testing, and monitoring performance after release. Because these professionals are consistently ensuring that employers operate under maximum efficiency, salary ranges from $97,000 per year on the low end up to $184, 750 and in some cases higher.

The most in-demand skills among DevOps Engineers include:

• Coding and scripting

• Automation, data management, and IT operations

• DevOps best practices

Cloud Architect

Cloud architects are among the most highly paid professionals in tech, as employers across the board begin to move their operations into the cloud-based world. They need professionals who understand how to design and deploy solutions based on various deployment models in the cloud, including hybrid approaches where some information is kept inside company walls. Median salaries for the position hover around $198,330, with the low end clocking in at $161,000. In addition to technical knowledge, these professionals must hold strong communication skills since they’ll be working with employees at all levels – from technical staff who implement plans to non-technical staff who need to understand how their company’s information is organized and managed.

In-demand skills among Cloud architects include:

• Strong knowledge of cloud services like Amazon Web Services and experience with IT Service Management, governance, automation, and vendor management

• Experience scaling cloud applications

• Understanding of cost, performance and cloud systems architecture

• Collaboration and communication skills

AI/Machine Learning Engineer

AI/Machine Learning Engineers have been one of the most in-demand positions in the tech world since 2020. Much like a data scientist, these professionals “work with vast quantities of information, require exceptional data management skills and the ability to perform complex modeling on dynamic data sets.” Unlike data scientists, however, engineers design self-running software to automate predictive models and initiate greater degrees of accuracy with every operation. Think Amazon or Netflix – the more a customer purchases, the more tailored their recommendations are as far as products or shows they’ll want to watch; that’s the work of an AI/Machine Learning Engineer. Median salary for these professionals hovers around $182,535.

In-demand skills among AI/Machine Learning Engineers include:

• Extensive data modeling and data architecture skills

• Programming experience in Python, R or Java

• Background in machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or Keras

• Knowledge of Hadoop or another distributed computing systems

Data Engineer positions

Data, data, data – it doesn’t matter what field employers are in, data collection is a major priority. Data engineers not only help with collecting that data; they also store and analyze so that it’s converted into usable information. That means working to acquire datasets that align with business needs, developing algorithms to transform data into actionable information, building and maintaining database pipeline architectures, and collaborating with management to understand company objectives. As of 2021, the average salary of data engineers across all markets is in the $111,900 range with some engineers earning as high as $159,280 per year.

In-demand skills among Data Engineers include:

• Proficiency in coding languages including SQL, NoSQL, Python, Java, R and Scala

• Knowledge of relational and non-relational databases

• Ability to use ETL (exact, transform, and load) systems as well as knowledge of data storage solutions

• Automation and scripting

Full Stack Javascript Developers

Javascript has been around for over two decades and remains the dominant programming language in the world of web development. A Full Stack Javascript Developer can develop both client and server software using Javascript – applications, websites and back-end software. In addition to mastering HTML and CSS, a Full Stack Javascript Developer also knows how to program a browser, server and a database. Average annual salary for the position hovers around $97,000.

In-demand skills among JavaScript Developers include:

• Translate functional specifications into working software

• Providing development for UI, middle tier to back end utilizing various technologies (React, Redux, .NET, Java, Spring Boot, Microservices)

• Using scaled agile methods to deliver products to company requirements