Top 8 Most Lucrative Careers That You Can Pursue in 2023
We all have toasted to “the jobs that pay the bills.” But, there is a greater lesson in this well-known phrase and it is: there are jobs and there are careers. Not all jobs are careers. Jobs that have the scope of growth and advancement in the future can be potential careers. So, when we talk about the most lucrative careers in 2022, we are not just looking at the paychecks they offer. What makes a career lucrative is how much growth it can offer you in the future. For instance, you may start as a Resident in a hospital’s Emergency Room (ER) and make barely enough to pay the bills. But, the medical profession is still a very lucrative career because, in time, you can become a respected and well-paid surgeon.
Here is the list of the best and most lucrative jobs for the future that will remain relevant and help you draw a handsome salary too!
1. Data Scientists
Almost every publication, including the prestigious CNBC and Glassdoor, has listed data scientist as one of the highest-paid jobs in 2022. In addition, you need to know technology, mainly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for this role. You can take a more detailed look at what data scientists do, here.
Roles
As a data scientist, you can work in different kinds of roles.
- Data analyst
- Data engineer
- Data scientist
Skills
- Programming Languages: Java, Python, Scala, and QL Mastery
- Architectural Projections: A data engineer should have a thorough understanding of things like libraries, tools, resources, platforms, subtleties behind different characteristics of databases, computation, stream processors, properties, workflow orchestrators, and message queues, serialization formats, and other similar technologies.
- Data Modeling Techniques: Data engineers should be able to complete tasks like – normalization and denormalization tradeoffs, entity-relationship modeling, and dimensional modeling.
- ETL (Extract, Transform and Load): This is a data integration process that data engineers use to create a single data source by amassing data from numerous data sources.
- Data Storage: As a data engineer, one must know how to store data.
- Cloud Computing: As organizations are progressively replacing physical servers with cloud services, knowledge of cloud computing is a must.
- Big Data Tools: Data engineers are likely to work and manage big data. Other popular tools and technologies include Kafka, Hadoop, and MongoDB.
Salary
As per Glassdoor, $117,000 is the average salary of a data scientist
Wondering if you missed the data bus? You didn’t! Even if you did not study to be a data scientist, you can pick up one of the data science programs on Emeritus to become one.
2. Cybersecurity Specialists
As we move all our bank accounts online and save tons of data on the cloud, the need for cybersecurity keeps growing every hour. Moreover, anyone with malicious intent can phish our accounts, steal our identity, or mine our personal data. Hence, it is no surprise that the cybersecurity industry has nearly 600,000 unfilled positions, according to CyberSeek. Not only is this one of the most lucrative careers in 2022 and the future, it is also one that will make it easy for you to get a job!
Related Post: Learn more about a career in cybersecurity.
Roles
Within cybersecurity, there are many different kinds of roles depending on seniority and expertise. And they are:
- Security analysts
- Security engineers
- Information security analysts
Skills
Apart from being naturally curious, a cybersecurity expert must have some other standard skills to be able to detect foul play and prevent data theft before it happens. Key skills for cybersecurity professionals include:
- Coding, programming, and coding languages: Python, Java (or another object-oriented language), and JavaScript (the backbone of web applications)
- Hacking and penetration testing: Metasploit, Wireshark (a packet analyzer), and Kismet Wi-Fi scanner/sniffer/monitoring tool
- Aptitude to learn: If you have the inclination to learn new technologies quickly and anticipate foul play before it happens, you are a good fit
Develop your skills by enrolling in an online cybersecurity course today!
Salary
While the salaries may differ widely based on seniority and skill sets, the average salary of cybersecurity analysts is in the range of US $90,920 to $110,140 as per EMSI.
You need a basic Information Technology (IT) degree to foray into cybersecurity. But, if you want to give yourself an edge, you can explore the cybersecurity programs from reputed international schools hosted by Emeritus.
3. Cloud Engineers and Architects
Everything is up in the cloud these days! And we do mean that literally. The people who design and structure cloud environments for companies are called cloud architects. As a cloud architect, one must be able to create, manage, and maintain cloud infrastructures.
Roles
Cloud architects design cloud infrastructures while cloud engineers maintain and manage them.
Skills
A basic technical degree is a must-have for cloud architects. But apart from the degree, they must also have the following skills:
- Know how to use programming languages.
- The ability to design, implement, and deploy cloud infrastructure
- Knowledge of IT ecosystems, operating systems, and networks
- Use of tools like Visual Paradigm, Cloudcraft, Arcentry, Azure, and Edraw
- Cloud computing is an additional skill that is great-to-have
Salary
As per LinkedIn, the average salary of cloud architects in the United States is $143,000.
If you want to lead digital transformation in your organization, then consider exploring some of the programs from Emeritus.
4. Product Managers
The role of a product manager is an interesting one as it requires both technical knowledge and an understanding of the market’s demand and supply. Google was the pioneer in shaping the role of product managers back in the 80s and 90s. But now, most new-age companies have a well-defined role for product managers. The role itself is heavy on soft skills as a product manager needs to collaborate with many different teams within and outside the organization.
Roles
There are many different roles within product management, which is quite different from project management. The roles are mainly different in terms of the scope of work. And they are:
- Product manager
- Group product manager
- Director of product management
- Chief product officer
Skills
A product manager must be technology literate, but he/she needs a whole bunch of interpersonal skills to navigate the nuances of this complex role. Some of the must-have skills are:
- Basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Creation of product strategy
- Ability to create a product roadmap
- An understanding of the process to create a minimum-viable product
- A basic understanding of product market fit and profitability
- Stakeholder management
Salary
According to LinkedIn, the average salary of product managers in the US is $148,288.
If you want to make the switch to product, consider enrolling in the Professional Certificate in Product Management from Kellogg Executive Education to get a head start.
5. Full Stack Developers
You think coding skills are past their peak demand? Think again! Most reputed professional websites like CNBC and Glassdoor have ranked full-stack developers, a branch of coding, as one of the most lucrative careers in 2022. Coding is the backbone of the digital world; everything stands on the back of the work that coders do. No wonder, there is no dearth of work for good coders.
Roles
You can either be an individual contributor or a project manager in full-stack development roles. Some of the interesting profiles for full-stack developers are:
- Website developers
- Gaming developers
- Extended reality and metaverse developers
Skills
- Basic understanding of front-end technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Server-side programming languages: Java, Python, PHP, Ruby, and MERN
- Knowledge of database management, caching mechanism, server, and configuration management
- Understanding of elementary User Interface (UI)/ User Experience (UX)
- Project and/or people management skills
- A basic awareness of cybersecurity
Salary
Apart from flexible hours and the option to work remotely (in many cases), the salaries that full stack developers draw are quite hefty. As per Glassdoor, the basic salary of full-stack developers is $99,274 in the US.
#6: Enterprise Architect
An enterprise architect, sometimes also known as the Chief Technology Officer of the company, is responsible for the IT systems and infrastructure of the entire organization. An enterprise architect has to design IT processes, maintain IT infrastructure, track the progress of ongoing projects, plan for future technology needs, and also keep an eye on the security of IT systems.
Roles
An enterprise architect is a senior role and often, there is only one such role within a company. However, this role is referred to by different titles in various organizations. In some companies, they might also be called Enterprise Engineers.
Skills
While an enterprise architect is responsible for the technical infrastructure of a company, he/she is also in a leadership role. Hence, the skills required for this job are both technical and interpersonal.
- Knowledge of basic IT infrastructures and networking systems
- Technological literacy, should be able to speak the same language as IT engineers
- Leadership qualities that inspire people
- Project management skills
- Knowledge of planning and strategy to anticipate the company’s technological needs
- Interpersonal skills to communicate with various heads of functions
- Basic understanding of cybersecurity and its importance
Salary
As per CNBC, the average salary of an enterprise architect is $144,997 in the US.
7. Devops Engineer
Devops essentially stands for development and operations. It is a role that is meant to bridge the gap between these two functions. Often, there is a gap between what a software or system is designed to do and how it is used within an organization. Devops engineers maintain that balance between how technology is designed and the way it is used, thereby increasing the productivity of the organization.
Roles
As a Devops engineer, you can be part of development, testing, automation, or project management teams in a company.
Skills
The role of a DevOps engineer is very niche in terms of function. Hence, you will need more than just technical knowledge to be part of the best jobs for the future. Some of the skill sets required for this job are:
- Coding and programming knowledge of the common programming languages
- Testing skills to spot and fix bugs
- Thorough understanding of automation
- An approach that is focussed on the user
- Communication skills to talk to people using the technology and the ability to gather feedback
- The ability to lead projects in a systematic way
Related: Browse Coding and DevOps training courses.
Salary
If you are looking for the top most lucrative jobs in 2022, then this is right at the top. According to LinkedIn, a DevOps manager makes a whopping $178,563 on average in the U.S.
8. Strategy Manager
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to be able to plan for crises. Companies that moved fast and changed their strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic survived. Those that were reluctant to change course suffered heavy losses or even a shut shop. This clearly emphasizes the importance of a Strategy Manager within an organization, someone who is responsible for the long-term and short-term strategies of the company.
Roles
There are many different types of strategy roles but the job titles that concur with Strategy Manager are:
- Planning and Strategy Manager
- Director of Strategy
- Chief Strategy Officer
Skills
There is no set rule for what should be the educational background of a Strategy Manager. However, having a degree in statistics, economics, or analytics will help. Additionally, an MBA or its equivalent is an added advantage. The skills required to carry out the responsibilities of this role are as follows:
- Knowledge of statistics
- Thorough understanding of data and business analytics
- Situation analysis and strategic planning
- Having a finger on the pulse of the market
- Crisis management in adverse situations
- Quick turnaround time for new projects
- Data-driven decision making
- Critical thinking skills
Salary
Considering the risk involved in the job and the need for critical thinking, this is one of the highest-paid jobs in 2022. A Strategy Manager makes an average salary of $128,202 in the US as per Salary.com.
If you are looking to move into a strategy role, consider the strategy and innovation courses offered by Emeritus that are affiliated with world-class universities.
Many of us believe that our career paths are set in stone. But if you want to move into a lucrative career to meet your financial and professional ambitions, it’s never too late. Additionally, you can get a clear idea about how to seamlessly switch your career from our ultimate guide.
Write to content@emeritus.org for content collaborations.