White Collar Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

Source: Yahoo

These six professional careers don't ask for a big educational commitment.

By Terri Williams

Many people believe that non-manual labor office jobs, also known as white collar jobs, are only for the well-educated, and are unattainable by those who haven't had the time, desire, or resources to obtain a degree. However, this is not always the case.
"Many white collar jobs require exceptional communication, logistics, and problem solving skills, and often, these are skills that can be tweaked with time and experience, but not studied in a degree program," says Steve Langerud, who owns the career counseling firm, Steve Langerud and Associates.
And we're not talking about jobs that nobody wants. "Most of these jobs are in high demand today and are expected to see significant growth over the next few years," says Trish Thomas, founder of the Resume Resource and the assistant director of the center for internships and career development at Eastern Connecticut State University.
So keep reading to discover six white collar jobs that don't necessarily require a college degree, although you may want to pursue additional education to maximize your options in these fields.

White Collar Career #1: Computer User Support Specialist

Find Degree Programs

Median
Annual Salary*

$46,620

Top 10% of
Annual Salaries**

>$78,410

Bottom 10% of
Annual Salaries**

<$27,780

If you're interested in working in a comfortable office environment, maybe even from an office in your own home, consider pursuing a professional career as a computer support specialist.
"Computer support specialists are white collar workers who oversee the daily performance of computer networks or provide technical assistance to end users, either on-site or remotely," says Thomas.
Computer user support specialists are also known as help-desk technicians, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. They usually field questions from non-IT staff workers regarding using printers, working with email, and installing software.
Why You Don't Need a Degree: "There are a variety of classes and certificate programs that provide training in monitoring and troubleshooting system performance, setting up equipment for employee use, installation, operation, and minor repairs to hardware, software and peripheral equipment," says Thomas.
"Although a bachelor's degree is sometimes required for this position, it's really not necessary for a computer user support specialist," says Abraham Snell, an adjunct professor at ITT Technical Institute in Birmingham, Ala. "Their role is 1st tier support, which means they are the first line of contact with clients who are having system issues." Snell says that computer user support specialists do very basic troubleshooting, "but if the issue is too in-depth, they pass it on to the next level of support."
What You DO Need: The Department says that computer user support specialist jobs require some knowledge of computers, but not necessarily a bachelor's degree. Computer-related classes or an associate's degree may be sufficient.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
That being said, if you're looking to work with a large software company that supports business users, a bachelor's degree is frequently required, and more technical jobs will probably require a degree in a field like computer science, information science or engineering.

White Collar Career #2: Medical Records and Health Information Technician

Find Degree Programs

Median
Annual Salary*

$34,970

Top 10% of
Annual Salaries**

>$57,320

Bottom 10% of
Annual Salaries**

<$22,700

Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists aren't the only white collar options in the health care industry. Medical records and health information technicians are another option for those who want to be health care professionals.
"Medical records and health information technicians enter patient medical records, insurance information, and treatment data into computer databases," says Thomas.
Most of their work is performed while seated at a desk, although they may meet with nurses and other healthcare professionals to clarify diagnoses or get more information, says the U.S. Department of Labor.
Why You Don't Need a Degree: "Certificate programs for this growing profession provide ample training in medical coding and billing, as well as the legal, ethical and healthcare regulatory requirements," says Thomas.
Important qualities for medical records and health information technicians include the ability to be detail-oriented and analytical. They also need technical skills to use coding and classification software, according to the Department of Labor.
What You DO Need: The Department states that a postsecondary certificate is typically needed, but workers may have an associate's degree. An associate's in health information technology usually includes courses in classification and coding systems, anatomy and physiology, health care statistics, and more.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Health Information Systems & Technology Program.
The Department also notes that professional certification is required by many employers. Technicians who want to pursue a career as a medical or health services manager usually have bachelor's or master's degrees.

White Collar Career #3: Web Developer

Find Degree Programs

Median
Annual Salary*

$63,160

Top 10% of
Annual Salaries**

>$110,350

Bottom 10% of
Annual Salaries**

<$33,320

If you possess both creative and technical skills, you may be able to parlay these talents into a white collar web developer job.
"Web developers design, build, and maintain web sites, frequently incorporating e-commerce capabilities, multimedia content and analytics," says Thomas. These computer professionals may create content and convert text, graphic, audio and video components to compatible digital formats.
Why You Don't Need a Degree: "For this position, coding and design expertise are more important than a college degree," says Thomas.
"Post-secondary certificate programs provide advanced training in authoring and scripting languages, user experience methodologies, testing, data backup and recovery and performance analytics," she adds.
What You DO Need: Depending upon the type of work and setting, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that anything from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree may be required to pursue a career as a web developer.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Web Design Program.
That being said, the most common requirement is an associate's degree in web design or a related field, the Department of Labor reports, and for more technical developer positions like web architect, some employers may prefer workers with at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, programming, or a related field.

White Collar Career # 4: Construction Manager

Find Degree Programs

Median
Annual Salary*

$84,410

Top 10% of
Annual Salaries**

>$146,340

Bottom 10% of
Annual Salaries**

<$50,220

If you like the construction industry, but prefer to collaborate and manage projects than to be hands-on, consider pursuing a white collar career as a construction manager.
Construction is an industry that places a lot of value on "getting it done," says Scott Barlow, career coach and founder of HappenToYourCareer.com. "If you are a practiced problem solver, have a bias for action, and don't mind learning from folks who are rough around the edges, you can excel in the construction industry."
Why You Don't Need a Degree: This job requires experience more than education, says Barlow. "Typically, you need experience balancing projects that have lots of moving parts, people, and short time frames."
According to Langerud, it's the intangibles that make these workers special, not the degree. "Overall, top construction managers have a sixth sense about how to get the best performance from vendors, workers, and clients," says Langerud.
What You DO Need: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, self-employed general contractors can qualify as construction managers with a high school diploma plus many years of construction experience.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Construction Management Program.
The Department does note that a bachelor's degree in construction management, construction science, engineering, or architecture is becoming increasingly important as construction processes become more complicated.

White Collar Career # 6: Insurance Underwriter

Find Degree Programs

Median
Annual Salary*

$63,780

Top 10% of
Annual Salaries**

>$111,750

Bottom 10% of
Annual Salaries**

<$39,410

If you possess analytical and math skills combined with an attention to detail, consider making your mark in the insurance industry as an insurance underwriter.
"The responsibility of an insurance underwriter is to assess the risk associated with insuring an individual or account and then set insurance premiums appropriately," according to Mark Sieverkropp, a consultant and director of happen-ings at HappenToYourCareer.com.
"An underwriter will review information provided by the applicant, obtain additional information as necessary and compare it to the past performance of similar risks in order to establish a premium that is appropriate for the amount of risk that the insurance company is assuming," explains Sieverkropp.
Why You Don't Need a Degree: "An underwriter can have several different disciplines within underwriting, such as personal lines underwriting, commercial underwriting, and production underwriting," says Sieverkropp, who is also a commercial underwriter. "Because of this, training is often provided on the job and experience or a degree is not required for entry level positions."
Sieverkropp also says the skills that are necessary for an underwriter to possess are attention to detail, the ability to assess and analyze information, and an ability to make decisions based on the data provided.
What You DO Need: The U.S. Department of Labor tells us that strong computer skills and insurance-related work experience may be enough.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Finance Program.
However, the Department of Labor also points out that employers prefer hiring applicants with a bachelor's degree, with particularly helpful courses including finance, economics, business, and mathematics.

Six High-Pay Careers that Older People Can Pursue

Source: Yahoo

In these high-paying jobs, age can be an asset rather than a barrier to entry.

By Lia Sestric

Once upon a time, 65 was a magic number: It was the age where you put aside the trials of the 9-to-5 working world and got to enjoy a comfortable retirement. But with people living longer, retirement isn't the obvious choice it once was, says Roy Cohen, an executive coach and career counselor in New York City, N.Y.
"It just may be impractical to retire," says Cohen, who notes that it is now realistic for people who retire early to have as many retirement years in their life as working years. But those who want to make sure that they have enough money to fund a comfortable retirement when the time finally comes have challenges to face when seeking employment at an older age.
"There are still some biases," says Cohen. People often think when you are older you are less agile both physically and with respect to skills." But this is not the case, continues Cohen, unless you allow your skill set to erode.
Whether you're looking to change jobs or just trying to get back into the workforce, here are six jobs where older individuals can not only survive, but thrive. In addition, all of these jobs have a median annual salary* of more than $50K; in some cases, a lot more.

Career #1: School Principal (Education Administrator, Elementary and Secondary School)

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$88,380*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$128,110*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$59,010*

Are you a former teacher who is now ready to put your knowledge to use helping a new generation of educators? If so, a career as a principal may be just what you're looking for.
No matter if it is elementary or high school, you'll be the public face of the school, says the U.S. Department of Labor. In addition to meeting with parents, superintendents and legislators, you'll oversee the school's daily activities. This may mean coordinating curricula, counseling students, (and yes even disciplining), and evaluating teachers.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: "School principals deal with a lot of issues, not only with the children, but the parents. So there are all sorts of generational issues they have to be aware of," says Cohen. "The more experience you have, the greater the potential to deal with those sensitivities."
Additionally, a school principal needs to be able to demonstrate leadership in a broad range of circumstances, says Joe Weinlick, vice president of marketing at Beyond.com, a career network focused on helping people grow and succeed professionally. "This is where experience is invaluable. A school needs a leader who can remain calm by drawing upon a broad range of experience, which is why these positions are usually offered to more seasoned professionals."
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Education Leadership Program.
How to Get Started: There's some schooling required for this one, but if you are or have been a teacher, you've probably got much of what you need already. According to the Department of Labor, most schools do require that elementary, middle, and high school principals have a master's degree in education administration or leadership. If you've got a bachelor's degree in education, school counseling, or a related field, you have what is typically needed to pursue that master's. Candidates usually need teaching work experience, and most states will require public school principals get licensed as school administrators.

Career #2: Medical and Health Services Managers

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$90,940*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$155,130*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$55,470*

Do you want to help your fellow baby boomers by making health services run more efficiently? Your conscientiousness and attention to detail may be valued in a medical and health services management career.
Continuously working on the quality and efficiency in delivery of health care services is a typical responsibility for these professionals, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Medical and health services managers may be also be responsible for managing billing, work schedules, and service records.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: "As we get older, we don't get as easily flustered," says Cohen. There is a lot of movement in health care, and Cohen says often people want immediate action even if is not an urgent medical matter. He says older adults tend to have the patience to deal with these concerns and sort out the actual emergencies.
Cohen also says there are many complexities to the job that may be better handled by an older adult. "As you mature you are able to manage projects that may be very detail-oriented, with a lot of moving parts, like medical billing, which can be tedious."
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Health Care Administration Program.
How to Get Started: If you've got an undergraduate degree, you're already on your way. The Department of Labor says that potential medical and health services managers should hold a bachelor's degree in health administration. The Department adds that master's degrees, in health services, public health, long-term care administration, public administration, or business administration are common.

Career #3: Psychologist (Industrial-Organizational)

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$80,330*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$140,390*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$49,570*

Chances are you have realized over the years that humans are far from perfect. If you feel you have a good understanding of people and a willingness to get to the bottom of issues they face, you may want to consider a career as a psychologist.
Industrial-organizational psychologists use psychology in the workplace to improve work life quality and solve problems, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. They may also work with management on things like employee training, organizational development, and policy planning.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: "Age offers many benefits. With maturity comes generational insight, an appreciation of different communication styles, and the knowledge of how to align individual interests with organizational goals," says Cohen. "Over time, there is also exposure to a wider range of industries, companies, and roles as well as people from different backgrounds and cultures," he adds.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Psychology Program.
How to Get Started: According to the Department of Labor, graduates can work as industrial-organizational psychologists with a master's degree in psychology.

Career #4: Applications Software Developer

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$92,660*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$143,540*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$55,770*

Being older doesn't necessarily mean being out of touch with modern technology. Applications software developer is a job where your tech savvy skills speak for themselves, regardless of age. If those tech skills are strong enough, the year you were born should not be a barrier to you earning a solid paycheck.
The U.S. Department of Labor says applications software developers develop applications that allow users to do specific tasks on a computer or related device.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: "Software developers tend to be more focused on software capabilities over age," says Cohen, who observes that part of the tech geek culture is to be visually unbiased. "They don't care what they wear, what you wear, color of hair, how many piercings, it is really about knowing your stuff."
Beth Bryce, director of career services at Northwood University in Midland, Mich., says that since younger workers are more likely to jump from job to job in a short amount of time, an older applicant who seems likely to stick around may be more appealing. "Older workers are more marketable than they think, since job hopping is the new normal for millennials," explains Bryce. Employers want stability, especially if there are training costs, she adds.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
How to Get Started: You may already have the educational requirements to pursue an applications software developer career. Usually they have a bachelor's degree, typically in software engineering, computer science, or a related field, with mathematics also acceptable, according to the Department of Labor. Along with the bachelor's degree, software developers usually have strong computer programming skills.

Career #5: Special Education Teacher (Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School)

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$53,440*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$84,320*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$35,170*

As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. Not everyone has mastered this ability, but maybe you have now in your later years. This is a skill that can be highly beneficial while working as a special education teacher. In addition to how rewarding you may find this job, you may be surprised to learn that the median annual salary for these educators is well above the national median.
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of disabilities, from learning to physical, says the U.S. Department of Labor. In this role, you may have to adjust lessons from child-to-child to fit the student's specialized need.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: Cohen says a special education teacher must have compassion and patience, which often comes naturally with age and experience. "As we get older there tends to not be so much of a rush." Cohen says this is an important attribute, as learning new subjects or concepts may take considerable time and repetition for these students.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Education Program.
How to Get Started: If you already have teaching experience, you may be well on your way to preparing to pursue a special education career. The Department of Labor says that a bachelor's degree is required for special education teachers in public schools, along with a state license or certification. Private schools typically require the bachelor's degree but not the license or certification. Some special education teachers in public schools major in elementary education, or a specific content area like chemistry or math, with a minor in special education. Others may get a purely special education degree.

Career #6: Web Developer

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary:

$63,160*

90th Percentile of Earners:

>$110,350*

10th Percentile of Earners:

<$33,320*

Have you perused a lot of websites in search for your next career leap? Maybe your next job is looking at you square in the eyes. No matter how old your noggin is, if your creativity is sharp, a web developer career may be a good fit for you.
The U.S. Department of Labor says web developers are responsible for the look and technical aspects of websites. Other duties might include monitoring the website's speed and how much traffic the site can handle, and creating web content.
How Your Age Could Be an Advantage: "Web developers typically work on a solitary basis," says Cohen. "They tend to be less group-oriented and it is essential for web developers to be creative, which is rarely defined by age. In fact it is enhanced by age," he says.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Web Design Program.
How to Get Started: If you have been considering seriously studying web design for some time, then you may already be heading down the right path to pursue a web developer career. The Department of Labor says an associate's degree in web design or a related field is the most common requirement for web developers. The Department adds that for some other, more technical positions, such as web architect or similar positions, some employers do prefer workers with at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or programming, or a related field.

$50K Jobs for People Who Don't Want to Sit Behind a Monitor All Day

Source: Yahoo

These jobs pay well and won't turn you into a screen zombie.

By Terri Williams

Do you have eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, or neck or back pain? You might be suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a condition caused by staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
You might think that being stuck behind a computer is inevitable in this high-technology age, but there are jobs out there that aren't computer-heavy, and some of them pay pretty well, too.
Read on to discover six careers that have median salaries of over $50K a year and won't have you glued to a computer screen all day long.

Computer-Light Career #1: Art Director

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$83,000

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$169,450

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$44,500

If you're the creative type that prefers looking at storyboards to typing on keyboards, an art director position may appeal to your artistic side.
An art director typically works with a variety of artists and other people in specific roles to pull together an overall art concept, advertisement, film, or other type of project, says Scott Barlow, career coach and co-founder of HappenToYourCareer.com in Moses Lake, Washington.
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen:"To become an art director, I actually had to move away from the computer and stop being the actual hands-on designer," says Roanne Adams, chief creative director/founder of RoAndCo and one of the New York Times' "six most outstanding up-and-coming design professionals."
"If I'm not on set art directing a fashion shoot, I'm at my studio discussing and critiquing design ideas and photo shoot concepts with my design team," says Adams.
Additionally, "The job consists of everything from hand-drawn set design, to prop shopping, to running a crew, to building and painting sets and doing this on a weekly basis, especially for serial TV shows," says David Murdico, executive creative director and managing partner of Supercool Creative in Los Angeles, CA.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Graphic Design Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: If you like the idea of being on your feet coordinating all the moving parts of a design project, here's what you need to know. At least a bachelor's degree in art or a design subject is what art directors need, in addition to previous work experience, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Many start out as industrial, set, or graphic designers in an art-related occupation like photographer or fine artist, and earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of fine arts as the appropriate education for that occupation.

Computer-Light Career #2: Elementary School Teacher

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$53,590

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$83,600

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$35,760

If you would rather see the inquisitive faces of excited children than the computer-generated emoticons used in email communication, you might enjoy pursuing a career as an elementary school teacher.
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen: "Most of the day, I am on my feet delivering lessons and supporting students," says Brian Duggan, a first grade lead teacher at Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn, NY."
And when he is not teaching, Duggan says, "I am meeting with my grade level team to collaborate on upcoming lessons and share best-practice teaching techniques."
And there are benefits to getting out from behind that computer in a classroom. "Instead of being behind a computer all day, teachers get the satisfaction of seeing firsthand the impact they're making on the next generation,"says career counselor Ben Fanning.
Fanning adds that elementary school teachers get to experience the smile on a child's face when they learn something new, "and that kind of feedback is priceless and only happens in the flesh."
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Education Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: If a career as a teacher appeals to you, be aware that a bachelor's degree in elementary education is required in all states for public elementary school teachers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In some states, teachers may be required to major in a content area, such as science or math.
Teachers will usually enroll in the teacher preparation program of their university as well as taking child psychology, education, and other classes as required by their major, the Department of Labor adds. Public school teachers are required to be licensed or certified in all states.

Computer-Light Career #3: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$56,130

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$90,700

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$32,670*

If high-speed chases sound more appealing than high-speed Internet, and entering potentially dangerous situations sounds more exciting than opening potentially dangerous email attachments, consider pursuing a career as a police officer.
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen: "The majority of their time is spent interacting with the public, so this is an ideal job for someone who doesn't want to spend a significant portion of their work day sitting behind a computer screen," says Clarissa Lester-Kenty, a life coach with 15 years of expertise in career training in Birmingham, Ala.
"Police officers perform a variety of duties, which can range from responding to domestic disputes to stopping a robbery in progress to negotiating a hostage situation." Lester-Kenty adds.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: If you want to get started in this field, keep in mind that police and detectives need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Some police departments and many agencies require a college degree or some college coursework.
Many entry-level police job applicants have taken some college classes while a significant number have graduated from college. Many colleges, universities, and even junior colleges provide programs in criminal justice and law enforcement, the Department of Labor states.

Computer-Light Career #4: Registered Nurse

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$66,220

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$96,320

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$45,630

If you are more concerned with the temperature of a patient who may be running a fever than the possibility of your computer overheating, perhaps nursing is your calling.
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen: While digital devices are definitely in use, "the bulk of our time is spent managing symptoms, supporting the family and communicating with other members of the care team, whether social workers, creative arts therapists, spiritual care coordinators, physicians or bereavement counselors," says Sandra Davis, a registered nurse with the Metropolitan Jewish Health System who specializes in hospice and palliative care.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: If you're looking to pursue a career in nursing, there are usually three paths to a nursing career, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Students obtain a diploma from an approved nursing program, an associate's degree in nursing, or a bachelor's of science degree in nursing. Registered nurses need to be licensed as well.

Computer-Light Career #5: Claims Adjuster

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$61,190

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$90,570

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$37,220

If you'd rather adjust the amounts of insurance claims than spend your day adjusting your computer monitor display options, you might like the idea of working as a claims adjuster.
"The job of a claims adjuster is to review claims that are made by either the insured party or a third party against the insured party," says Mark Sieverkropp, consultant and co-director of happen-ings at career coaching website HappenToYourCareer.com. "They compare the incident with the insurance policy and determine whether the insurance coverage applies."
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen: Although computers are used to capture insurance information, "claims adjusters spend a large amount of their time meeting with the claimant (person filing the claim), or other involved parties, and reviewing the scene of the incident (in cases of property damage, auto accidents, etc.)," explains Sieverkropp, who adds that they may also take part in settlement negotiations, trials and other aspects of the process of resolving and closing a claim.
"Claims adjusters work with the claimant to fulfill the requirements of the insurance contract and also negotiate settlements as need be," says Sieverkropp.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: A high school diploma or its equivalent is typically required for those workers looking to be hired by employers as entry-level investigators, examiners, or claims adjusters, reports the U.S. Department of Labor. For higher positions, a bachelor's degree or insurance-related work experience may be required.
Different types of college coursework or different backgrounds are best for different types of work in these types of occupations. For example, a business or accounting background might be more appropriate for specializing in damage to merchandise or breakdowns of equipment, according to the Department of Labor.

Computer-Light Career #6: Computer Network Architect

Find Degree Programs

Median Annual Salary*

$95,380

Top 10% of Annual Salaries*

>$145,700

Bottom 10% of Annual Salaries*

<$53,920

You can like computers and still not want to stare at a monitor all day. Pursuing a career as a computer network architect could give you the best of both worlds.
How You'll Escape the Computer Screen: These professionals do plenty of work that doesn't require sitting in front of a monitor, including (according to the U.S. Department of Labor):

• Presenting a data communication network layout to management
• Determining how cables and other hardware will be laid out in the building
• Deciding what hardware is needed to support the network.

Additionally, these workers spend time away from the computer in planning meetings trying to project the network load and determine the most efficient way to handle that load, according to Abraham Snell, adjunct information technology professor at ITT Technical Institute.
They also "determine what new segments of the network they will need to design, and decide what current segments of the network will need to be repaired or replaced," Snell says.
Next Step: Click to Find the Right Computer Engineering Program.
Prepare for a Computer-Light Career: The Department of Labor states that a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or some related field is usually needed by computer network architects. They usually need some experience in a related occupation as well. The Department points out that employers of these workers sometimes would prefer that applicants have a master's of business administration in information systems.