Post pandemic, every employer in the market is looking for people who can bring extra skills to the table as the market is not saturated with dynamic job-seekers who have the right skills to do the job. After completing education, most youngster faces this dilemma of finding the right skillset, and questions like “What skill sets do I have” and “What the employers are looking for” wonder in their mind. Everyone has a limited amount of skill set which raises big questions in people’s minds like:
- Is this enough to get a job in the desired field or industry?
- How to figure out how to get into the field that you’re looking for?
Well, the best part is, it’s never too late to start again and sharpen your existing skills and add some new skills to your resume, especially in those areas which can help you bag one of the highest paying jobs and this has nothing to do with your expertise or any prior experience. Switching jobs and career domains is not uncommon these days, fields like Data Scientists and Analysis have seen a lot of surges in that.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the hand-picked 7 best high-income skills to adopt in your career and boost your productivity. Let’s check them out.
7 Best High-Income Skills to Boost Pay Scale:
1. Data Analysis
If you’re good with numbers and stats then this might be the most suitable skill set for you. It’s all about managing the bulk data and analyzing them through different algorithms so that the desired output can be extracted which will help in making business decisions.
In other words, today no company can survive without forecasting the numbers, and to run a business, it has become more important to keep a healthy track of all data that including sales figures, customer trends, purchasing patterns, etc.
If you’re looking for some good learning resources to start your Data Analysis journey, you can surely check out GeeksforGeeks’ Data Analysis with Python – Self-Paced course. Now let’s look at the required knowledge you require to start this journey.
Required Knowledge: Below is some of the tools, skills, and technologies that are required to kickstart your career in Data Analysis:
- SQL
- Microsoft Excel
- R or Python Programming
- Data Visualization
- Presentation & Critical Thinking Skill
- Mathematics
Average Salary: The average salary in data analysis ranges between INR 4.5LPA – 6LPA in India and USD 65,000 – 74,500 per annum in the USA.
2. Digital Marketing
In the past few years, we’ve witnessed the surge of digital marketing in the world. If you’ll see the stats, alone in India there are more than 35,000 job postings and 6,11,500 (approx. in worldwide) in digital marketing only. Today, companies are focusing more on paving their way toward going online (from social media to search engine optimization to ads campaign). But the best part about digital marketing is that you can learn the basics by yourself.
Everyone interacts with social media on daily basis and somehow you must have an idea about the latest trends and hashtags, that’s what digital marketing is about (basics). However, to excel in this, you must dig deeper to study its core and the tools that are being used. Since digital marketing is all about engagement, conversion, advertisement, etc., the demand for digital marketers is at its peak and is expanding at about 15.5% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) in India.
Required Knowledge: If you wish to start your Digital Marketing journey, then you need to upskill yourself with the following hard and soft skills:
- SEO & SEM
- Marketing Data Analytics
- Content Creation
- Social Media Handling
- Pay-per-click and social media advertising
- CRM
- Email Marketing
- Storytelling
- Basic designing skills (e.g – Canva & Photoshop at beginners level)
- Strong Communication (written & verbal)
Average Salary: The average salary in Digital Marketing ranges between INR 3.5LPA – 4.7LPA in India and USD 48,000 – 66,500 in the USA.
3. Software Development
One of the hottest and trending jobs in the world is software development today. Software Developers are the hidden treasure of every business that is going up on the success graph. Holding skills in the field of software development can be the perfect fit for you because it can turn out to be one of the highest-paid jobs in the world.
As the world is shifting towards digitalization, more people are getting engaged in online activities such as transactions, usage of several applications, games, etc. and that’s how the demand has been continuously growing every year and the latest survey also indicates the same, the annual growth for software developers is projected to grow by 22% by the end of 2029. Besides this, if you’ll check the current figures, there are more than 1,12,000 job postings available in India and 1,054,000+ jobs are currently available worldwide.
Required knowledge: Below is the essential skills, tools, and technologies that are required to start this journey:
- Should know some basic programming languages (C, C++, Python, Java, etc.)
- Data Structure and Algorithm
- Basics of Computer Network (For the full tutorial, refer to Computer Network Tutorials)
- Git and Github
- Database Management System (DBMS)
- Have knowledge of containers and tools like Docker and Kubernetes
- Testing procedures (Unit testing, System testing, etc.)
- Knowledge of OS (Windows, Linux, Solaris)
- Frameworks (Here are the Top 10 Frameworks)
- Knowledge of IDEs tools like Eclipse or Visual Studio Code
- Text editing software (NotePad on Windows and VIM in Linux or advanced editors like Sublime and NotePad++)
- Cloud platforms (such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, GCP, etc.)
- SDLC
To dive deeper into these technical skills and tools, you can check out 13 Technical Skills You Should Have As A Developer.
Average Salary: The average salary of a Software Developer ranges between INR 4.5LPA – 8.4LPA in India and USD 70,000 – 1,02,000 per annum in the USA.
Resource for Learning: If you wish to learn more about web designing, GeeksforGeeks got your back with the most reliable course that can help you learn A-Z about web designing and help you pave your career in the same.
4. Graphic Designing
When you talk about digital marketing then graphic designers are the one who plays a very significant part in the same sphere. In fact, not only for digital marketers but, graphic designers are highly in demand in other domains too.
Companies demand logo makers, illustration creators, banner designers, etc. these days and the scope for designers is increasing every day. Almost 50,000 jobs are available currently for the same and that too from different domains such as e-commerce, healthcare, industries, etc. The best part about this is you don’t need to have any dedicated degree to be a graphic designer, all it requires is knowledge of certain tools and software, and you’re good to go and that’s what makes it among the best high-income skills that you can easily adapt to take your career ahead.
Required knowledge: Below are some of the tools, skills, and technologies that are required to start this journey:
- Adobe (Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, Coral Draw, Flash, InDesign, Canva, etc.)
- Have knowledge of Colour Theory
- Time management
- Typography (Typesetting, etc.)
- Strategy and Ideation (Ideation (Moodboards, Idea Generation, etc.)
- Creativity
Average Salary: The average salary of a Graphic Designer ranges between INR 3.5LPA – 4.7LPA in India and USD 45,000 – 60,000 per annum in the USA.
5. Content Writer / Copywriter
Have you heard the quote, “Content is the King” because the content is everywhere? Be it the billboard on the highway or the shampoo you’re using, you’ll see content in daily life. So, if you know how to play with words and can weave stories with words and data, then you can consider becoming a content writer or a copywriter.
Working as a content writer or copywriter is one of the hottest well-known jobs in the field of marketing today. The reason is, that as the level of competition is increasing every day, companies are looking out for multiple ways to boost their advertisement and sales. Thus, writing crisp content with a clear message is the best way to attract more traffic to their website, and the best part about writing is that you don’t need to have any dedicated course or degree for that. All you need is to have clear writing fundamentals and some basic tools to start with that.
The surge of copywriters and content writers has drastically increased in the past couple of years and has crossed an average of 65,000+ jobs worldwide. So, you can opt for one of the duo – content writing or copywriting and count the big bills that go into your pocket – all by writing a few words that can touch customers’ hearts.
Required knowledge: Below is the essential skills you need if you wish to become a content writer or copywriter:
- Strong writing skills
- Strong research skill
- Creativity
- Originality
- Editing & Proofreading
- Knowledge in SEO Writing & Social Media
- Knowledge in CMS
- Knowledge of basic tools (such as Grammarly, Ahrefs, SEM Rush, etc.)
- Sales & Persuasion
- Basic knowledge of Human Behavior and Psychology
Average Salary: The average salary in content writing ranges between INR 3.5LPA – 4.5LPA in India and USD 50,000 – 70,000 per annum in the USA.
6. Web Designer
Be it a small-scale company or a large one, they all need visibility to sustain themselves in the market. And brand and website design visibility matter a lot as humans are attracted to beautiful things. If you’re one of those and have good hands at designing, you can consider being a web designer. It’s been in demand for a long now and will be in trend for the next coming years.
Referring to the freelancing websites, web designers are in high demand and people get heavily paid while working on an hourly basis. Since more than 4 billion of the population are online now and they do have accessibility to the internet, companies often target to create enhanced websites to attract more visitors that eventually get into conversion.
FYI: As per recent stats, a person spends an average of 7 hours online every day among which mass users visit different websites and serve as an organic user.
It’s not surprising that above 40,000 jobs are being posted for web designers from different parts of the world and that’s what makes it a more desirable job in today’s time.
Required knowledge: Below are some of the skills, tools, and technologies that are required to start this journey:
- HTML & CSS
- Programming language (C++, Python, JavaScript, etc.)
- Web Server Management
- CMS & SEO
- Time Management
- Knowledge of basic design tools
- Knowledge of UI/UX and Visual Design
Average Salary: The average salary of a web designer ranges between INR 3LPA – 5LPA in India and USD 55,000 – 70,000 per annum in the USA.
Resource for Learning: If you wish to learn more about web designing, you can try out these GeeksforGeeks courses that can help you pivot your career into web designing smoothly.
7. UI/UX Designer
91% of the population that uses internet have the access to it via Mobile phones, which means a good interface is required to make a strong hold on customers.
This is where UI/UX comes into the limelight and has also been named “the best and most in-demand” skill of the year by many reputed companies and websites. It’s just about offering a rich customer experience but also understanding the end goal that can meet the whole functionality and features for a smooth user experience. Good website design can increase customer satisfaction which improves businesses’ ROI. This can be a good choice for those who have a passion for designing and wants to have an extra income while working as a freelancer.
Required knowledge: Below are some of the tools and technologies that are required to start this journey:
- Proficiency in programs like Sketch, Invision Studio, Webflow, Azure, Balsamiq, etc.
- Visual Communication Skill
- Proficiency in Prototyping, wireframing, user flows, mockups
- Basic understanding of application development, including languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML
- Knowledge of visual design software like Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Illustrator
- Analytical skill
- Coding skill
- User Research & Usability Testing
- Communication & Presentation Skill
- Agile UX design
Average Salary: The average salary of a UI/UX designer ranges between INR 5LPA – 8LPA in India and USD 75,000 – 90,000 per annum in the USA.