Where a Master of Science in Information Technology may take you

Database architects work behind the scenes in IT, ensuring everything functions cohesively and collaboratively. They set the standards for operations, programming and security. They also design, implement and test database features to ensure they’re optimal for organizations, making adjustments and suggestions for updates as needed to keep a company operating at its highest capacity. These professionals focus on increasing productivity and minimizing downtime with innovative database solutions and automated processes, developing solutions for performance and scalability.

This position requires frequent collaboration. Database architects interact with other IT specialists in an organization to share information related to database concerns and constraints because their work impacts the entire company. They also coordinate with a team of their own, training and mentoring junior staff.

Opportunities for database architects are growing by 11 percent, faster than the national average for job growth, according to the BLS. PayScale noted the average database architect salary is $112,388.

Focusing on implementing appropriate security measures for the protection of computer networks and data, an information security analyst is just one opportunity in the growing field of cybersecurity. A key priority in this role is to ensure appropriate security controls are in place to keep confidential information safe and protected while maintaining the integrity of an organization’s electronic infrastructure. Planning, monitoring and updating security measures are all central objectives for information security analysts who must safeguard computer files against unauthorized modification, destruction and disclosure.

The 2017 median information security analyst salary was $95,510, with over 10,000 projected job openings between 2016 and 2026, per data from O*Net OnLine. Growth in this field — at 28 percent — outpaces the national average for all jobs due to the increase in cyber attacks leading to a greater need for innovative solutions to stop hackers and protect crucial corporate information, especially in industries like finance and health care, according to the BLS.

This opportunity is more aligned within a specific industry, as clinical data managers are responsible for database management in the health care field. These professionals analyze clinical data to identify and report on trends. From receiving and entering to verifying and filing data, clinical data managers process information through specially designed databases.

Because this position also requires individuals to develop project-specific data management plans, they may also work in other areas of the process, such as coding, reporting, workflow and data transfer. Furthermore, the position typically combines collaborative, hands-on, technical and supervisory responsibilities.

The median clinical data manager salary in 2017 was $84,000, according to O*Net OnLine. It’s projected that job opportunities will increase by 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, well above the national average for all occupations, due to the increased use of IT in health care.

Computer networks are a critical component of almost every organization, and a network administrator manages their day-to-day operations. Responsible for installing, configuring and supporting local area networks, wide area networks, internet systems and network systems, these professionals often focus on keeping everything operational. This role involves performing system maintenance, analyzing equipment and performance records, researching potential new technologies and training support staff and general system users.

In addition to completing these tasks, network administrators may use their expertise to design, test or configure computer hardware, networking software or operating system software to ensure efficient coordination between networks and data communications, as well as the hardware and software in use.

Around 27,000 job openings are projected for this profession between 2016 and 2026, according to O*Net OnLine. In 2017, the median network and computer systems administrator salary was $81,000. The BLS observed the rate of growth for network administrators to be on par with the national average for all jobs.

Networks in an organization can range from small connections between two offices to next-generation structures that serve multiple locations and clients, and network engineers know about them all. Responsible for designing and implementing computer and information networks with a variety of purposes, these individuals may develop conceptual, logical or physical network designs and related documentation.

This position frequently requires many skills necessary for successful project management. Network engineers may be in charge of creating and maintaining budgets for projects and even supervising the engineers and other team members responsible for designing and implementing the network solutions they help craft. Once they have completed a project, these engineers may need to write procedural manuals for network installation and use or develop the proper procedures to track and report on certain network elements like availability, reliability, capacity or utilization.

The median salary for network engineers in 2017 was $104,600, according to O*Net OnLine. Opportunities for this position continue to increase as companies expand their IT networks, particularly in the health care industry, the BLS noted.