Developers, Security Experts Are in High Demand, IT Jobs Report Finds

By Don Reisinger

Mondo conducted its study by analyzing 3,500 job placements over the past year across the U.S. and found that 21 percent of people were hired in the application and software development space, followed by the Web, interactive and e-commerce development category. Security was the third-most-desired job category, followed by DevOps and software-defined networking.

Companies are looking for certain skills. According to Mondo, those with analytical, technical and strategic skills are likely to be hired. Companies also seek prospective employees who can think about the business impact of IT and are dynamic and have many interests. A well-rounded individual, in other words, is in high demand.

No surprise here, but the chief information officer and chief technology officer were the most highly paid individuals in the last year. The lowest amount paid for a CIO/CTO was $170,000 per year, while the top hire earned $250,000. That salary range is up 9 percent from the prior year.

While once few companies had chief security officers, they’re now a core component of any IT strategy. Mondo says that salaries for chief security officers are up 4 percent, ranging from $146,000 to $214,000. Chief security officers are now making more, on average, than chief data officers.

Looking for something that could eventually lead to an executive position? Think about DevOps. A DevOps engineer can make as much as $156,000, up 7 percent compared with the prior year. It remains among the top tier of highest-paying jobs in the IT space.

The big data/cloud category in Mondo’s study saw solid year-over-year gains in salary, jumping about 5 percent in that period. A Scala developer is most likely to make the most, earning $177,000. A cloud engineer is next at $142,000 in annual salary.

Although Web developers don’t get the kind of attention they once did, they’re nearly all making six figures. A Drupal developer, for instance, is at the top end of the salary range, making $139,000. And in the mobile space, salaries are soaring, with iOS developers making between $133,000 and $174,000. And for those who have an eye on usable design, becoming a UI/UX designer could net them between $111,000 and $172,000 in annual salary. Image 7: Please use this image:

So, what is ultimately driving the changes in salaries and company hiring? The Internet of things is making data intelligence and understanding user actions important. Cloud and mobile computing are creating a need for data experts and developers. Ongoing concerns with security, both on networks and in mobile, have created a massive need for security analysts. Finally, the report shows that cloud-optimized software is becoming increasingly important, driving demand for people in DevOps.

In addition to looking at what’s already happened, Mondo examined what tech positions may be in high demand in the coming year. The company discovered that data scientists, UI/UX designers, DevOps engineers, cloud engineers and network security analysts are all in demand. Security analysts in particular are highly sought after by employers.

Finally, it’s important to look at the current state of employment. The data shows that women hold just over a quarter of all technology positions in the U.S., creating a major issue for companies. According to Mondo, companies that are more diverse are 35 percent more likely to achieve stronger financial results than competitors. The company argues that enhancing diversity in the workplace will not only improve the industry in general, but also help companies succeed.