Mean Income: $120,000 Top 10%: $154,448
Your system or software is old, cumbersome, and outdated? Your business probably needs an application development manager. Those people are in charge of improving internal systems and software, and could probably save you from constantly having to restart your computer whenever your office chatroom crashes (which is about twice an hour).
Good application development managers will have a bachelor’s degree under their belt, as well as a few years of experience in the field.
Solution Architect
Mean Income: $120,000 Top 10%: $200,500
Wait a minute. We thought architects design buildings, don't they? Well, generally speaking — yes. But solution architects aren't regular architects. Solution architects deal with product or project design and are also deeply involved in their technological aspects.
In order to become a solution architect, one will need to study. Hard. One will typically start with a B.A. in computer systems, but they could also start with a degree in information systems. Those who are exceptionally passionate about the field might even go for a Master’s in marketing or engineering.
Engagement Manager
Mean Income: $120,000 Top 10%: $178,580
Believe it or not, engagement managers have nothing to do with couples getting married. What they actually do is come up with new ways to keep clients involved with the company they work for. After all, if your client relationships are less than optimal, your company's days are numbered.
Engagement managers will need to study both marketing and project management, but really good ones will also have some software or technical skills.
Systems Architect
Mean Income: $116,920 Top 10%: $162,568
What? An architect who doesn't deal with buildings? What's the point of words anyway? But never mind that for now. A system architect would be in charge of a company’s software, databases, and system coding.
This kind of architect would have to have learned engineering or computer science for a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Sure, that kind of degree costs quite a bit, but the payout, once you get a job in the field, seems to be worth it.
Finance Manager
Mean Income: $127,990 Top 10%: $140,626
Finance managers are the ones who make sure a company stays financially healthy. Money doctors, if you will. Finance managers do the research and advise top executives about how to generate better income and spend less money.
Financial managers can't just be anyone. They need an undergraduate degree or even Master of Business Administration degrees in some cases. That kind of degree would cost $9,000-$70,000 a year, depending on the institution.