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Computer software engineer, applications
What they do: Assemble the applications that drive PCs -- both consumer software and custom-developed programs for business.Why it's hot: Businesses are constantly bringing in new technologies in order to stay efficient, and customized software is an exploding market. Pros: • Independent consulting work is a possibility. • There's intense competition between businesses for the best software developers, which creates more opportunities and higher pay. Cons: • The project-oriented nature of the work can mean evening and weekend work. • Software development work is increasingly being outsourced overseas. Education: B.A. with a concentration in computer science or software engineering Average salary: $79,930 Professional organizations: Association for Computing Machinery (www.acm.org) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society (www.computer.org) National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (www.nwcet.org) | |
| Note: Fastest-growing occupations for college-educated workers. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | NEXT» |