Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you will ever take in life. In our previous post, we walked you through Science Careers where STEM education plays a crucial role. 

AND today, we will address another STEM field: Technology. 

We live in a time of staggering technological change, with disruptive and emerging technological innovations continually reshaping how we live and work. One example is the indispensable role technology now plays in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions.

Technology careers offer professionals the opportunity to work in many industries, including healthcare and business. Careers in emerging technology can be pursued in several work environments, including fast-paced startups, innovative tech firms, and small IT departments.

Here are some Emerging Technology options you might find interesting:

Computer Programming

Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.

Programmers usually work in office settings - most commonly in the computer systems design and related services industry - and work full time.

The average income is estimated at 93,000 USD and it is ideal for those eager to solve problems with patience. 

Computer Science 

Computer science job opportunities vary depending on the degree. Graduates with associate degrees tend to pursue roles as computer support specialists or web developers. Bachelor's degrees open doors to several computer science careers in software development, database administration, and computer programming.

Employers typically expect computer and information research scientists to hold master's degrees at a minimum.

The average income is estimated at 91,250 USD and might vary depending on the job title. If you are passionate about innovation in emerging technology, this option is a great choice. 

Database Management 

Careers for a database management major span several industries. If you arm yourself with the right training and experience, this field offers rewarding and potentially beneficial career opportunities. Positions include support specialist, security analyst, programmer, software developer, and administrator.

Working in database management usually requires using emerging technology to compile, organize, and analyze data to support organizations that make strategic business decisions. Roles also typically require designing, testing, and implementing emerging technology to manage business functions. To succeed in this field, you must hold strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and critical thinking skills.

The median salary is estimated at 96,110 USD and are mostly employed in computer systems design and related services.

Learn more about our STEM programs for Professional Development

Web Development 

Web development deals with building technical front-end and/or back-end code that informs site function. Web developers could work exclusively on front-end code, back-end code, or both, and many modern jobs also require overlap in web design. 

These professionals may work independently on a freelance basis or with marketing or IT departments.

Web developers may also become webmasters for a site, providing maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting when needed.

The average salary is estimated at 65,900 USD. Aspiring web professionals often begin by pursuing a web developer education. Some opt for certificate programs or online web developer courses instead, but professionals seeking lucrative positions should pursue associate or bachelor's degrees in web development, information technology, computer science, or a similar field.

Data Science 

Data scientists gather and interpret information to solve complex issues like how to reach and influence target audiences, how to adapt business strategies to emerging trends, and even how to dissolve modern slavery. These professionals use a combination of machine learning, statistics, programming, research skills, business knowledge, and mathematics to collect and analyze data.

Data scientists may advise political campaigns, businesses, governments, and other organizations that need to use the information to meet their goals. As a result, graduates with a data science degree can pursue many different careers.

Associate degree graduates earn a median salary of 60,000 USD while bachelor's degree holders make considerably more. 

Data Visualization 

Data visualization careers are where art and science meet. They focus on taking complex data and communicating it in ways non-experts can understand. With a degree in this field, individuals can move into jobs such as data visualization specialists, data analysts, and even data engineers or scientists.

Although you may come across a few data visualization programs in the United States, you'll find more options by searching for data visualization as a specialty within a major like data analytics, data science, or business administration. The average data visualization professional earns an annual salary of about 76,000 USD. This salary may vary depending on their level of education, their experience in the field, and their skills related to processing, analyzing, and presenting data.

Telecom Engineer

A Telecom Engineer is a communications professional who designs, develops, and maintains computer networks and computer software used in the telecommunications industry. They make sure that all telecom services and devices work correctly as required and perform phone system installation, maintain wireless devices, routers, IT networks, cable systems, optical fiber, and other telecom technologies and equipment.

Most telecom engineers have a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree in computer science, IT, electrical engineering, or a related field. 

The National Bureau of Labor Statistics places telecom engineers under a broader category of electrical and electronics engineers and reports that the median annual wage for these individuals is 101,000 USD and the career field is expected to grow 3% by 2028.

UX Developer 

UX stands for “user experience” and, as you might imagine, UX Developers are important to both the customer experience as well as overall website success. Now more than ever, companies are seeking UX Developers to help improve sales and build their businesses.

The UX Developer is part designer and part developer: you must have creative skills and know HTML. Your job is to enhance the website experience for visitors to a particular site each day. How a human being interacts with a computer encompasses:

• The creative design of a site

• The ease of searching for particular information on a site

• Links between pages

There are multiple categories related to the structuring and organization of a site, including how information is grouped and categorized. User Experience Developers often build prototypes of creative design concepts. Their job is to build an idea and test it out on the web.

The average base salary for UX designers in the US is 90,000 ISD as of February 2022. 

App Programmer 

It’s a safe bet that you use applications on your smartphone every day. From messaging, language-learning, and calorie-tracking to banking and investing, it seems like there’s an app for almost everything. With the growing ubiquity of apps, mobile development has become more relevant than ever.

Mobile application development is the process of writing software for mobile devices. It's a unique environment that gives the developer a chance to build an application from scratch in a relatively brief period.

Developers may learn to work with one operating system and move on to the other as they progress in their careers. Being able to work with more than one operating system would make you more competitive in the mobile app developer job market. 

The average salary for an Application Developer is 82,118 USD per year in the United States. 

Are you joining us?

Regardless of the field your students feel the most attracted to, STEM careers are only increasing each year and more exciting opportunities arise everyday with the constant changes in emerging technologies. 

Check out all of our deliveries for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Careers. Which one is your favorite? 

Want to offer access to STEM careers to your students? We invite you to learn more about our “We teach” programs where we drive positive academic outcomes with quality instruction from NWS®-trained instructors.