According to the latest Employment Projections 2024-2034 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), our economy is expected to produce 5.2 million jobs over the coming decade. These projections include a ranking of occupations expected to create the greatest number of jobs.
In this article, we’re highlighting some of these fastest-growing jobs, specifically in the Cybersecurity and Information Technology (CIT) fields. We examine them in terms of the factors that shape the demand, the roles and impacts of the professionals in CIT occupations, and the programs offered at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) designed to respond directly to these trends and to prepare you with skills-based education that can help you advance your career. In particular, we focus on
- Data scientists
- Information security analysts
- Operations research analysts
- Computer and information research scientists
- Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers
How In-Demand Are Data Scientists?
This high-demand occupation ranks fourth on the overall BLS list, with a projected growth rate of 34 percent and a median annual pay of $112,590. In today’s data-fueled society, data analysts bring important value to an organization by helping leaders understand what is happening in their business and why. They also work to increase operational efficiency, transparency, and accountability toward more streamlined, high-confidence decision-making and team-member alignment.
According to Elena Gortcheva, PhD, portfolio director of data analytics and cybersecurity at UMGC, the job market for data analysts and data scientists continues to evolve rapidly. The main factors shaping this trend are advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, business strategy, and labor supply.
“AI and automation are changing tasks,” said Gortcheva. “Routine reporting and basic data pulls are increasingly automated by AI tools. That has created a shift in value toward higher-level analytical insights, interpretation, and strategic thinking. Rather than replacing analysts and scientists entirely, AI tools are making human expertise in advanced analytics, domain understanding, and communication even more important.”
UMGC offers online degree and certificate programs designed to help you gain the practical skills and hands-on experience you need to meet this rising opportunity. Bachelor’s degree programs in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science directly relate to this field. Students can also gain concentrated, career-relevant skills and a valuable credential with an online undergraduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence Foundations, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, HR People Analytics, or Health Information Management & Data Analytics. Those certificate credits can later be applied to a degree program.
For graduates seeking advanced skills, UMGC offers online master’s programs in Data Analytics and IT: Database Systems Technology and a graduate certificate in Business Analytics.
How In-Demand Are Information Security Analysts?
BLS projects this occupation to grow about 29 percent by 2034, a rate that illustrates a persistent gap between the number of qualified professionals and the needs of employers. The average median salary for an information security analyst is $124,910 per year, according to BLS.
According to Steven L. Epstein, PhD, portfolio director for cybersecurity technology and cybersecurity management & policy at UMGC, the demand for professionals who can bridge technology with governance and strategy continues to expand across industries.
“As cybersecurity risks increasingly affect national infrastructure, global commerce, and organizational strategy, the demand for leaders who understand both the technical and policy dimensions of security is growing rapidly,” said Epstein.
Our bachelor's in cybersecurity management and policy can help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices in risk assessment, incident response, and policy development required to safeguard information systems.
There is another factor driving demand for this occupation. Information security analysts stand at the forefront of protecting organizations from evolving cyber threats, making this both a rewarding and meaningful profession. James Robertson, UMGC's portfolio director of Cyber DevOps, discusses how this occupation has rapidly transformed into one of the most critical and high-demand career paths of the modern digital era.
"The cybersecurity threat environment itself is increasingly sophisticated,” said Robertson. “As organizations worldwide expand their digital footprints, the need for security analysts has accelerated dramatically. AI-driven tools enable real-time threat detection, behavior pattern analysis, rapid incident response, phishing identification, and predictive modeling of attack scenarios."
You can select from three online bachelor’s and six online master’s degrees in cybersecurity, including a BS in Cyber Operations, an MS in Cybersecurity Management & Policy, and an MS in Digital Forensics & Cyber Investigation, to name a few. Or boost your skills and credentials quickly with one of three undergraduate certificates, including Vulnerability Assessment, and six graduate certificates including Cybersecurity Management & Policy and Cybersecurity Technology.
How In-Demand Are Operations Research Analysts?
Projected at 21 percent growth with a median salary of $91,290 per year, the role of operations research analyst is also among the fastest growing jobs, according to the BLS report. These professionals help organizations make smarter decisions by breaking down complex problems and figuring out the most effective way to solve them. According to Linda Seiter, UMGC’s computer science portfolio director, these professionals use programs, algorithms, and models to analyze large amounts of data.
"[They] test possible solutions to practical questions," said Seiter, "like how to schedule people efficiently and fairly, how to move goods faster with fewer resources, or how to decide where limited time, money, or staff will have the most impact. This role is closely related to computer science because that background provides the skills needed to design these models, implement them in software, and adapt solutions as systems and data change."
UMGC’s BS in Computer Science is a great way to gain essential skills that you can apply across a variety of industries as you build a foundation of CIT expertise.
How In-Demand Are Computer and Information Research Scientists?
Jobs in this field are projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with a median yearly salary of $140,910, according to BLS.
Computer and information research scientists play a critical role in enabling organizations to accelerate innovation, address increasingly complex infrastructure and platform challenges, and make informed decisions that support their competitive advantage. Particularly in the field of cloud computing systems, these professionals bring value by translating emerging concepts into reliable, secure, and cost-efficient solutions.
UMGC’s portfolio director for cloud computing, Patrick Appiah-Kubi, PhD, describes the job market for cloud computing professionals as moving from generalized, infrastructure-centric hiring toward a more specialization-oriented model, reflecting the integration of cloud technologies as a foundational component of modern business operations.
"The rapid proliferation of AI workloads has intensified demand for professionals who combine cloud engineering expertise with capabilities in data engineering, machine learning operations, and AI infrastructure," said Appiah-Kubi.
Along with the master’s program in cloud computing systems, UMGC offers both an undergraduate certificate and a graduate certificate in Cloud Computing & Networking. Each is designed to help you gain career skills and hands-on experience in some of today’s most advanced cloud technologies.
How In-Demand Are Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers?
Growth in jobs for these occupations is projected by BLS at 15 percent by 2034, also much faster than average. Median annual salary is between $102, 000 and $134,000, depending on the specific field.
Software development is typically a collaborative process, and QA analysts and testers usually work with development teams in designing, programming, and testing new software. Success in these roles requires strong technical skills across network, software, data, and physical security domains, as well as effective communication and teamwork skills and an understanding of regulatory requirements and risk management frameworks.
“In a field defined by rapid change, high demand, and global impact,” said Robertson, “UMGC equips learners with the foundational knowledge, technical expertise, and practical experience needed to succeed.”
UMGC has more than 20 degree programs in information technology (IT), including a BS in Management Information Systems and an MS in IT: Software Engineering to help you develop career-focused IT skills and prepare you for leadership roles. We also offer a full complement of undergraduate and graduate certificates for the IT professional.
Build Skills and Advance Your Career in a CIT Program at UMGC
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and servicemembers. UMGC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. The university has repeatedly received awards and recognition for our innovative educational programs and commitment to excellence.
Most recently, UMGC has been recognized as a Best College in America by the Wall Street Journal for 2026 and ranked in the top 8 percent of public U.S. universities for 30-year ROI by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
Long known as a leader in CIT education, UMGC has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and as a Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence (CDFAE) by the DC3 Academic Cyber Curriculum Alliance.
UMGC's Cybersecurity Competition Team of students, alumni, and faculty representing CIT programs at UMGC has been a powerful force, dominating in cybersecurity games around the world for many years. Most recently, the Team took 1st Place in the 2026 WWT CrowdStrike CTF.
Some of UMGC's online cyber graduate courses use our virtual learning lab, the Multi-Dimensional Applied Relevant System (MARS), a state-of-the-art, AI-driven cybersecurity environment where students learn by doing. Students using the MARS environment have access to the latest industry tools with which companies want their employees to have experience. Some of the tools used in UMGC’s cybersecurity classes include Wireshark, Nessus, Nmap, OWASP ZAP, and OpenVas.
Your online courses are taught by our faculty of highly successful and experienced scholar-practitioners, many of whom are leaders in the cyber fields. And to support you along your academic journey, you will be matched with a success coach who will help keep your education on track and your goals within reach.
You can apply, register, and get expert advising on your electronic device from virtually anywhere in the world, wherever you are in your career, and as a UMGC student or alumnus you'll always have access to lifetime career services to help you in your job search and career development.
To provide a truly online experience, we’ve replaced bulky, expensive textbooks with no-cost digital course materials in most courses. And with multiple start dates, a streamlined admissions process, and credit for prior learning and experience, you can get started sooner and finish faster, for less.
If you're someone with an analytical mind who enjoys solving problems and working with computers, a career in cybersecurity and information technology could be a good fit and a rewarding way to make a positive difference in today’s data-driven workplace.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
