Next Job Boom: Hot Jobs page6

What they do: Handle database setup and security to ensure that information is delivered smoothly around a company's network.
Why it's hot: More and more information needs to be shared across computer networks, and the database administrator is at the center of that process.

Pros:
• They work closely with a company's most valuable data.
• Databases use different technologies, so flexible tech skills are required.
Cons:
• This role has expanded to include major security demands.
• Unexpected problems can cause weekend work.
• The administrator also needs a strong understanding of the company's general computer systems.

Education: Bachelor's degree a minumum; possibly a masters in Management Information Systems (MIS)
Average salary: $60,650

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