IT Industry Scores High on Best Jobs List

By Sarah Stevenson

If you've ever thought about pursuing in-person or online IT training, it's a good time to turn that ambition into a reality. The latest findings from Money Magazine and PayScale.com are in, and the 2009 list of Best Jobs in America shows a distinct edge for those in the field of information technology. ambitions—educational goals that may very well help you advance in your current role.

The information technology sector includes a range of professions that have a computer-related focus. The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines a number of major job categories within the field, such as computer hardware engineers, computer programmers, database administrators and computer support specialists.

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Online IT Training Offers Security, Not Job Fluctuation

Despite what you might have heard about fluctuations in the IT employment market, the BLS stated earlier this year that the industry is expected to maintain high job growth, and that jobseekers with the right training will continue to find excellent opportunities. This is good news for those with the desire to pursue a tech job through traditional or online IT training. The Money/PayScale.com report lends further support to the conclusions of the BLS; in fact, no fewer than 10 of the top 50 jobs in America are in the IT industry.

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Online IT Training = Top Job

A positive outlook for job growth was only one of the factors weighed by the report. The researchers also considered salary, flexibility, job security, satisfaction and meaningfulness in selecting the best 100 jobs in the country. Of the top 50, which were assigned a numerical rank, the number one job just happens to be in information technology: systems engineer. Systems engineers manage both the technical and personnel aspects of large, complex projects such as transportation networks or defense systems, and qualified jobseekers in the field are in increasingly high demand. Even better, there is online IT training available for those who wish to earn a promotion to a systems engineer—or start a first career. The hours can be demanding, but the pay is generous and the opportunities for advancement are excellent.

The other IT jobs in the top 50 include Information Technology Project Manager, Computer/Network Security Consultant, Software Developer, Software Product Manager, IT Business Analyst, Technical Writer, Telecommunications Network Engineer, Computer Software Program Manager and Applications Systems Analyst. Opportunities for both staff and consultant positions abound in nearly all of these professions, and they offer great pay and upward mobility as well as creative and intellectual challenge.

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Traditional or Online IT Training Programs are a Must

As for how to snag one of these sought-after jobs, proper training and education in the field is a must. Some require an engineering degree; others require professional certifications such as a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

The good news is, prospective jobseekers can obtain their education in distance or online IT training programs as well as traditional brick-and-mortar programs, so if you need to plan your school hours around work, you're in luck. Just be sure that your degree or certification program is accredited, whether you choose in-person or online IT training. By the time you graduate, you'll be ready to compete for one of the best jobs in America.

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