Job seekers trained in tech skills and comfortable with AI will be in high demand for jobs that are set to grow in Westchester and elsewhere. Job opportunities in the tech sector itself begin with positions at IBM’s research headquarters in Yorktown Heights and continue with innovative startups that have passed through the county’s Element 46 accelerator. A recent county push for quantum computing jobs has opened further career paths in the area.
Read on for more detail on jobs, trainings, and opportunities in this sector.
3 Important Jobs
These jobs pay well and are set to grow between 2020 and 2030 in the Hudson Valley (Source: NYS Department of Labor)
1. Computer and Information Systems Managers
What do they do? Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. Computer and information systems managers are employed in many industries.
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Projected growth: 20.2%
- Entry-level salary: $138,832
- Median salary: $193,845
2. Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
What do they do? Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Projected growth: 30.4%
- Salary: Hudson Valley averages not available. National median salary is $130,160.
3. Computer Network Support Specialists
What do they do? Computer support specialists maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users.
- Required education: Associate’s degree
- Projected growth: 14.7%
- Entry-level salary: $60,433
- Median salary: $87,164
Q&A: Deborah Novick, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Westchester County
What are some of the fastest-growing aspects of tech in Westchester?
The interesting thing about the tech sector in Westchester is that it is extremely diverse. We have fintech startups, e-sports startups, AI startups, e-commerce platforms — so many. I think the reason it’s so diverse is that we have a very large population. We have a big percentage of our founders later in their careers. It’s not the college dropout in their garage kind of thing. They are starting businesses in areas they understand very well.
Larger tech companies, like SEEQC, which is a quantum chip company that has recently raised $30 million, are certainly some of our prominent and fast-growing tech companies.
What kinds of jobs will emerge from this tech growth?
There are so many areas where we need more people. When a founder gets started, one of the first things they need is programming talent. A lot of times that is outsourced, but I think that’s an area where we can really benefit from more skilled people. What we see in a lot of the businesses growing here, including life sciences and STEM, is a need for a lot of technicians. There is all kinds of technical support that is needed, even if you don’t necessarily have a PhD in the field. There is a lot of opportunity as companies grow for folks to be trained in a specific area like AI or cyber. There are certificate programs for these kinds of skills. It’s an important element of job growth.
What training does it take to do these jobs and where can people get it?
Lots of jobs, if you have a certificate or an associate’s degree, that is sufficient to get started. We have more than 20 degree-granting institutions right here in Westchester, covering so many different fields. We also have enrichment programs, with places providing training and upskilling. There are interesting programs available through the STEM Alliance, the Knowledge House, Silicon Harlem — there are just so many, whether they are right in Westchester or in our region.
What kind of person does it take to succeed in the tech field?
You need to be a good problem solver, have some kind of technical training, comfortability with numbers and computer programming. But there are many ways to be in tech without that. A tech company needs marketers and salespeople and event planners. There are ways to be in the growing field of tech without necessarily being a computer programmer.
Need More Info?
Step inside Westchester County’s push for careers in quantum computing.
Links and Resources
Element 46
Learn more about Westchester County’s accelerator program for tech startups.
SUNY Westchester Community College
SUNY WCC offers an associate’s degree and certificate in cybersecurity, alongside other tech-focused options.
Westchester Catalyst
Get more information about Westchester’s more than 1,000 technology companies.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Working With Influencers for Westchester Businesses
