Updated November 2023
It’s difficult to predict with certainty what the most in-demand tech jobs will be for 2024. Demand for specific skills can change rapidly in the technology industry, and new positions are created on a dime to match the continuous innovation of the 21st century. Still, we can make some highly educated inferences based on today’s technology, as well as the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other trusted sources.
Want to discover the most in-demand tech jobs for 2024? Keep reading to find out which jobs in tech will offer you the greatest growth potential.
RELATED: Highest-Paying IT Jobs 2024
Tech Careers to Pursue in 2024
Job seekers will find no shortage of fruitful careers to pursue in the tech industry. Almost every position in the information technology (IT) job market offers a positive outlook, high salaries, and professional development opportunities in both full-time and contract jobs. Even so, a few positions stand out. Let’s review the best, most in demand tech jobs for 2024:
1. Artificial Intelligence Developer
An artificial intelligence (AI) developer has similar skills and responsibilities to a software engineer, but AI developers specialize in building AI functionality into software applications. They aim to program a machine or application to exhibit human-like behavior, problem-solving capabilities, and predictability.
Believe it or not, most people use artificial intelligence every day. AI is behind some of our favorite inventions: smart assistants (think Siri and Alexa), chatbots, self-driving cars, auto-correcting tools, facial and speech recognition technology, and even your Netflix recommendations list.
More and more functions once thought to need human oversight are now being performed by computers, so the relevance of AI developers is higher than ever—and it’s only continuing to grow.
RELATED: Jobs Artificial Intelligence (AI) Won’t Replace In The Near Future
2. AI Engineer
With the rapid adoption of AI and machine learning in everything from e-commerce to customer service, businesses need AI engineers to implement the AI systems created by AI developers at scale. AI and machine learning (ML) are a winning combination, and the accelerated demand has created an explosion of opportunities.
Since it is a relatively new field, there is a talent gap between demand and supply. Job seekers with the right skills position themselves for a lucrative career with plenty of potential employers. According to Salary.com, AI engineers can expect a base salary of between $96,840 to $132,096 a year.
Since AI and ML are relatively new technologies that evolve almost weekly, AI developers and engineers must be committed to lifelong learning. The AI engineers of today will play a crucial role in defining the technologies of tomorrow.
3. DevOps Engineer
DevOps is a combination of the terms “development” and “operations.” It’s meant to represent a set of practices, philosophies, tools, and processes that aim to improve collaboration and communication between software development and IT operations teams. A DevOps engineer’s role is to bridge the gap between these two organizations. Here’s what they do:
- Work closely with development, operations, and quality assurance teams to promote communication, collaboration, and coordination.
- Build and maintain automated processes for continuous integration, testing, and deployment of software, enabling faster and more frequent releases.
- Act as a point of contact between stakeholders and developers to build software that meets the needs of users.
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but the bottom line is this: businesses need DevOps engineers. These professionals break down siloes between IT teams, increase the quality and frequency of software products, and optimize infrastructure to meet changing market demands. And as the second most demanded skill by tech recruiters, DevOps expertise will increase your chances of landing a job. Not to mention it’s one of the highest paying tech jobs, too.
4. Cloud Engineer
Cloud computing is the delivery of services like data storage, servers, databases, networking, and software over the internet, replacing the need for an end user to have physical access to a strong computer. Almost everyone uses cloud computing on their personal devices. It’s an especially powerful tool for businesses however; it allows mass scalability, more flexibility, and faster innovation.
Cloud engineering is an in-demand tech job because people with this skill help build and maintain cloud infrastructure. This capability enables businesses to effectively utilize the benefits mentioned above, making cloud engineering one of the most sought-after talents in the tech industry. They’re the employees responsible for the seamless backup and storage of critical data, on-demand software updates, and other important functions. With cloud services only continuing to expand, the need for skills in this area will too.
5. Cybersecurity Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst protects an organization from cyber threats and unauthorized access of sensitive information. Some of their primary duties include:
- Installing and operating firewalls, encryption programs, and other security software
- Keeping tabs on both active and potential cyberthreats
- Writing incident response reports
- Conducting regular risk assessments and penetration tests
- Researching and staying up-to-date on IT trends
With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, there will be a need for professionals who can help organizations protect their systems from malicious actors. In fact, the market has already seen tremendous demand for these positions.
Partnering with CyberSeek, market research company Lightcast found that between April 2021 and April 2022, the need for cybersecurity personnel and skills grew by 43%, while demand across all other occupations grew by only 18%. It’s one of the most high-demand IT jobs out there, and it can end up as one of the most high-paying tech jobs, too!
6. AR/VR Developer
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) developers leverage a solid foundation in AR/VR tools and programming languages to build and design immersive 3D digital experiences. AR/VR technology is already popular in gaming and can potentially transform architecture, interior design, and many other industries.
The demand for developers who can create captivating virtual worlds with intuitive, seamless user interfaces is high. Even more, AR/VR developers will impact the lives and careers of millions of people. By 2030, an estimated 23 million jobs will be enhanced by AR/VR technologies.
By combining technical skills with a creative mindset, AR/VR developers can create engaging experiences and possibly revolutionize industries from education to healthcare.
7. Data Analysts Scientist
Data scientists are skilled analysts who gather and interpret large sets of data. These experts identify trends and patterns in data sets to understand what actions an organization should take to boost performance, engage customers, and increase profitability. Data scientists spend their days:
- Collecting and interpreting data
- Organizing data into usable formats
- Building prediction systems and machine-learning algorithms
- Preparing reports
Pretty much every company needs data scientists. The BLS projects the employment of data scientists will grow 36% from 2021 to 2031, earning its title as “the sexiest job of the 21st century” and positioning the role as a highly in-demand tech job for 2024 and beyond.
8. Full-Stack Developer
Unlike front-end and back-end developers, full-stack developers can build out both the client and server sides of a program. They’re familiar with all aspects of an application and are proficient in various coding languages. Some of their general responsibilities include:
- Overseeing an application from conception to final delivery
- Writing clean, reusable code in multiple languages
- Meet both consumer and technical demands
Their multi-layered expertise makes full-stack development one of the most in-demand tech jobs for 2024. Many companies—especially small business and startups—consider these professionals effective and cost-efficient. Instead of hiring several front- and back-end developers to oversee their respective areas, for example, companies can employ a few full-stack experts to oversee the development process from start to finish.
9. Web Designer
A web designer is responsible for creating the layout and design of a company’s website and web pages. They typically possess a great deal of technical knowledge while also having an eye for aesthetics, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, and graphic design. Because a website’s appearance directly impacts the visitor’s opinion of the company, skilled web designers are in high demand.
The BLS estimates that the employment of web developers and digital designers will grow 16% from 2022 to 2032, and around 19,000 job openings are projected each year over that decade. These projections make web designers one of the in-demand tech jobs throughout the next decade.
New Tech Jobs are Always Emerging
The above positions are some of the fastest growing and most in-demand tech jobs for 2024. But it’s worth noting that these are just a few examples, and the tech job market is always evolving. It’s important for professionals to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies to position themselves for success in the job market.
Are you a job seeker looking for a promising IT career? Check out our latest tech openings on our job board!