IT Jobs

Roles by Technology domains (AI, Web, Mobile, Desktop, etc)

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Artificial Intelligence jobs (future proof)

Artificial Intelligence roles, especially those involving machine learning, typically require a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and programming.

Artificial Intelligence role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Prompt Engineer	Designs and refines prompts for large language models (LLMs).	Python, OpenAI API, Prompt Engineering techniques	Moderate	~300	$100K-$180K	Learn Prompting, Prompt Engineering Guide, OpenAI Docs
AI App Developer	Application Developer: Builds user-facing applications powered by AI, integrating various AI/ML models.	Python, Java, JavaScript, API development, UI/UX frameworks, integration with AI/ML services	Moderate	~2,500	$90K-$170K	FreeCodeCamp, Coursera AI, Udemy API Development
AI App Developer - Multi-modal	Application Developer: Develops applications that leverage and integrate multiple AI modalities (text, audio, image).	Python, integration with NLP, Computer Vision, and Audio processing libraries, UI/UX for multimodal interactions	High	~600	$115K-$215K	Hugging Face Course, OpenCV Tutorials, SpeechBrain
CV Engineer	Computer Vision: Develops AI systems that "see" and interpret visual information from images and videos.	Python, OpenCV, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, Deep Learning for Vision (CNNs, Transformers)	High	~900	$115K-$210K	Coursera Deep Learning, LearnOpenCV, Fast.ai
NLP Engineer	Builds AI systems that can understand, process, and generate human language.	Python, NLTK, SpaCy, Transformers (Hugging Face), TensorFlow, PyTorch, Language Models (LLMs)	High	~1,200	$125K-$225K	Coursera NLP, Hugging Face Course, Stanford CS224n
ML Engineer	Machine Learning: Design, build, and train machine learning models.	Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy	High	~1,500	$120K-$220K	Coursera ML, Fast.ai, Kaggle
Applied ML Engineer	Machine Learning: Focuses on deploying and scaling machine learning models for specific business problems.	Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), model deployment tools	High	~1,800	$110K-$200K	Coursera ML, Fast.ai, AWS ML Certification
MLOps Engineer	Focuses on the deployment, scaling, monitoring, and maintenance of machine learning models in production.	Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, Azure, CI/CD pipelines, MLflow, Kubeflow	High	~800	$130K-$230K	MLOps.org, Google Cloud MLOps, AWS ML Certification
Research Scientist	Conducts fundamental and applied research in artificial intelligence.	Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Research methodologies	Very High	~400	$130K-$250K	PhD programs, Research internships, Arxiv

Learning Paths:

• AI - Prompt Engineer:

  • Python, OpenAI API
  • Python, OpenAI API, LangChain
  • Python, OpenAI API, Prompt Engineering techniques

• AI - Application Developer:

  • Python, AI/ML libraries, API Development
  • Python, AI/ML libraries, UI/UX Frameworks
  • Java, AI/ML libraries, API Development

• AI - Multi-modal Application Development:

  • Python, NLP Libraries, Computer Vision Libraries
  • Python, NLP Libraries, Computer Vision Libraries, Audio Processing Libraries

• AI - Computer Vision Engineer:

  • Python, OpenCV
  • Python, OpenCV, Deep Learning (CNNs)
  • Python, OpenCV, TensorFlow/PyTorch
  • Python, OpenCV, TensorFlow/PyTorch, Keras

• AI - NLP Engineer:

  • Python, NLTK
  • Python, SpaCy
  • Python, Transformers (Hugging Face)
  • Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, LLMs

• AI - Applied Machine Learning Engineer:

  • Python, Scikit-learn
  • Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch
  • Python, Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
  • Python, Model Deployment Tools

• AI - Machine Learning Engineer:

  • Python, Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy
  • Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy

• AI - MLOps Engineer:

  • Docker, Kubernetes
  • Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
  • Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD Pipelines, MLflow/Kubeflow

• AI - Research Scientist:

  • Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch
  • Research Methodologies, Publication

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Web Development Roles

Client-side web development is often considered a good entry point due to the relatively low barrier to entry (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and abundance of resources.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Client Application Developer	Build user-facing web interfaces (front-end) for websites and applications.	JavaScript, TypeScript, ReactJS, Next.js, Angular, HTML, CSS	Moderate	~150,000	$70K-$120K	FreeCodeCamp, Next.js Docs, Codecademy TypeScript
Database/Reports Developer	Design and visualize data through dashboards and reports.	SQL, Power BI, Tableau, Python, Excel	Moderate	~50,000	$60K-$100K	Microsoft Power BI, Coursera SQL, Tableau Public
Server Application Developer	Develop back-end systems that power applications (e.g., APIs, servers).	Python (Django/Flask), Node.js, Java, Go, Ruby	Moderate to High	~120,000	$80K-$130K	Coursera Python, Node.js W3Schools, Go by Example
Full-Stack Developer	Work on both front-end and back-end, creating end-to-end web applications.	JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Python, SQL	Moderate to High	~100,000	$75K-$140K	The Odin Project, Full-Stack Open, Udemy MERN
Blockchain Developer	Build decentralized applications and smart contracts.	Solidity, Rust, Ethereum, JavaScript	High	~15,000	$95K-$170K	ConsenSys Academy, CryptoZombies, Udemy Blockchain

Learning Paths:

• Client Application Developer:
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, React
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Next.js
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular
• Database/Reports Developer:
  • SQL
  • SQL, Excel
  • SQL, Power BI
  • SQL, Tableau
  • SQL, Python
  • SQL, Python, Power BI
  • SQL, Python, Tableau
• Server Application Developer:
  • Python
  • Python, Flask
  • Python, Django
  • Node.js
  • Node.js, Express
  • Java
  • Go
  • Ruby
• Full-Stack Developer:
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, SQL
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Python, Django, SQL
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, SQL
  • TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, SQL
• Blockchain Developer:
  • JavaScript, Solidity
  • JavaScript, Solidity, Ethereum
  • Rust, Solidity, Ethereum

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Quality Assurance (QA) Roles

Manual testing roles can be accessible with minimal coding experience, focusing on understanding software functionality and testing methodologies.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
QA Tester (Manual)	Tests software manually to identify bugs and ensure functionality meets requirements. Often involves creating and executing test cases.	Test case management tools, Bug tracking systems (Jira, Bugzilla), Understanding of SDLC	Low to Moderate	~40,000	$50K-$80K	ISTQB Foundation Level, Guru99
QA Tester (Automation)	Develops and maintains automated test scripts to improve testing efficiency and coverage.	Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Python, Java, JavaScript, CI/CD tools	Moderate to High	~30,000	$70K-$110K	Selenium Docs, Cypress Docs, Test Automation University
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)	A hybrid role that involves both testing and development. SDETs build test frameworks, write automation code, and contribute to the development process to improve testability.	Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Python, Java, JavaScript, CI/CD tools, understanding of software architecture	High	~20,000	$80K-$130K	Google Testing Blog, ISTQB Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer
Performance Tester	Focuses on testing the performance (speed, stability, scalability) of software applications under various load conditions.	JMeter, Gatling, LoadView, understanding of performance metrics	Moderate to High	~10,000	$75K-$120K	JMeter Docs, Gatling Docs, Blazemeter University
Security Tester	Specializes in identifying security vulnerabilities in software applications and systems.	Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nmap, Metasploit, Penetration testing methodologies	High	~8,000	$85K-$140K	OWASP, SANS Institute, PortSwigger Web Security Academy

Learning Paths:

• QA Tester (Manual):

  • Software Testing Fundamentals
  • Software Testing Fundamentals, Test Case Design
  • Software Testing Fundamentals, Test Case Design, Bug Reporting
  • Software Testing Fundamentals, Test Case Design, Bug Reporting, SDLC Understanding

• QA Tester (Automation):

  • Programming Fundamentals (Python, Java, JavaScript)
  • Programming Fundamentals, Selenium/Cypress/Playwright Basics
  • Programming Fundamentals, Selenium/Cypress/Playwright, Test Frameworks
  • Programming Fundamentals, Selenium/Cypress/Playwright, Test Frameworks, CI/CD Integration

• SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test):

  • Programming Fundamentals
  • Programming Fundamentals, Test Automation
  • Programming Fundamentals, Test Automation, CI/CD
  • Programming Fundamentals, Test Automation, CI/CD, Software Design

• Performance Tester:

  • Performance Testing Fundamentals
  • Performance Testing Fundamentals, JMeter/Gatling Basics
  • Performance Testing Fundamentals, JMeter/Gatling, Performance Monitoring
  • Performance Testing Fundamentals, JMeter/Gatling, Performance Monitoring, Cloud-Based Testing

• Security Tester:

  • Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals
  • Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals, Web Security
  • Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals, Web Security, Penetration Testing Basics
  • Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals, Web Security, Penetration Testing Tools (Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP)

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Desktop Development Roles

While still valuable, Desktop Development roles are much less in demand than web roles.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Windows Developer	Create desktop applications for Windows environments.	C#, .NET, WPF, Visual Studio	Moderate	~20,000	$65K-$110K	Microsoft Learn, Udemy C#, Pluralsight .NET
Mac Developer	Develop applications for Apple's macOS platform.	Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, SwiftUI	High	~20,000	$90K-$150K	Apple SwiftUI, Stanford CS193p, Udemy iOS

Learning Paths:

• Windows Developer:
  • C#, .NET
  • C#, .NET, WPF
  • C#, .NET, WinForms
• Mac Developer:
  • Swift, Cocoa
  • Swift, Cocoa, Objective-C
  • Swift, SwiftUI

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Mobile Development Roles

Mobile development often involves more complex concepts (native SDKs, mobile architectures) and can be more challenging than web development.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Cross-Platform Mobile Developer	Develop apps that work on both Android and iOS.	Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, JavaScript	Moderate to High	~60,000	$80K-$130K	Flutter Docs, React Native, Udemy Flutter
Mobile Native Developer - iOS	Build native applications specifically for the iOS (iPhone, iPad) platform.	Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, SwiftUI	High	~40,000	$85K-$140K	Apple SwiftUI, Stanford CS193p, Udemy iOS
Mobile Native Developer - Android	Build native applications specifically for the Android platform.	Java, Kotlin, Android SDK, Android Studio	High	~40,000	$85K-$140K	Android Developer, Udemy Android

Learning Paths:

• Cross-Platform Mobile Developer:
  • JavaScript, React Native
  • JavaScript, React Native, Redux
  • JavaScript, React Native, TypeScript
  • JavaScript, React Native, TypeScript, Expo
  • Dart, Flutter
• Mobile Native Developer - iOS:
  • Swift
  • Swift, UIKit
  • Swift, SwiftUI
  • Swift, UIKit, Core Data
  • Objective-C (Legacy)
• Mobile Native Developer - Android:
  • Java
  • Java, Android SDK
  • Kotlin
  • Kotlin, Android SDK
  • Kotlin, Jetpack Compose

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Infrastructure, DevOps and Security Roles

These roles typically require a deeper understanding of systems administration, networking, and cloud technologies. They often involve some coding, but the focus is more on infrastructure and automation.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
DevOps Engineer	Automate and manage infrastructure, deployments, and cloud systems.	Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Terraform, Bash, Python	High	~30,000	$90K-$150K	AWS Free Tier, KodeKloud, Udemy Docker
Infrastructure Engineer	Design and maintain scalable infrastructure.	Terraform, AWS, Azure, Linux, Ansible, Python	High	~28,000	$85K-$140K	AWS Solutions Architect, Terraform Tutorials, Linux Academy
Security Engineer	Secure applications and infrastructure against cyber threats.	Python, SAST/DAST tools, Kali Linux, AWS Security	High	~22,000	$90K-$160K	TryHackMe, Cybrary, Coursera Cybersecurity

Learning Paths:

• DevOps Engineer:

  • Linux, Bash Scripting
  • Linux, Bash Scripting, Docker
  • Linux, Bash Scripting, Docker, Kubernetes
  • Linux, Bash Scripting, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP
  • Linux, Bash Scripting, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP, CI/CD

• Infrastructure Engineer:

  • Linux, Networking Fundamentals
  • Linux, Networking Fundamentals, AWS/Azure/GCP Fundamentals
  • Linux, Networking Fundamentals, AWS/Azure/GCP, Terraform/Ansible
  • Linux, Networking Fundamentals, AWS/Azure/GCP, Terraform/Ansible, Python

• Security Engineer:

  • Networking Fundamentals, Linux
  • Networking Fundamentals, Linux, Python
  • Networking Fundamentals, Linux, Python, Security Principles
  • Networking Fundamentals, Linux, Python, Security Principles, SAST/DAST Tools
  • Networking Fundamentals, Linux, Python, Security Principles, SAST/DAST Tools, Cloud Security

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Game & Embedded Systems Roles

Varies so much that it's hard to generalize. Put here for now.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Learning Difficulty	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Game Developer	Build interactive games for mobile, PC, or consoles.	C#, Unity, C++, Unreal Engine, Godot	~25,000	High	$70K-$120K	Unity Learn, Brackeys YouTube, Unreal Engine
Embedded Systems Developer	Program hardware devices like IoT gadgets, microcontrollers, or robotics.	C, C++, Rust, Arduino, Raspberry Pi	~15,000	High	$75K-$125K	Arduino Tutorials, edX Embedded Systems, Rust Embedded

Learning Paths:

• Game Developer:

  • C# or C++ Fundamentals
  • Game Design Principles
  • Unity or Unreal Engine Basics
  • Game Physics, AI, and Networking Concepts
  • Game Development Project

• Embedded Systems Developer:

  • C or C++ Fundamentals
  • Microcontroller Basics (Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
  • Electronics Fundamentals
  • Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
  • Embedded Systems Project

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MAANG/MAGM specific Dev Roles

Roles like Algorithms and Data Structures Specialists and System Design Specialists are highly competitive and require significant preparation and experience.

Role	Description	Primary Technologies	Learning Difficulty	Estimated Number of Jobs (2025)	Avg. Salary Range (USD)	Recommended Starting Resources
Algorithms and Data Structures Specialist	Design and optimize algorithms for performance-critical systems.	Python, C++, Java, LeetCode, HackerRank	High	~20,000	$100K-$170K	Coursera Algorithms, NeetCode, LeetCode
System Design Specialist	Design scalable, reliable software systems for distributed environments.	Python, Java, AWS, Microservices, Design Patterns	Very High	~15,000	$110K-$190K	Designing Data-Intensive Applications, Grok System Design Tutorials, LeetCode System Design

Learning Paths:

• Algorithms and Data Structures Specialist:

  • Basic Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues)
  • Advanced Data Structures (Trees, Graphs, Heaps)
  • Algorithm Design Techniques (Greedy, Dynamic Programming, Divide and Conquer)
  • LeetCode, HackerRank Practice

• System Design Specialist:

  • Operating System Concepts, Networking
  • Distributed Systems Concepts, Database Systems
  • Microservices Architecture, Cloud Computing (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Design Patterns, Scalability & Reliability Principles

• MAANG = Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google
• MAGM = Meta, Apple, Google, Microsoft
• MAANG/MAGM Emphasis: The inclusion highlights the importance of these roles for those companies, especially in interview processes.

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Starting Steps:

1. Choose a Role
2. Learn Basics
3. Build Projects

• For example: If you chose Mobile Native Developer, focus on Java/Kotlin for Android or Swift for iOS.

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Notes::

• Sorting: Sorted in the order of columns. For Learning Difficulty easier roles on top.
• Salary Range: Average salary range for the role.
• Recommended Resources: Recommended resources for learning the role.
• Path Iteration: Recommend a plan that iterates the learning path multiple times to reinforce learning in each area.

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