14 Best Programming Paths for a Job in Tech

Programming is very broad and there are so many directions you can take. As a beginner, you can easily get overwhelmed by all the things you need to learn.

It is therefore important to choose a specific programming path or specialization early because:

• It helps you to focus your time, effort, and money on a specialization that will be most beneficial for you, depending on your goals.
• By narrowing down your choices, you can avoid the feeling of overwhelm and analysis paralysis that comes with having too many choices.
• It helps you to learn programming in a way that sets you up to succeed in a particular programming or tech career.

To help you make an informed decision regarding which path to follow, I will explore the most popular programming paths. For each path, I will look at:

• The most popular careers you can get into.
• The roles and responsibilities you may be required to perform.
• The skills you need to learn to be competitive.
• How much you can expect to earn.
• The best learning resources to get started.

What is the best programming path to choose?

The best programming path will depend on your goals. The beauty of programming is that you can make a great living regardless of the programming career path you choose.

However, there are three main things that you should consider when choosing a programming path or specialization.

• Your goals for learning programming. If you are interested in programming as a career, you choose a path where you can quickly get a job and start earning a good salary. If you are interested in programming as a hobby, you choose a path where you can engage in your interests and passions.
• The programming languages, tools, and framework you want to work with. Each programming path has a set of commonly used languages, tools, and frameworks. Some of them will be easier to work with than others. If a certain programming path is particularly difficult, you need to assess if you have the motivation and strength to pursue it.
• What you want to make with your programming skills.  Choose a path that will help you create things that you are interested in. For, example, if you are mainly interested in creating websites and web apps, it makes sense to focus on the web development path.

Before we begin, if you are not sure about which programming language you would like to learn, see my article on The Best Programming Languages to Learn. It will take you through some of the popular programming languages and what you can do with them.

Now let us dive into the particular coding career paths.

1. Web Development Path

The web development path is the most popular path among developers, especially those learning how to code. There are plenty of jobs available and the skills you gain will make you a versatile developer.

Web developers can easily transition into mobile, desktop, and blockchain development as well as DevOps.

>> Careers in Web Development

Some of the careers you can get into under the web development path include:

• Front-end web developer
• Back-end web developer
• Full-stack web developer
• UX designer

>> What Does a Web Developer Do?

Web developers make websites and web applications. The web developer roles will vary depending on what kind of web developer you are (i.e. front-end, back-end, or full-stack) but here are the main tasks.

• Designing, creating, and maintaining websites and web applications.
• Testing, troubleshooting, and fixing problems with websites and web applications.
• Upgrading and adding new functionalities to existing websites and web applications.
• Optimizing websites and web applications for security and speed.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Web Developer

Your web development learning path will depend on the kind of web developer you want to become. To be a well-rounded web developer, you need to:

• Learn programming languages commonly used for web development (such as HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C#, and Python).
• Learn how to use web-development libraries like React, Vue, or Angular.
• Learn how to use at least one of the common web-development frameworks like Express, Django, or Laravel.
• Learn how to work with databases such as SQL databases (such as MySQL and Postgres) as well as NoSQL databases (such as Mongo and Cassandra).

>> How Much Does a Web Developer Earn?

According to Payscale, a web developer in the US earns an average annual salary of US$60,911 ($38k – $92k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Web Development

Here are some top courses you should consider for learning web development.

2. Blockchain Development Path

Blockchain technology is set to disrupt many industries such as finance, health, gaming, and cyber security among many others. The blockchain industry is expected to grow from US$7.18 billion in 2022 to US$163.83 billion by 2029. ^[5]

>> Careers in Blockchain Development

Some of the careers you can get into under the blockchain development path include:

• Core blockchain Developer
• Blockchain Developer
• Blockchain Engineer
• Blockchain Architect

>> What Does a Blockchain Developer Do?

A blockchain developer creates blockchain platforms and the applications that run on them. The tasks you will perform as a blockchain developer will depend on what kind of blockchain developer you are. Some common tasks include:

• Designing, developing, and deploying blockchain networks or applications.
• Testing, maintaining, and troubleshooting blockchain networks or applications.
• Integrating new features into existing blockchain networks or applications.
• Creating the necessary user documentation.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Blockchain Developer

The skills you need to learn for blockchain development will vary depending on whether you want to become a core developer or a blockchain app developer. Here are some common skills you may need to learn.

• Learn how common public and private blockchains (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Hyperledger) work.
• Learn how to work with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) including testing, debugging, gas optimization, etc.
• Learn at least one of the common programming languages used in blockchain programming (such as Solidity, C++, Python, Java, and JavaScript).
• Learn to use blockchain development tools and libraries like Truffle, Metamask, Ganache, and Web3.js.
• Learn how to write smart contracts in Solidity.
• Learn how to create the front end for blockchain apps (using mobile development languages and frameworks).
• Learn about crypto security (private keys, cryptographic hashing).

>> How Much Does a Blockchain Developer Earn?

According to Payscale, a blockchain software engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of $149,999 ($95k – $200k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Blockchain Development

Here are some top courses you should consider for learning blockchain development.

3. DevOps Path

DevOps is a rapidly growing field that is being driven by the need to optimize the development and deployment of applications.

The DevOps global market size was estimated at US$ 3.7 billion in 2018 and this is expected to grow to US$14.9 billion by 2026. ^[13]

As more companies continue to adopt DevOps procedures, there will continue to be a demand for DevOps specialists.

>> Careers in DevOps

Some of the careers you can get into under the DevOps path include:

• DevOps Engineer
• Cloud DevOps Engineer
• DevSecOps

>> What Does a DevOps Specialist Do?

DevOps (Development Operations) is the link between the development and operations teams of a software development company. They ensure quick and reliable software delivery by creating Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines and automating most tasks.

Here are some common tasks you may be required to do as a DevOps.

• Collaborating with development and operations teams to manage deployment and monitoring of software applications.
• Building, monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting infrastructure needed to run software.
• Eliminate operational delays by automating processes in the CI/CD pipeline.
• Monitoring and optimizing system performance.
• Ensuring the security of the  infrastructure.
• Testing pipelines to ensure that ‘broken code’ is not deployed.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a DevOps Specialist

Here are some important skills you need to learn to become a competent DevOps.

• Learn common programming languages commonly used by DevOps specialists (such as Bash/Powershell, Python, and Go).
• Learn about basic Linux server management (filesystem, SSH).
• Learn about cloud computing fundamentals and get a good grasp on cloud computing service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Learn about the DevOps pipeline including Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD).
• Learn about containerized applications including container platforms like Docker and container orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
• Learn about infrastructure automation and tools commonly used in infrastructure automation (Jenkins, Terraform, and Ansible).

>> How Much Does a DevOps Specialist Earn?

According to Payscale, a DevOps engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of US $98,900 ($67k – $143k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for DevOps

Here are some top courses you should consider for learning DevOps.

4. Data Science Path

Data science has grown in popularity in recent years as more companies and organizations realize the importance of making data-driven decisions.

Data science is concerned with using various techniques to find patterns and discover insights from raw data (structured and unstructured). These insights can give companies a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced world.

This means that companies are willing to pay good money for data scientists.

>> Careers in Data Science

If you learn data science, you can become a:

• Data Scientist
• Data Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Mining Specialist

>> What Does a Data Scientist Do?

A data scientist processes, analyzes, and models data with the aim of developing actionable insights.

The tasks of a data scientist can be quite broad. Depending on the employer, the roles may overlap with those of other data professionals such as data engineers, data architects, database administrators, and data analysts.

Here are some common tasks you may be expected to perform.

• Data mining to extract useful data from various data sources.
• Identifying and sourcing for missing data.
• Processing, cleaning, and verification of structured and unstructured data.
• Analyzing data to discover trends and patterns.
• Building custom predictive models and machine learning algorithms.
• Monitoring and testing models for accuracy and performance.
• Present information using various data visualization techniques.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Data Scientist

Here are some of the skills you are expected to learn to be a well-rounded data scientist.

• Learn programming languages commonly used in data science (such as Python, R, SQL, Scala, and Java).
• Learn common data science tasks (data wrangling, data analysis, and machine learning techniques).
• Learn how to use machine learning libraries and frameworks (such as Tensorflow, Pandas, Scikit-learn, Pytorch, and Keras).
• Learn how to use data visualization and reporting tools (such as Tableau, PowerBi, and Business Objects) as well as libraries (such as Matplotlib, ggplot, and d3.js).
• Learn how to work with databases (such as MySQL, Postgres, and Oracle).
• Learn how to work with big data tools (such as Hadoop, Spark, and Hive).

>> How Much Does a Data Scientist Earn?

According to Payscale, a data scientist in the US earns an average annual salary of US$97,358 ($68k – $146k). ^[3]  

>> The Best Courses for Data Science

The following courses will give you a firm foundation in data science.

5. Machine Learning Path

Machine Learning is already making its mark in almost every industry and some believe that it will be at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution. ^[8]

The global machine learning market size is projected to grow from US$15.4 billion in 2021 to $209.9 billion by 2029. ^[9]

Some of the industries contributing to the growth of machine learning include autonomous transport, robotics, healthcare, cyber security, and big data: ^[10]

>> Careers in Machine Learning

Some of the careers you can get into under the machine learning path include:

• Machine Learning Engineer
• Computer Vision Engineer
• NLP Engineer

>> What Does a Machine Learning Specialist Do?

A machine learning specialist develops machine learning models that are used for various applications such as data science, computer vision, and cybersecurity among many other uses.

Some of the duties you will be required to perform as a machine learning specialist include:

• Developing and implementing machine learning models.
• Testing, verifying, and optimizing machine learning models.
• Applying machine learning models for various tasks (e.g. data analysis, computer vision, etc.).
• Working with data (mining, ETL, Analysis).
• Extending or customizing existing machine learning libraries and frameworks.
• Documenting machine learning processes.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Machine Learning Professional

Here are some of the skills you are expected to learn as a machine learning professional.

• Learn the core concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning (Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, etc.).
• Learn programming languages commonly used in machine learning (such as Python, R, Java, and JavaScript).
• Learn programming languages that facilitate working with large volumes of data (such as SQL and Scala).
• Learn how to use machine learning libraries and frameworks (such as Tensor flow, Pandas, Scikit-learn, Pytorch, OpenCV, and Keras).
• Learn about working with cloud service providers (such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure).
• Learn about machine learning automation workflow tools (such as Kubeflow).

>> How Much Does a Machine Learning Specialist Earn?

According to Payscale,   a machine learning engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of US$152,795 ($119k – $207k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Machine Learning

Here are some great courses to get you started in machine learning.

6. Cybersecurity Path

Cybercrime costs the world roughly US$6 trillion in 2021 and this figure is expected to jump to $10.5 trillion by 2025. ^[11]

This staggering figure shows how important cybersecurity is to the world economy. Companies and organizations will continue to need competent cybersecurity personnel to help prevent cyber-attacks.

>> Careers in Cybersecurity

Some of the careers you can get into under the cyber security path include:

• Cybersecurity Specialist
• Cybersecurity Administrator
• Penetration testing/ Ethical Hacker
• Forensic Analyst

>> What Does a Cybersecurity Professional Do?

Cybersecurity professionals help protect companies and organizations from cyber-attacks. As a cybersecurity professional, you may be required to perform the following tasks.

• Installing security tools and software to protect against malware attacks.
• Monitoring and removal of malware from applications and networks.
• Assessing sources of security breaches (i.e. forensic functions).
• Assessing new tools and software for potential security vulnerabilities.
• Penetration/vulnerability testing.
• Data backup and recovery.
• Developing and implementing security procedures.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Cybersecurity Professional

Here are the major skills you need to learn as a cybersecurity professional.

• Learn programming languages commonly used in cybersecurity such as Python, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, and C++.
• Learn how to secure the major operating systems (Windows, Linux, and macOS)
• Learn how to secure computer networks.
• Learn about cloud security.
• Learn how to use tools that are commonly used for ethical hacking such as Metaspoilt, Cain & Abel, Nmap, Nessus, or Burp Suit.
• Learn common systems administration skills such as data backup & recovery, applying updates, etc.
• Get the common certifications for cybersecurity (such as CompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA, or CompTIA CySA+ ).

>> How Much Does a Cybersecurity Specialist Earn?

According to Payscale, a cybersecurity specialist in the US earns an average annual salary of US $79,877 ($63k – $115k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Cybersecurity

Here are the best resources for getting started with Cybersecurity.

7. Mobile Development Path

The mobile industry has become a crucial cog in today’s world. Here are some statistics that show the importance of mobile. ^[6]

• 50% of the world’s 7.8 billion people now own a smartphone.
• 56.9% of web traffic comes from mobile.
• The global mobile commerce market has reached a value of US$ 628 Billion.

This presents many opportunities for anyone getting into mobile development.

As a mobile developer, you can re-use your mobile app development skills in other paths such as blockchain development and web development.

>> Careers in Mobile Development

Some of the careers you can get into under the mobile development path include:

• iOS Application Developer
• Android Application Developer

>> What Does a Mobile Developer Do?

A mobile app developer is expected to develop high-performing and scalable native or cross-platform mobile applications for the major platforms (Android and iOs). Some of the tasks you will be required to undertake as a mobile developer include:

• Designing and building the user interface (UI).
• Monitoring and fixing bugs and performance issues.
• Writing unit tests.
• Identifying and planning for new features or improvements to the apps.
• Adding new functionalities to existing apps.
• Developing application programming interfaces (APIs).

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Mobile Developer

Here are the skills you need to learn as a mobile developer.

• Learn at least one of the common programming languages used in native iOS (Swift, Objective-C) and Android (Kotlin, Java) development.
• Learn at least one language used in cross-platform mobile app development (such as JavaScript, Dart, or C#).
• Learn to use at least one of the common mobile development frameworks such as React Native or Vue Native (for JavaScript), Flutter (for Dart), .NET (for C#), or Spring (for Java).
• Learn how to work with databases such as SQL databases (such as MySQL, and SQL lite) and NoSQL databases (such as Mongo, Firebase, and Cassandra).
• Learn how to work with RESTful APIs and other third-party libraries.

>> How Much Does a Mobile Developer Earn?

According to Payscale, a mobile applications developer in the US earns an average annual salary of $75,603 ($44k – $128k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Mobile Development

The following courses will give you a firm foundation in mobile app development.

8. Game Development Path

The gaming market is valued at US$198.40 billion (in 2021) and is expected to grow to 339.95 billion by 2027. ^[7] Gaming will continue to increase in popularity even as developers embrace new fields such as blockchain gaming and the metaverse.

>> Careers in Game Development

Some of the careers you can get into under the game development path include:

• Game Designer
• Game Programmer
• Game Engine Developer
• Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Developer

>> What Does a Game Developer Do?

A game developer creates games for a variety of formats (PC, mobile, web, or consoles). As a game developer, you may have to do some or all of these tasks depending on whether you are working as a solo developer or part of a large team.

• Developing or contributing to the development of the game storyline.
• Creating or contributing to the creation of the characters and environments.
• Contributing to animation and modeling of game assets.
• Writing game code.
• Maintaining and fixing bugs in the game code.
• Upgrading and adding assets and functionalities to existing games.
• Writing instructions on how to play the game as well as contributing to other required documentation.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Game Developer

Here are some common skills you are expected to learn as a game developer.

• Learn at least one game development programming language (such as C#, C++, Python, JavaScript, or Java).
• Learn how to work with at least one game engine (such as Unity, Unreal Engine, CryEngine, or GameMaker Studio)
• Learn how to work with gaming libraries and frameworks (such as libGDX, and Pygame).
• Learn how to use visual effects and animation software such as Blender, After Effects, or Houdini.
• Learn about the application of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to gaming.

>> How Much Does a Game Developer Earn?

According to Payscale, a game developer in the US earns an average annual salary of $63,403 ($33k – $94k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Game Development

Here are some great courses to get you started in game development.

9. Desktop Software Development Path

Desktop software development has dominated software development for decades and it is still very popular as a career.

The rise of mobile and cloud computing has challenged the dominance of desktop computing but desktop development will continue to be relevant in the near future.

With desktop development skills, you can easily pivot into mobile development, web development, or DevOps.

>> Careers in Desktop Software Development

Some of the careers you can get into under the desktop development path include:

• Windows desktop developer
• Mac desktop developer

>> What Does a Desktop Software Developer Do?

A desktop app developer is expected to develop software for the major desktop operating systems (Windows, Linux, and Mac). Some of the tasks you will be required to undertake as a desktop developer include:

• Designing and building the software user interface (UI).
• Writing clean, efficient, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Performing unit and integration testing.
• Troubleshooting and debugging applications.
• Designing, developing, prototyping, and deploying new software features.
• Monitoring and optimizing software for speed and performance.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Desktop Software Developer

Here are some skills you need to learn as a desktop software developer.

• Learn at least one programming language commonly used in desktop development. Learn C# if you want to get into Windows Desktop software development or Swift for macOS software development.
• Learn at least one language used for cross-platform desktop app development (such as JavaScript, Kotlin, Dart, HTML/CSS, Java, or Python).
• Learn at least one framework used to develop cross-platform desktop apps such as React Native (for JavaScript), Flutter (for Dart), .NET (for C#), Spring/Swing (for Java), Electron (for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), and PyQT/Tkinter (for Python).
• Learn how to use code versioning tools and repositories (such as Git and GitHub).

>> How Much Does a Desktop Software Developer Earn?

According to Glassdoor, a desktop app developer in the US earns an average annual salary of US$84,798 ($79k – $185k). ^[2]

>> The Best Courses for Desktop Software Development

Here are some good courses you should consider for learning desktop development.

10. Database Technology Path

Databases are everywhere and they are at the heart of many modern information systems. Databases help us to store data and they can be found in almost all industries including financial, airline, banking, telecommunications, and commerce sectors among many others.

This means that database specialists are in high demand and will continue to be in high demand well into the future.

>> Careers in Database Technology

Some of the careers you can get into under the database technology path include:

• Database Developer
• Database Engineer
• Database Administrator

>> What Does a Database Professional Do?

Database professionals work on creating, maintaining, securing, and scaling databases. Some of the tasks you may be required to perform as a database professional include:

• Database development (including design, debugging, and deployment).
• Managing and monitoring databases.
• Troubleshooting database issues.
• Developing best practices for data storage and organization.
• Migrating data to new environments and architectures.
• Ensuring database security, stability, and integrity.
• Performing database backup and recovery.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Database Professional

As a database professional, you need to learn the following skills:

• Learn the programming languages commonly used in database development and /or administration (such as SQL, Python, PHP, and R)
• Learn how to work with popular databases such as SQL (MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle) and NoSQL databases (such as Mongo, Cassandra, and Redis).
• Learn how to use ETL tools (such as Talend, SSIS, or Informatica)

>> How Much Does a Database Professional Earn?

According to Payscale, a database developer in the US earns an average annual salary of US $78,673 ($51k – $119k) while a database administrator earns an average annual salary of US $74,407 ($41k – $113k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Database Technology

Here are some great courses for getting started with databases.

11. Embedded Systems Path

Embedded systems are used in all kinds of technologies including the avionics of an airplane, the powertrain of a self-driving car, and the brains of smart devices such as fridges and washing machines.

The embedded systems global market size was valued at US$100.3 billion in 2020 and this is projected to reach US$137.7 billion by 2028. ^[12]

This phenomenal growth is being driven by the growth of smart devices, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Therefore, this is a great path to take if you want to leverage these future-growth industries.

>> Careers in Embedded Systems

Some of the careers you can get into under the embedded systems path include:

• Embedded applications engineer
• Embedded IoT application developer
• Embedded network engineer
• Microcontroller firmware engineer

>> What Does an Embedded Systems Professional Do?

Embedded systems professionals help design, develop and maintain embedded systems in products. Some of the roles you may have to perform in this path include:

• Designing, building, testing, and maintenance of embedded systems.
• Creating firmware device drivers for embedded environments.
• Diagnosing problems with embedded hardware and firmware.
• Configuring peripherals such as USB, SCI, field buses, and network interface controllers.
• Developing or working with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS).

>> What You Need to Learn to Become an Embedded Systems Professional

Here are some of the important skills you need to learn as an embedded systems professional.

• Learn programming languages frequently used in embedded systems development (such as C, C++, Python, and Rust).
• Understand popular embedded systems platforms (such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi) as well as popular operating systems (Linux, Windows, Mac).
• Learn about frameworks used in building custom embedded systems (such as Buildroot or Yocto).
• Learn basic electronics knowledge and skills (soldering, electronic circuits, multimeter use).
• Learn about microcontrollers (MCUs).
• Learn about Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS) or Robotic Operating Systems (ROS) if you plan to work in robotics.

>> How Much Does an Embedded Systems Professional Earn?

According to Payscale, an embedded systems engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of US $79,877 ($63k – $115k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Embedded Systems

Here are some great courses to get you started in embedded systems.

12. Data Engineering Path

We create roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. ^[14] We can quickly get overwhelmed with data unless we find a way of making sense of it. This is where data engineering comes in.

Data engineering is concerned with collecting and transforming raw data into a usable form. Data engineering helps us to make sense of the huge amounts of data available.

Outputs from data engineers are crucial for professionals such as data scientists, data analysts, and machine learning specialists.

>> Careers in Data Engineering

Some of the careers you can get into under the data engineering path include:

• Cloud Data Engineer
• Big Data Engineer
• Data Warehouse Engineer

>> What Does a Data Engineer Do?

A data engineer prepares data for analytical or operational uses. Some of the tasks you may be required to perform as a data engineer include:

• Collating raw data from various sources.
• Developing the infrastructure for extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) of data from a wide variety of sources.
• Storing, organizing, and managing large volumes of data.
• Ensuring data security.
• Developing, testing, and maintaining data pipelines and data architectures.
• Writing scripts to automate repetitive tasks.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Data Engineer

Here is what you need to learn to become a data engineer.

• Learn popular programming languages used in data engineering (SQL,  Python, Scala).
• Learn how to work with databases such as SQL (MySQL, Postgres) and NoSQL (Mongo, Cassandra).
• Learn how to work with big data tools like Hadoop, Kafka, and Spark.
• Learn how to use data visualization tools like Power BI and Tableau.
• Learn how to use ETL (extract, transform, and load) tools such as Informatica, Stitch, or Talend.

>> How Much Does a Data Engineer Earn?

According to Payscale, a data engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of US$93,654 ($66k – $142k). ^[3]  

>> The Best Courses for Data Engineering

The following courses will get you started in data engineering.

13. Cloud Computing Path

Cloud computing has seen phenomenal growth in recent years. The cloud computing market was estimated to be worth 445.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to more than double in size by 2026 (to 947.3 billion). ^[15]

The growth in cloud computing is creating a huge demand for cloud engineers and other cloud professionals and this is expected to continue well into the future.

>> Careers in Cloud Computing

Some of the careers you can get into under the cloud computing path include:

• Cloud Engineer
• Cloud Developer
• Cloud Administrator
• Cloud Architect

>> What Does a Cloud Computing Professional Do?

Cloud engineers build and manage cloud-based systems and infrastructure for businesses and organizations.

Here are some common tasks you may be required to perform as a cloud engineer.

• Designing, developing, and deploying cloud-based systems.
• Guiding clients in choosing appropriate cloud environments for their needs.
• Migrating on-premise applications and systems to the cloud.
• Using virtualization and containerization technologies for efficient server management.
• Implementing cost-control strategies.
• Monitoring the cloud infrastructure for vulnerabilities and deployment issues.
• Assisting organizations to scale their cloud infrastructure.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Cloud Computing Professional

Here are some of the skills you may be required to learn as a cloud computing professional.

• Learn the programming languages commonly used by cloud engineers (Python, Go, Java).
• Learn cloud computing fundamentals including a good grasp on how to work with popular cloud computing service providers like AWS, Azure, and Google cloud.
• Learn how to work with API and web services.
• Learn DevOps methodology (such as CI/CD) and tools (such as Puppet, Chef, Docker, and Kubernetes).

>> How Much Does a Cloud Engineer Earn?

According to Payscale, a cloud engineer in the US earns an average annual salary of US$91,409 ($55k – $129k). ^[3]

>> The Best Courses for Cloud Computing

Get started in cloud computing by taking advantage of the following comprehensive courses.

14. System Administration Path

Systems administrators play an important role in any organization or company because they ensure the smooth running of infrastructure critical to the success of a business.

Systems administrators can get jobs in all kinds of fields ranging from IT, health, finance, government, and energy.

The industry is still creating a lot of jobs but this is expected to shift in the future as more businesses embrace the cloud. However, as a SysAdmin, you can quickly pivot into cloud engineering or DevOps.

>> Careers in Systems Administration

Some of the careers you can get into under the systems administration path include:

• Windows systems administrator
• Linux systems administrator

>> What Does a Systems Administrator Do?

Systems administrators (SysAdmins) are responsible for managing, troubleshooting, and maintaining computer servers and networks. Some of the tasks you may be required to do as a SysAdmin include:

• Installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining servers and networks.
• Monitoring and tuning system performance.
• Applying system upgrades, updates, and patches.
• Creating backups.
• Ensuring the security of the servers and networks.
• Creating, deleting, or updating user accounts.

>> What You Need to Learn to Become a Systems Administrator

Here are the major skills you need to learn to become a competent systems administrator.

• Learn popular programming languages used in scripting and automation (Bash/Powershell, Python, Go).
• Learning how to work with popular operating systems such as Linux (Ubuntu, CentOs), Mac, and Windows.
• Learn basic networking skills (internet, hardware, security, etc.).
• Understand the concepts of virtualization and containerization as well as the tools used (such as Docker, and Kubernetes).
• Learn cloud computing fundamentals including how to work with popular cloud computing service providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

>> How Much Does a Systems Administrator Earn?

According to Payscale, a systems administrator in the US earns an average annual salary of US$63,934 ($43k – $89k). ^[3] The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average at US$91,250 annually in 2021.

>> The Best Courses for Systems Administration

Here are some great courses to get you started in systems administration.

Wrapping Up

There is more to programming than these paths we have discussed. However, what you have learned from this article is enough to get you started in a lucrative programming career path.

If you feel overwhelmed about picking a programming path, here are a few things to keep in mind.

• You don’t have to be stuck in a particular path. You can always change or pivot into another programming path.
• Learning programming will help you in whatever career you choose to go into (even if you don’t end up in a tech career). There is no sunk cost.

Pick one path and go for it.