Artificial Intelligence

AI is the new hot commodity. By 2026, it is predicted that AI will be more than half of the workforce. If you’re a software developer, focus on artificial intelligence to stay ahead of the curve. 

The software development industry is booming, with an average annual salary of $75,000 for programmers and over 27% of freelance programmer positions worldwide being accepted for AI projects.

Freelance programmers specialising in developing artificial intelligence are already earning an average of $103,000 annually! As demand continues to grow, this field will flourish even further.

Autonomous Vehicles

A recent National Automobile Dealers Association study concluded that of the 2.2 million new cars sold in America, approximately 65% are self-driving and auto-piloted. 

A software developer’s salary is competitive and high for freelance programmers like me who specialise in building software for autonomous vehicles.

With few limits on what a software developer can achieve with autonomous vehicle technology and opportunity for growth, I’m about to invest time into those two areas to bolster my career and stay ahead of the curve.

Blockchain

Blockchain technology serves as the foundation for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It records every transaction on a public ledger for everyone to see, but it does not have any central authority, so there is no single point of failure.

The ability to write transactions from one account to another without needing an intermediary or third-party verification means tremendous potential efficiencies.

There is currently a lot of interest in this area, and companies will seek developers who can create blockchain applications and work with existing systems to add blockchain features. 

Software Developer Salary: Software developers typically earn between $67,000-$110,000 per year with bonuses ranging up to 50% depending on experience level.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a computer technology already making waves today. It has the potential to disrupt every major industry, from education, design, and healthcare to transportation, manufacturing, and retail.

AR’s true power lies in its ability to seamlessly blend Reality with digital information so much that it becomes difficult for users to tell what is physical and what is not.

 AR holds enormous potential for modernising processes across industries through interactive design and communication. Software developers will be needed to create the software necessary for developing these new systems, as well as any innovations that are developed in the future. 

A recent survey of software development professionals found that companies are increasingly looking for developers who can work on multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android, which will require additional skill sets.

Software developer salaries have also risen steadily over time as demand outpaces supply, likely due to technological advances increasing automation rates.

Biotech

By 2023, the number of new cancer cases is expected to exceed 20 million yearly. By 2018, according to the American Cancer Society, cancer would affect 10% of the population (over 2.4 million people). 

This rate is expected to increase by 2024 as new cases accelerate. To address this pressing issue, a biotech company has developed a biochip with an antibody that detects five types of cancer cells and spares healthy cells.