The tech industry continues to grow, which means high demand for professionals with tech skills. But once you've broken into tech, how can you advance? Expanding your tech skills, jumping on growing fields, and targeting higher-paying roles all help tech professionals move up the ladder.

Whether you're still in school or recently launched a tech career, you need to start thinking about your next career move now. As tech evolves at a fast pace, professionals need to stay ahead of the curve. That means continuously investing in skills training and professional development. Actively networking, adding programming languages, and researching the industry can translate into better career prospects. 

This guide walks through the key steps to advance your technology career.

Build marketable new skills and knowledge

Adding marketable skills to your resume helps professionals advance. Thanks to the rapid evolution of the tech industry, professionals must keep their knowledge and skills current. Fortunately, learners benefit from a variety of options to strengthen their tech skills. From accelerated bootcamps to master's programs, here are the best ways to expand your skills. 

Try a tech bootcamp

A coding bootcamp helps newcomers break into the field. Bootcamps also help current tech professionals add skills and transition into new roles. In the skills-based tech field, employers hire job candidates who demonstrate proficiency in their tech stack. A focused bootcamp can provide those job-ready skills.

Bootcamps focus on specific languages and technologies, including Python, Java, and the C-family languages. Specialized bootcamps also teach niche areas like Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Most bootcamps take between 12-24 weeks to complete.

Find the right bootcamp for you

What's the right bootcamp to advance your technology career? The answer depends on your goals, experience, and timeline. Before enrolling in a bootcamp, consider factors like the cost, the time commitment, and the delivery format. Many bootcamps offer in-person and online options, for example. 

Prospective students should also examine the content focus of different bootcamps to make sure programs align with their career goals. Learners study many popular programming languages in bootcamps. Unlike degree-granting programs, most bootcamps do not hold accreditation. However, some colleges offer bootcamps and hold programmatic accreditation from organizations like ABET, which accredits computer science and tech programs.

Finally, research whether bootcamps offer career services, including mock interviews and career coaching. 

Pursue an advanced degree

A master's degree opens new doors for technology professionals. Many employers prefer to hire candidates with a graduate degree for management roles, Some career paths, including in data science, require a master's degree. Finally, professionals with a master's degree earn higher salaries than those with a bachelor's degree.

Earning a master's degree typically takes two years, though some programs offer an accelerated one-year route to a degree. Learners should always choose an accredited program.

Why an online program might work for you: Online programs prioritize flexibility. Distance learners enrolled in asynchronous courses arrange their assignments around other responsibilities, including their work schedule. And accelerated online programs help students reach their educational goals in less time. Many accredited universities offer online tech degrees, including MBA and computer science degrees.

Useful master's degrees for tech

A master's degree helps tech professionals advance their careers and increase their earning potential. Here are some of the most useful master's degrees for tech. 

MBA in information technology:An MBA in information technology strengthens IT skills while providing advanced business training. MBA students take core classes in management principles, project management, and strategic analysis. Online MBA programs balance the business coursework with classes in IT management, technology forecasting, and tech leadership. The degree leads to opportunities as an IT manager, management analyst, or consultant.

MBA in information systems management:An MBA in information systems management blends business and technology. Through core MBA courses, learners strengthen their strategic decision-making skills, broaden their understanding of organizational behavior, and build leadership abilities. Information systems MBA courses cover database administration, systems design, and business IT analysis. Graduates work as IT managers and directors.

Master of science in computer science:A computer science master's degree builds advanced technical skills. Students strengthen their systems architecture and coding design skills. They also expand their theoretical and conceptual understanding of computer science concepts. Within a computer science program, learners specialize in areas like cloud computing, information security, software engineering, and machine learning.

Master of science in information systems security:A master's in information systems security prepares graduates for supervisory roles in cybersecurity. Graduate learners study network security, preventing piracy, and protecting online information. In addition to technical training, information system master's programs incorporate business skills. Most programs take one to two years, and many universities offer online options. 

Watch for opportunities in growing fields

The tech field continues to grow and evolve. But some fields show more promise than others. These new and rapidly expanding fields offer more job openings, a greater potential to advance, and the possible willingness to hire candidates with less experience. Here are the most exciting tech fields if you want to advance your technology career.

Internet of things:The rise of the "smart home" represents a small fraction of the broader shift known as the internet of things (IoT). Internet-enabled physical objects play key roles in healthcare, security, transportation, and manufacturing. Within the IoT field, professionals work as product managers, IoT software developers, and IoT architects. 

Automation:Automation continues to drive change in the workforce, and technology professionals build the tools that automate complex processes. Within the growing automation field, specialists work in areas like cybersecurity, project management, and quality assurance. In addition to building automated systems, automation professionals work in testing and maintenance. 

Blockchain technology:Blockchain technology creates a public record of digital transactions