Is Technology a Good Career Path?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Discover why technology may be a good career path for you, the different types of careers in tech, the companies actively hiring in the industry, and get insights on how to launch your tech career.

[Featured image] Two people in tech jobs collaborate in front of a computer.

Key takeaways

A technology career is popular due to its high salaries, career progression options, industry growth, and flexibility in work arrangements.

  • The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 317,700 job openings in the tech industry eac year between 2024 and 2034 [1].

  • Technology careers range from data science, analytics, and programming roles like data engineer and software developer to non-technical roles like account manager and product manager.

  • You can start a career in the tech industry by building relevant technical and workplace skills and gaining experience through entry-level jobs, college degrees, certifications, boot camps, and online courses.

Discover the benefits of working in tech and compare popular roles and employers. You'll also find tips on the education, skills, and experience you need to start different technology careers. If you’re ready to start building the skills you need to launch your tech career, enroll in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. In as little as three months, you'll have the opportunity to prepare for an entry-level information technology job with skills like networking, troubleshooting, debugging, and working with AI. Upon completion, you’ll earn a career certificate for your resume.

Is technology a good career path for the future?

In the tech industry, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an employment growth rate well above the national average between 2024 and 2034, with 317,700 job openings projected each year [1]. Tech careers are popular for a few reasons. They often offer high salaries, room for growth, and flexible work options, such as remote jobs. The following sections break down each of these benefits in more detail

Growing industry

As a growing industry, the tech world can be an exciting place to be. It puts you at the forefront of technological advancement, providing frequent opportunities to learn new things. Examples of growing sectors in the tech industry today include blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing. There isn’t a set route into all technology careers, and as a result, you can enter the industry with different levels of education, experience, and expertise.

Flexibility

Tech is leading the way in flexible work, with remote options now common across the industry. Thanks to tools like video conferencing and cloud platforms, many roles can be done from anywhere with an internet connection, making work-life balance a real priority.

Career progression

With so many available opportunities, the technology industry offers a plethora of options for career advancements and pivots, as well as skill development. Since the industry is ever-evolving, numerous learning opportunities are open to you, allowing you to develop new skills to enhance your career prospects.

High salaries and job outlook

The tech sector is famous for offering high salaries. People with particular tech skills are sought after and paid accordingly. Some of the world's biggest companies are tech companies, and while their openings are competitive, they often offer excellent salaries and bonuses.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for IT and computer professionals as a collective group is $105,990 [1]. Your salary will depend on your position, experience, location, and employer. The BLS also states that, in May 2024, the highest 10 percent of computer and information research scientists earned more than $232,120 annually, while the lowest still earned $80,670 [2].

The number of tech companies worldwide is extensive, offering a variety of opportunities. However, some are particularly popular. These companies are generally known for their admired work culture, generous pay, and exciting developments. At the time of writing, these are some of the top tech companies to work for, according to Glassdoor [3]:

  • Google: A Big Five multinational tech company

  • Salesforce: The world’s leading customer relationship management technology

  • IBM: One of the world’s largest IT companies and computer manufacturers 

  • Apple: Part of the “Big Five,” a group of the top tech companies worldwide (Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Alphabet), and a leader in the worldwide smartphone market

  • Cisco: An enterprise software and network solutions company that has consistently made the list of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work since 2018

Examples of technology careers

To help you explore which tech careers might be suitable for you, read the following examples along with their median annual total salaries.

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of November 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Data science

Data scientists work with data to answer questions by understanding patterns, finding meaning in complex numbers, creating algorithms, and using programs to capture data. Some data science job roles are:

Analytics

Analysts gather data from diverse sources to clean, structure, and use it to derive conclusions across multiple specialties. Here are several types of analyst jobs and their median annual salaries:

Programming

Computer programmers write, build, and test code and scripts using programming languages to create and run software. Programmers use a variety of languages, often specializing in or incorporating programming skills into other roles. Some positions that require programming skills are:

Support

Support specialists provide technical support to organizations, businesses, and technology users. They may work remotely or in person to troubleshoot, fix, and maintain networks and computer systems. Some support roles include:

Non-technical tech roles

Working in tech doesn’t always mean you have to be technical. Even technical roles need people with workplace communication and customer service skills. You may find plenty of positions that utilize these and many other skills, such as marketing, finance, and recruitment roles. Some examples include:

How to work in tech

Working in tech doesn’t have a specific entry requirement, as roles vary, and different companies look for different qualifications in their employees. It isn’t even required to be tech-savvy for some roles. When entering the tech industry, define what you want to do and explore what recruiters require for that specific role.

Skills

An important factor in landing a competitive role is demonstrating an innate interest in the technology you want to work with. This is essential even if you are not going for a technical role. You can do this by joining networks, using technology in your daily life, and working on relevant personal or professional projects that you can add to a portfolio. This helps you build valuable tech skills and gives you a way to demonstrate them. 

In addition, you can hone a variety of workplace skills that are useful for any position in tech, including:

  • Communication

  • Problem-solving

  • Teamwork and collaboration

  • Self-motivation

  • Organization

  • Time management 

  • Attention to detail

  • Creativity

  • Adaptability

Education

The level of education needed for a tech career depends on the role and the employer. Some employers and positions require minimal education and rely heavily on skills, while others call for advanced degrees. Generally, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, and it’s usually recommended to align your major with the job role you want to pursue.

Read more: What Can You Do With a Computer Science Degree? 10 In-Demand Fields

Experience

Experience is important in the tech industry. This doesn’t necessarily have to focus on paid work if you’re just starting your career, but you typically need to show employers some evidence that you have the necessary skills. This might be through your portfolio, which may include personal projects, or through a college degree, certifications, online courses, certificates, internships, or other positions you’ve held.

Will tech jobs be replaced by AI?

In the tech field, AI could automate parts of jobs that involve working with large amounts of data or routine programming tasks; for example, in data science, AI could automate data sorting and analysis and help with trend prediction. However, AI can’t replace human skills like creativity and problem-solving in context-dependent situations. According to a 2024 McKinsey study, AI could automate 30 percent of work hours by 2030 [4]. This implies that while AI automates routine tasks, tech jobs will focus more on tasks that AI can’t do, allowing human professionals to focus on more creative and complex work. To ensure your tech career is AI-proof, consider adopting continuous learning practices, exploring various AI tools, and building important workplace skills like communication and critical thinking.

Navigate your next career move with confidence

Looking for your next step? Get the latest career news and industry trends by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or if you want to keep exploring tech career paths and skills, check out these free resources:

Learn job-ready skills from industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, and IBM with a Coursera Plus subscription, available in monthly and annual tiers. You’ll get a certificate for every program you finish, which you can add to further enhance your resume.

Article sources

1. 

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer and Information Technology Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm”. Accessed November 29, 2025.

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