The rising global inflation and consumer prices have affected even first-world countries. So, naturally, people looking for employment are more anxious than ever to have a secure career and future in these turbulent times.
Moreover, the advent of remote work has made the world smaller, and now people from one continent can be employed in a different continent and provide their services. Therefore, this era offers both opportunity and concern for people about to step into their professional life.
If you’re someone currently deciding on which career to choose, this article can be a massive help for you.
In this article, we will discuss the 20 most in-demand skills and how much employers pay you for these skills. By acquiring these skills, you too can become a part of a stable career with reliable growth opportunities in the future.
Let us begin.
Table of Contents
Cloud Computing
More and more organizations are using cloud computing today. “Cloud” is a global network of remote servers that enables people to store and back up data more efficiently and securely. As a result, there’s a high demand for cloud engineers.
Cloud engineers are responsible for managing cloud computing systems. They need to have technical skills such as:
- How to perform migrations,
- Ensuring data security,
- Implementing best practices,
- Negotiating terms with cloud service providers.
A cloud engineer in the US can make up to $120,000 per annum.
Artificial intelligence & Machine Learning
Many companies are now trying to streamline workflows and quickly translate vast quantities of data into meaningful information. This has created more demand for skilled Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) professionals.
These professionals are responsible for:
- Development of AI applications
- Testing and Implementation
- Maintenance of AI infrastructure
To accomplish these tasks, AI/ML engineers require a solid foundation in programming, software development, statistics, and similar engineering fields.
The average salary for an AI engineer is about $149,000, while for an ML engineer, it’s about $123,000 per annum.
Sales Leadership
Sales are the backbone of any business, and the ability to sell something will never go out of demand. Sales leadership is an executive-level position that involves skills like:
- Coaching,
- Strategizing,
- Innovation,
- Problem-solving
- Excellent communication skills,
- Team building,
- Closing deals.
A sales manager in the US can make about $67,000 in a year, excluding commissions. Commissions can go up to $26,000.
Data Analysis
Organizations today deal with more data than ever, and they need someone who can interpret it quickly into valuable information for the company. That is exactly what a data analyst does. There’s a massive demand for data analysis professionals who can clean, manipulate, transform, inspect, and translate data.
The average salary of a data analyst in the US is about $69,000 per annum.
Translation
Since companies are now competing for global markets, they need translators who can translate their marketing and advertising content for different localities.
Any translator who is fluent in the language that is being translated and the language translated into can become a professional translator. They also need to be familiar with the local culture, nuanced differences, and colloquialisms of both localities to connect the audience with the company more efficiently.
On average, a translator can earn up to $55,000 annually in the US.
Web and Mobile App Development
In today’s world, a new web or mobile app is launched almost every second. This might not be statistically true, but you get the picture.
As a result, there’s a huge demand for web and mobile app developers. These developers are responsible for designing, creating, testing, integrating, and maintaining mobile or web applications.
A full-stack developer (one who handles the back-end and front-end development) can make about $100,000 per annum in the US.
Video Editing and Production
Businesses use video content across various channels and in multiple formats for marketing, advertising, and informational purposes. This has increased the demand for video production and editing professionals.
These professionals have the creative flair and the technical knowledge to handle things like recording professional-level videos, creating flow, adding graphics, music, or effects, or simply editing the videos as required by the company.
In the US, a video editor makes about $49,000 per annum, while a corporate video producer makes about $59,000 per annum.
Audio Editing and Production
Just like video content, audio content is everywhere. Whether it is music, sound effects, voice-overs, or narrations, a company requires the services of an audio producer and editor to accomplish these tasks.
Audio editing and production professional knows how to capture the best sound quality, improve the audio quality of poorly recorded audio, and edit things like pitch, tone, and other attributes.
An audio editor can make up to $71,000 annually in the US, while an audio producer can make $80,000.
UI/UX Design
All the apps, software, and websites have a user interface. A UI/UX designer uses his skills to design this interface in such a way that it makes it user-friendly and achieves a better user experience. As we know, almost all businesses have some type of software, application, or website, making this skill high in demand.
On average, a UI/UX designer earns about $100,000 annually in the US.
SEO and Digital Marketing
Strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and digital marketing are essential for any business to expand its reach, traffic, and conversions. It allows them to reach more of their target audience by ranking high on SERP and achieving a better social media presence. Therefore, the skills of SEO and digital marketing are in high demand.
In the US, an SEO specialist can earn up to $53,000 per year, while a digital marketer can earn up to $62,000.
Blockchain
Blockchain, in simple words, is a digital ledger that stores information in such a way that it becomes impossible to change, steal, hack, or cheat it. Due to this, many companies are using blockchain technology to:
- Improve digital security,
- Reduce costs,
- Avoid financial discrepancies,
- Cut down on transaction times.
Therefore, blockchain developers are in high demand today.
A blockchain developer can make up to $110,000 per annum in the US.
Industrial design
Industrial design refers to designing products that are part of a company’s product line. Industrial designers are required in every company that manufactures a product. Examples of the product design industry include mobile phone companies, automobile companies, electronic appliances companies, etc.
An industrial designer has the technical knowledge to design these products so that they perform their desired functions accurately while also possessing a good appearance.
On average, industrial designers earn $70,000 per year in the US.
Animation
Animation is a creative and technical skill that is in demand today. Many businesses and corporations use animated media in videos, advertisements, and marketing content. Animated films and video game studios also require the services of animators regularly. Animation requires knowledge of specialized tools such as Maya, 3ds Max, Adobe After Effects, etc.
An animator in the US earns about $69,000 on average per annum.
Social Media Management
Social media is everywhere, and businesses are taking full benefit of it. Companies strategically create content that is meant to generate traffic, leads, and sales. They do it across various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Reddit, YouTube, etc.
A person who is skilled in managing these various social media platforms and analyzing performance metrics is a social media manager.
These professionals are in high demand these days, and in the US, they can make up to $56,000 per year.
Product Management
Product management is a practice that involves planning, development, marketing, and launching a product. Every company that manufactures a product uses product management, making this skill high in demand.
Product management professionals are skilled in things like:
- Business analysis,
- Marketing fundamentals,
- Critical and analytical thinking,
- Leadership,
- Software development,
- Market research
In the US, a project manager can make up to $80,000 annually.
Game Development
The video game is a lucrative part of the entertainment industry. Those in charge of making those games are called game developers. They are responsible for making games across various gaming platforms such as Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Android, and iOS.
These are technical professionals with an artistic flair, and they have the technical skills to use various tools to create video games.
A game developer in the US makes (on average) $99,000 per year.
Content Creation
Where there is internet and media, there is content. Content encompasses everything from online newspapers to social media, which is why content creation is a remarkable way for companies to engage their audience, listen to them, and sell to them.
A content creator knows how to create content for various formats such as text, graphics, and video. For higher roles, they also need to know how to lead a team of other content creators to whom they can delegate tasks.
The annual average salary of a content creator in the US is about $50,000.
Graphic Design
Graphic design is a technical cum creative profession that requires knowledge of what good design is and the tools to create those designs, such as:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Procreate
- Adobe Photoshop
Graphic design is an in-demand skill because companies use it in various formats, such as
- Announcement posts
- Brochure design
- Billboard design
- Visiting card design
- Packaging design
- Brand design
- And more
On average, a graphic designer makes about $54,000 in the US annually.
API Development
API, or Application Programming Interface, is a type of software that acts as a bridge between two apps and allows data transfer between them. APIs are essential for communication between different apps. APIs are so common that we sometimes don’t even notice them. The weather snippets on your phone, the website login page, and the option to pay with different payment partners are all examples of API.
Therefore, API development is in high demand. An API developer is a technical professional who can use programming to create and maintain APIs for various enterprises. On average, an API developer can make up to $112,000 annually in the US.
SEO Writing
Search Engine Optimization is often implemented in written content to rank it higher on search engines. An SEO writer’s job is to write content with the proper use of SEO to make that possible. It requires command over the written language and the technical skills to use SEO tools. Since many companies use written content for various purposes, they need the services of an SEO writer.
An SEO writer in the US can make up to $74,000 annually on average.
Final Words
These technical skills are in high demand in 2022 and will likely be so in the following years. However, there are also some soft skills too that are essential to every industry. These skills include:
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Delegation
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Persuasion
- Critical thinking
A well-balanced technical professional also possesses these qualities. These soft skills ultimately improve their efficiency and speed up their climb on the ladder of professional success.
Do you feel you can add another skill to this list? Let us know in the comments below.
