In our post-pandemic world, we’ve seen major shifts in how people work and how they want to work moving forward. The standard in-office 8–5 desk job simply won’t appeal to professionals in the workplace anymore—especially for younger Millennials and Gen Z-ers who are actively seeking more life-giving experiences outside of work lives.
If you find yourself in that camp (whether or not you’re a member of either of those generations) we have good news for you: The gig economy is here to stay.
MasterClass defines the gig economy as a system of part-time and full-time employment opportunities for flexible work. Think short-term contracts, freelance work and independent contracting rather than permanent jobs. In the gig economy, workers are hired on a project or gig basis, rather than as full-time employees. This type of work can include everything from driving for a company like Uber to freelance writing to IT consulting.
As the gig economy continues to grow, more and more IT professionals are turning to gig work as a way to advance their careers. And who can blame them when there’s more earning potential, independence and flexibility on the table?
If you’re considering making your next move a gig rather than a job, read on to learn the top gig economy jobs for IT professionals like yourself.
The Five Best Gig Economy Jobs for IT Professionals
Whether you’re just now entering the workforce or consider yourself a seasoned vet in IT, anyone can break into gig work. As of October 2022, a whopping 57 million Americans have performed contract work at some point, and the tech industry has quickly become well-known for these short-term, temporary roles.
But which roles will produce the most bang for your buck as an IT professional? Here are five of the best:
1. Software Developer
As one of the most in-demand jobs in the IT industry, software development is a great gig economy job for IT professionals with experience in programming languages like Java, Python, or C++. Software developers make on average about $43/hour in the U.S., or as much as $70/hour in certain areas.
Bonus: Developers get the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, like mobile app development to web application development, so there’s always something new to learn and exciting to dive into.
2. Web Designer
Web design is another great gig economy job for IT professionals who have experience with HTML, CSS and other web design tools. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for web designers is expected to rise 8% by 2029—much faster than the overall rate of growth for all jobs across all industries.
From designing landing pages to creating full website redesigns, there are so many different avenues you can explore in the world of web design. Plus, this position allows you to flex your creative muscles more than most jobs you’ll find in the world of IT—great for professionals who can claim a healthy balance of left-brain and right-brain energy.
3. Cybersecurity Specialist
One of the lesser-known impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was cyber-attacks. There was a whopping 63% increase in cyber-attacks related to the pandemic, according to a survey released by the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and independent industry analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG).
Once companies experience a security breach, they tend to take extra measures to prevent it from ever happening again—which is why cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, and cybersecurity specialists are in high demand in the gig economy. IT professionals with experience in security protocols and software can find gig work in industries like finance, healthcare, and government—and enjoy earning as much as $70/hour in the U.S.
4. Cloud Engineer
Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular among businesses—driving a whole new gig economy in tech. In fact, a survey of 1,000 professionals who were laid off during the pandemic reported that afterwards, they started their own company or pursued freelance work full-time—with 83% of those gigs existing in the technology industry, especially cloud computing.
If designing, deploying and maintaining cloud infrastructure for an organization lights you up, then cloud engineering might just be a great path for you to follow. IT professionals with experience in cloud platforms like AWS or Microsoft Azure can find gig work in areas like cloud infrastructure, cloud migration, and cloud architecture. Fun stuff, right?
5. Data Analyst
The need for data analysts is growing rapidly as businesses generate and collect more data than ever before. According to the latest estimates, 328.77 million terabytes of data are created each day. Talk about a truly unfathomable volume!
With data being an increasingly important factor for decision-making in every industry—from healthcare to finance to marketing—it’s essential for organizations to have IT pros on deck who are ready to step in. IT professionals with experience in data analytics tools like Python, R, or SQL can find gig work in industries like finance, healthcare and marketing—and can expect to make as much as $50/hour in the U.S.
IT Pros: Find Your Next Gig With ITAC Solutions
The gig economy clearly offers many exciting opportunities for IT professionals looking to take their careers to the next level. From software development to cybersecurity, cloud engineering and beyond, there are a variety of gig economy jobs that are well-suited to the skills and experience of IT professionals.
So, what’s the next step? That’s where ITAC comes in.
With IT staffing as one of our specialties, we have the expertise to help you navigate the gig economy and find the best opportunities for your skills and experience. Whether you’re looking for short-term projects or long-term contracts, we can help connect you with clients and companies looking for top talent.
Contact ITAC today to help you move into your most exciting role yet. Our team of experts is standing by to help you find your next opportunity and take your career to the next level.
