Ready to Dive into the Next Tech Career Wave?

This article was co-authored by @philliphufana and has benefited greatly from the insightful peer review provided by @ikeman09.

It is no secret that technology is advancing at a rate never witnessed before. From Apple's new 3D cameras to a generative AI model that creates videos based on user input, we've seen it all. Due to the need for new specializations, there have been a lot of job opportunities since the start of the year, providing a wider selection of specialized and higher-paying choices. Join us as we dive deeper into the new wave of tech career paths, ranging from machine learning engineering to cloud computing careers. Here are six of the most promising tech career paths for 2024 and beyond.

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Machine Learning Engineering

(image from PhoneArena)

Machine learning is behind your phone’s facial recognition, Netflix recommendations, and YouTube’s automatic captions. It is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) which focuses on building computer systems that learn from interpreting data. It uses algorithms that find relationships and patterns between data to imitate human intelligent behavior. According to Arthur Samuel, an AI pioneer, machine learning is

“the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn without explicitly being programmed.”

Because of its wide application across different fields, including e-commerce and cybersecurity, machine learning engineering is now an emerging tech career path for those passionate about data science and AI. Machine learning engineers (ML engineers) are professionals who specialize in designing and developing machine learning systems and maintaining and improving existing AI systems. This usually involves building methods of interpreting and analyzing a large amount of good data to produce better algorithms and predictions.

Essential Skills:

• Applied Mathematics
• Computer Science Fundamentals and Programming
• Machine Learning Algorithms
• Data Modeling and Evaluation
• Software Engineering and System Design
• Neural Networks
• Natural Language Processing

Salary and Job Outlook:

ML Engineers earn an average salary of ₱1,084,272 per year with an estimated salary increase of 24% over 5 years (SalaryExpert, 2024). Additionally, according to 365 Data Science, the demand for AI and ML specialists will grow by 40% from 2023 to 2027.

UX Design

TikTok UX Design (image from UX Planet)

Do you ever find yourself endlessly doomscrolling through TikTok? Ever wondered what’s the science behind this? The answer, well, one of the answers, to that is its addicting user experience (UX) design. User experience is the user’s interactions and experiences with a product, application, or service. Its scope includes how relevant the content of the product is to the user and how easy it is for them to use the product. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), UX is

“a person's perceptions and responses that result from the use or anticipated use of a product, system, or service.”

UX design is a multidisciplinary field, encompassing psychology, visual design, and market research. A UX designer is an advocate for an end-user or a customer. Generally, they help improve the usability experience of the product. One must ensure that the needs and habits of the user are met all while keeping the project's goal in mind.

Essential Skills:

• Visual and UI Design Skills
• User Research and Analysis
• Cognitive Psychological Skills
• Human-Computer Interaction Knowledge
• Information Architecture
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Salary and Job Outlook:

UX designers earn an average salary of ₱484,394 per year (Payscale, 2024). The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the increased demand for mobile app designs will result in a 13% rise in job opportunities for UX designers in the online and digital development areas by 2030.

Data Science

Google Data Center (image from WIRED)

Did you know that Google, the largest search engine, handles 2.5 exabytes (2,500,000,000 gigabytes) of data every day? The majority of this data is sensitive information, which needs to be stored securely. Additionally, they process over 2 million gigabytes per minute (Skill-Lync, 2023). Without data science, Google would not be able to deliver the best result for our search query in just a fraction of a second.

Data scientists are part mathematicians and part computer scientists. They are professionals who collect large amounts of data using analytical, statistical, and programmable skills. They find patterns and trends in these data to develop solutions tailored to a project's unique needs.

Essential Skills:

• Mathematics, Statistical Analysis, and Probability Skills
• Programming Skills (Python, SQL, NoSQL)
• Cloud Computing Knowledge
• Data Mining Skills
• Data Visualization
• Deep Learning Skills

Salary and Job Outlook:

According to Payscale (2024), the average salary for a data scientist is ₱592,858. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities for data scientists will rise by 15% from 2019 to 2029.

Cloud Engineering

(image from Hunter Communications)

If you’ve ever backed up your phone to the internet or listened to music on Spotify, then you’re already using cloud technology. Cloud Technology (or Cloud Computing) delivers computing services over the internet (the cloud). This includes servers, databases, storage, networking, analytics, intelligence, and software (What Is Cloud Computing? | Microsoft Azure, n.d.). In this digital age, the use of the cloud has been more prominent than ever, becoming the backbone of modern technology, and revolutionizing the way businesses operate.

At the heart of this revolution lies cloud engineering – designing, maintaining, implementing, and managing cloud-based solutions that power everything from e-commerce platforms to cutting-edge AI applications. It involves transferring computer system data, systematizing infrastructure, creating applications, monitoring management, ensuring data safety, and providing client services for cloud-based issues (Arun, 2023).

Essential skills:

• Linux OS
• Programming skills (ASP.NET, SQL, Python, Golang, and PHP)
• Internet Protocols and Networking
• Containerization & DevOps
• Knowledge of Virtualization
• Cloud Service Providers
• Security and Recovery
• Web APIs and Services

Salary and Job Outlook:

According to the latest SalaryExpert (2024), the average cloud engineer has an average annual salary of approximately ₱1,100,000. Additionally, cloud engineering, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to rise by 23% between today and 2032.

Augmented Reality (AR)

(image from Cafe24 Newsroom)

Have you ever considered mixing digital media's convenience into your daily life? Imagine a technology that improves how you interact with the world, creating more immersive experiences where your only limit is your imagination. Augmented Reality (AR) accomplishes precisely that. AR enhances your perception of the real world by using computer-generated data. It overlays visual, auditory, and other sensory information through computer-generated digital information. It's valuable in manufacturing and Industry 4.0 processes, allowing users to unite with systems and machines, optimizing technology and IoT networks (Augmented Reality: The Future of Manufacturing | SAP, n.d.).

An Augmented Reality developer creates, maintains, and improves AR applications for various platforms. They craft the immersive experience by merging digital graphics and animation into the real world. They revolutionize industries like healthcare, education, gaming, etc. through designing and developing augmented reality software (Augmented Reality: The Future of Manufacturing | SAP, n.d.).

Essential Skills:

• Programming skills (Java, C#, Swift)
• Software Development
• Basics of Extended Reality (XR)
• 3D Animation and Modelling
• UX Design
• Machine Learning

Salary and Job Outlook:

According to the ERI Economic Research Institute (n.d.), the average salary of Augmented Reality Developers in the Philippines is ₱836,605. As reported by Statista (2019), over 23 million jobs will be enhanced by Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Last, the global extended reality market is also expected to reach $394 billion by 2030 as claimed by Prescient & Strategic Intelligence (2021).

Artificial Intelligence Engineering

(image from VERSA Connects)

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century. AI simulates human intelligence through computer systems and algorithms, executing tasks from simple to complex, by defining human intelligence in a way that machines can easily mimic (Laskowski & Tucci, 2023). The application of AI ranges from virtual assistants to self-driving cars. It accomplishes tasks by recognizing patterns and making predictions.

An artificial intelligence engineer is responsible for creating, programming, and training complex algorithms to make them function like the human brain (Sadadow, n.d.). They focus on developing and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in projects, creating various AI applications, including sentiment analysis-based contextual advertising, visual identification, perception, and language translation (Banoula, 2023).

Essential Skills:

• Programming Skills (Python, R, Java)
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Machine Learning and AI Techniques
• Data Handling and Analysis
• Problem-solving and Critical Thinking

Salary and Job Outlook:

According to the ERI Economic Research Institute (n.d.), the average annual pay for an AI engineer in the Philippines is ₱1,000,000 a year. By 2030, career growth for artificial intelligence engineers is expected to reach at least 31.4%, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Conclusion

People interested in the tech industry are at an exciting time due to the rapid evolution of technology. Every year, there is an increasing need for skilled specialists, particularly in the fields of machine learning, augmented reality, cloud computing, UX design, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. These professions offer you the opportunity to work in high-paying roles while having the freedom to venture into uncharted tech territories. Given the positive job outlook, people will only need to worry about which field suits them best. As technology continues to advance, the demands for these careers are expected to remain high, making them excellent opportunities for anyone who wants to succeed in the tech industry.