Information Technology and Nontraditional Career Advantages for Women
A nontraditional career for women is one in which women are 25% or less of total number of people employed in that field. Examples of nontraditional jobs for women include information technology and computer-related specialists, chefs, detectives, architects, machinists, clergy, truck drivers, construction, railroad conductors, fire fighters, aircraft pilots, and automobile mechanics.
Nontraditional careers are excellent employment options for women
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that women will make up nearly half the U.S. workforce by 2016
- Economic growth will increase employment in many careers considered nontraditional for women
- There will be strong demand for workers in these careers due to the retirement or transfer of current workers to other professions.
- Nontraditional jobs typically pay higher entry-level wages and the opportunity to earn between $20 and $30 per hour with promotions and raises.
- Some nontraditional careers pay a bachelor's degree-level salary to workers with an associate degree or professional training.
Information Technology: Not a "Nontraditional" Career Any More
Fortunately, women in the workforce are successfully moving into nontraditional careers. As more women enter jobs that were once dominated by men, many careers that were nontraditional for women in the 1980s are no longer so 25 years later. Information Technology careers are a good example.
Information Technology and other computer-related careers include medical billing and coding, computerized accounting systems, computer programmers, support specialists, software developers, office technology specialists, database administrators, website designers, animators, video game developers, and interactive education producers, and more.
Five of the 20 Fastest-Growing Careers are in IT
Five of the top 20 fastest-growing occupations between 2006 and 2016 are in the information technology or computer-related field. This is great for women, because the low end of the pay range for these careers averages about $40,000 a year — and is often much higher.
If you're looking for a job with a good salary and a wide range of employment opportunities, consider a career upgrade to Information Technology. The benefits will really add up!
Get matched to an Information Technology program that works for you
Sources:
1) U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment and Earnings," 2007 Annual Averages
2) Bureau of Labor Statistics, Women's Bureau, "Quick Facts on Nontraditional Occupations for Women," April 2008