We all know that the IT industry is one of the hottest and most lucrative fields around these days. But do you know which specific IT jobs are considered the top 10 IT jobs? The list below details the best of the bunch and the information you’ll need to get into one of these careers yourself.

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	Information technology jobs are expected to increase by 37% between now and 2016.

An Overview of the Top 10 IT Jobs

Information technology jobs are big commodities now and will remain so in the future. Between now and 2016, the number of these jobs is expected to increase by 37%. The average rate of growth for jobs in general during this same time period is only projected to be 9-11%. Although job prospects will be excellent throughout the IT field, many of the best jobs are going to require higher levels of training and experience. At the top of those specific professions, however, six-figure salaries are quite common in many jobs.

The Top 10 IT Jobs

Here is some information about the top 10 IT jobs that are currently available:

• Lead Application Developer — As a lead application developer, your job is to manage the teams that are responsible for developing software. That means you can play an important role at every stage of the development process, including designing, coding, and testing the software. Generally, you will need a bachelor's degree in computer science as a minimum education requirement, and most employers will want you to have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in software development under your belt as well. On average, you can expect to earn between $80,000 and $110,000 per year in this position. Unfortunately, this is one of the few IT jobs that is expected to decline in numbers slightly in the next few years, so opportunities may not be as plentiful.

• Application Architect — When a new application is needed, the architect is the mind behind its construction. That means you'll be responsible for designing the different parts of the application, including the interface and infrastructure, based on the standards provided by the client. Although the minimum education required is a bachelor's degree in computer science, your chances of securing employment are better if you have a master's degree. You can also expect to be required to have at least 8 years experience in developing software and applications. The anticipated salary for this position is between $85,000 and $120,000. The good news is that this is going to be a fast growing field, with a current projected growth rate of over 30% over the next decade.

• Messaging Administrator — These administrators are responsible for helping companies stay in touch with one another. They handle email systems, including fixing problems with the systems and providing back-up options to ensure that none of the messages are lost. You should expect to be in demand a great deal with your employer. A few years of experience working with the same systems that your potential employer uses is highly desirable, as is at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems. The salary range for messaging administrator jobs is about the same as that for application architects.

• Data Modeler — In this position, you are going to be responsible for developing models to illustrate data flow. To accomplish this goal, you will need to analyze vast sets of data requirements. Most employers are going to be looking for past experience working with data management, as well as a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. The anticipated salary for this type of work is between $74,000 and $102,000 per year, while the anticipated growth in this area is about 38% over the next decade, which is considerably higher than average.

• Network Manager — As a network manager, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the company's networking technology. You will be required to work with other team members to make sure the network is up and running correctly at all times. Because the position is one of immense responsibility, employers want you to have at least 10 years of experience in the field, in addition to management experience. The average salary for this position is between $75,000 and $99,000 per year. Like most IT positions, job growth is expected to reach nearly 40% by 2016.

• Senior IT Auditor — For this position, you will be responsible for developing the review procedures for ensuring that the company's computer systems are meeting the industry standards. You'll establish testing and evaluation plans, as well. The position typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a similar field. Most employers look for at least 5 years of experience working directly with an IT auditing team. You can earn between $86,000 and $115,000 in this position. Again, expect phenomenal job growth in this area.

For many of the top information technology jobs, six-figure salaries are common.

• Senior Web Developer — As the head web developer, you'll be responsible for handling all aspects of the process to bring your applications to the Internet. That includes working with the development and marketing staff. Most employers want to be sure that you have at least 5 years of experience working with a wide variety of web-related technologies. A degree in computer science is also necessary. The salary for this job is between $76,000 and $108,000. Again, these positions should increase by about 37% by 2016.

• Business Intelligence Analyst — In this role, your position will be to create the methods for data analysis. You'll also be responsible for a number of other issues as well, including reporting on solutions and analyzing data that can be communicated to senior management in the form of reports. You will need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and a number of years of direct work experience. The average salary is between $78,000 and $108,000 per year. Job growth is expected to be comparable to growth for the other IT positions.

• Staff Consultant — In this position, you'll need to work with your colleagues for project planning. Usually, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or business. You will also need to have at least 2 years of experience in business and in consulting. The average salary for this type of job is between $60,000 and $82,000. This field is expected to increase by 78%, which is the highest rate of all the top 10 IT jobs.

• Tier 2 Help Desk — Although not one of the most prestigious of the top ten IT jobs, working at the tier 2 help desk is essential. You would take the calls that can't be solved by the Tier 1 staff, and you have to filter out the issues which require in-person service. Having past help desk experience is essential. Most employers would also like these employees to have either a two- or four-year degree in computer science. The salary for these jobs is typically between $35,000 and $46,000 per year. As more companies expand their computer and technology products, more help desk staff will be needed, so strong growth is expected.

Bring Order and Structure to Your IT Job Search

In an orderly and structured fashion, we consolidate all of the IT jobs from every professional job source, company and organization career page (and every other job site we can find) so you know about all the IT jobs and can make your important personal career decisions in an objective and rational way. We are a "good citizen" in the IT community and have high research standards and know you too have high standards for your career. As an unbiased research company with a profound respect for concrete facts and information about job openings, we are loyal to our members and do not accept any money from advertisers for job postings. We give you the tools to follow through and pursue your career options in a stable, practical and down-to-earth manner.

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