The tech industry offers plenty of perks as a whole, as they need to attract skilled workers. Believe it or not, tech jobs as a whole are projected to grow at 2 times the rate of all other jobs on the market.
If you want to get into this hot market, there’s nothing stopping you. There are plenty of career options with varying education requirements. Let’s talk about the best tech jobs for a work-life balance in today’s world!
1. Web Developer/Designer
Without a doubt, web design and development is the best tech job for those without a degree. Independent web developers may only spend 20 hours of their week developing and 10 hours of overhead on their own schedules while still earning over $77,000 a year on average.
While the job doesn’t require a degree, it requires a lot of skills. However, once you develop those skills, it can lead to a low-stress job with high security and potential earnings.
Developers are responsible for building the foundation and “back end” of a website, whereas designers handle the “front end,” which is what users see. Whether you handle the coding or the design elements, finding work should be a breeze.
To start, all you need to learn is basic HTML, CSS, and Javascript (in that order). From there, just familiarizing yourself with web design tools (Studio Editor, WordPress, etc.) is really all that you need to land a job in the industry. Skilled web designers and developers are in high demand worldwide.
Also, there are plenty of offshoots in the field, as websites are the de facto center of an organization’s online presence and marketing strategy. For this reason, there are search engine optimization (SEO) specialists, technical SEO consultants, UX/UI designers, and so much more. Having foundational knowledge in web development and design can open plenty of doors for your career!
2. Data Scientist
Data scientists earn 6-figure salaries and often work independently, leading to a much greater work-life balance than average. However, almost all data scientist positions will require at least a bachelor’s degree in the field. If you’re willing to go back to school, this is a great option.
While you may start as a data analyst, that’s not a bad thing. Data analysts can still earn high salaries, and a qualified data scientist can earn 6-figures even at the entry-level, and the sky is the limit from there.
Data scientists review data to help businesses make informed decisions. They collect large amounts of data by programming and using statistical and analytical algorithms tailored to the organization’s needs. This is a highly-skilled and highly-involved job, but it pays well and offers plenty of security!
3. Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers test the security elements of networks, websites, and databases. They run penetration tests and give detailed reports to clients about how well their systems hold up. Essentially, they act as security consultants for organizations that need to maintain their cybersecurity.
In today’s world, that’s essentially all organizations, as cyberattacks are still on a sharp rise. This has led to growth in the industry, and ethical hackers are in higher demand than ever before.
Also, the average salary for this industry is between $93,000 and $120,000, which is much higher than the national average. Because these are typically one-time or sporadic consulting positions, many ethical hackers work as freelancers or independent contractors.
As a result, many ethical hackers report having a great work-life balance. There’s no shortage of potential clients out there, so a skilled, ethical hacker can take on as much or as little as they’d like!
To start, you will need to become a Certified Ethical Hacker, which lasts for 3 years at a time. You will need to renew it throughout your career. However, a computer science or related degree will certainly help!
4. Software Developer
Software developers have similar skills and use similar coding languages to web developers. Their job descriptions are nearly identical, but a software developer will work on more than websites and mobile applications, including:
- Websites
- Mobile applications
- Web applications
- Games
- CRM development
- AI development
- Quality assurance
For this reason, software developers typically have a more extensive resume. This usually includes a bachelor’s degree and some related work experience. They may also need to learn additional coding languages, including Python, Ruby, and others.
However, this is reflected in their pay, as software developers can easily earn 6-figure salaries early on in their careers. If you specialize in a certain field, the sky is the limit.
Once again, this also offers great opportunities to work independently. Set up a home office, work the hours you want to work, and enjoy the parts of life that were meant to be enjoyed!
5. Digital Marketing Specialist
When we say “specialist,” we don’t necessarily mean digital marketing as a whole. If you specialize in a certain marketing task, you can earn a lot with minimal education. For example, these roles don’t necessarily require a degree:
- SEO specialists
- Social media managers
- Google Ads manager
- Facebook Ads manager
- Amazon Web Services
- Email marketing
The list goes on. You can learn any of these for free on your own time just by reading materials online, watching videos, and gaining hands-on experience. These skills are in high demand for every industry, so don’t be shy!
Choose the Tech Jobs That Are Right For You
Now that you know some of the best tech jobs to pursue to achieve a work-life balance, why wait? The sooner you start pursuing them, the sooner you can enjoy a lifelong career. If any of the jobs above appeal to you, they are worth pursuing in today’s economy.
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