Software developers, systems analysts rated as best jobs for 2013

The year ahead will continue to be a good one for software developers as organizations seek competitive edge via information technology and analytics.  Systems analysts, network/sys admins, network architecsand DBAs also make the top 15 list. Many of the job openings are in the Silicon Valley and Washington, DC metro areas.

CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists (EMSI) have released the best bachelor degree jobs for 2013 based on occupations with the most jobs added since 2010. The study uses EMSI’s labor market database, which pulls from over 90 national and state employment resources and includes information on both employees and self-employed workers.

Openings for software developers -- the number-one job of all jobs) have grown 7% over the past two years, EMSI reports. There are now close to a million positions within the U.S. alone, and the hot emmployment zones for developers include San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.

Opportunities for systems analysts have increased 5% during this time, and there are now about 530,000 positions in the U.S. alone. (#4 on the list) The leading employment centers are Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.

Network and sys admins have also seen 5% growth during this time, and there are more than 360,000 jobs in the U.S.  (#6) Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; and Columbus, OH lead the way in hiring for these positions.

There is a combined category of information security analysts, web developers and computer network architects, who also achieved 5% growth in job openings. (#8) There are 315,000 of these jobs around, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA are the prime spots. 

The CareerBuilder/EMSI survey separates out "computer programmers" from "developers," and notes 3% growth in programmers, who they define as playing a supporting role to full-fledged developers. (#11) Definition: "create, modify, and test the code, forms, and script that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software developers or other individuals. May assist software developers by analyzing user needs and designing software solutions." There are 350,000 programming jobs out there, with many concentrated in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA; and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro areas.

Finally, the EMSI study identifies about 118,000 database administrators on the scene, growing by 7%. (#15) Top metro areas for DBAs include Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.

Occupations requiring bachelor degrees that have produced the most jobs within the U.S., post-recession, include the following. More detailed information about each position is available in an EMSI blog post.

1. Software Developers (Applications and Systems Software): 70,872 jobs added since 2010, 7% growth
2. Accountants/Auditors: 37,123 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth.
3. Market Research Analysts/Marketing Specialists: 31,335 jobs added since 2010, 10% growth
4. Computer Systems Analysts: 26,937 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
5. Human Resources, Training, Labor Relations Specialists: 22,773 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
6. Network and Computer Systems Administrators: 18,626 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
7. Sales Representatives (Wholesale, Mfg, Tech, Scientific): 17,405 jobs added since 2010 – 4% growth
8. Security Analysts, Web Developers, Network Architects: 15,715 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
9. Mechanical Engineers: 13,847 jobs added since 2010 – 6% growth
10. Industrial Engineers: 12,269 jobs added since 2010, 6% growth
11. Computer Programmers: 11,540 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth
12. Financial Analysts: 10,016 jobs added since 2010, 4% growth
13. Public Relations Specialists: 8,541 jobs added since 2010, 4% growth
14. Logisticians: 8,522 jobs added since 2010, 8% growth
15. Database Administrators: 7,468 jobs added since 2010, 7% growth

(Thumbnail photo: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)