It’s inaccurate to divide IT jobs into winners and losers. Even the burgeoning IT field has felt the effects of a slowing economy, and that applies across all skill segments. The Foote Research Group’s annual IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index takes the industry’s pulse regularly, and while the heart of IT is still beating strongly, it’s clearly reached a resting rate. In Foote’s most recent forecast for 2012, the 524 certifications and skills the firm uses as indices showed a decline in pay for the third quarter in a row.
The bigger picture, however, shows that IT jobs continue to perform well when compared against other sectors. Slow growth is still growth, and that’s where forecasts suggest the IT industry is headed. As with any industry, some IT segments grow more quickly than others. Some IT jobs are incandescently hot; others are decidedly lukewarm. The IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index offers a glimpse at which jobs are which.
The Hot List
Analysts noted a general trend away from higher pay for certifications and toward higher values for applied knowledge.
Architecture and Project Management: Of all the certification categories analyzed, only those related to architecture and process development showed consistent salary growth. As technological know-how has become common enough to suffuse every level of business, IT professionals who can create the overarching structure to put that technology to work are in greater demand.
Network Security Management: Of all certified skills, certifications related to security management held their value relatively well. Companies have heeded the alarming examples of massive security breaches at Sony Online Entertainment and TJX; they’re willing to invest heavily in data security measures.
Mobile Technology Development: Even a cursory look around a local Wi-Fi hotspot will show you just how important mobile technology development has become. As mobile applications have freed people to work and play from almost anywhere, the architects and producers of those apps have a growing presence in the job market. Mobile technology experts rely on experience and adaptability, not certifications.
Cloud Architecture: Nothing’s hotter than cloud computing and SaaS integration, and managers will pay handsomely for IT personnel who can take advantage of the technology by creating private clouds or maintaining security while using public clouds. An expert who can tangle with thorny licensing and access issues is even more valuable. This field is one of the most lucrative non-certified IT segments, and this sector is poised to grow throughout the coming year.
E-Commerce Development: Simply being web-savvy was once enough to earn IT novices a role helping small businesses develop their online presence. Those days are long past, but the role of e-commerce expert has evolved beyond simple set-up and integration tasks to seamless e-commerce solutions for everyone from huge conglomerates to home businesses.
The Not-So-Hot List
Certifications seem to mean less than they once did, at least where compensation is concerned. Although the nature of IT makes it a volatile industry, this list of jobs isn’t in danger of becoming as obsolete as phone booths. However, their market value has been reduced.
Certified Web Development: The easy access of Internet development tools for everyone has limited the value of web development certifications. A better bet: developing the static site and social media applications people use to create web content.
Entry-Level Certified Positions: Being a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist once meant steady employment, but a glut of junior-level certifications and a move away from credential-oriented roles has devalued these titles and the roles their holders typically fill.
Certified Networking and Communications Specialists: As networking has become easier, certified specialists are no longer needed to build a business infrastructure.