Internet of Things (IoT) Job Market

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a growing field of technology with a variety of devices, sensors, and software arriving on the market on a regular basis. 

Especially with the connectivity and ultra-low latency necessary for these networks to work, many companies are looking for tech experts who can help them manage their IoT infrastructure. 

Read on to learn all about the Internet of Things job market and the skill sets necessary to land a role in this specialty:

A Closer Look at the IoT Job Market

• The IoT market
• IoT job types
• Education for IoT roles
• IoT job openings
• IoT salaries
• Conclusions

How IoT is used today: Internet of Things (IoT) Use Cases

The IoT market

The IoT market grew to $761.4 billion by 2020 and is expected to reach $1.39 trillion by 2026, according to a report by Mordor Intelligence. 

IoT technology is growing most quickly in both industrial and customer-facing settings, such as manufacturing, retail, and health care. Manufacturing in particular and the push toward Industry 4.0 are some of the biggest influences behind industrial IoT (IIoT) growth right now. A large number of IoT solutions have also been created for in-home and personal use.

As low-latency networking infrastructure for edge computing, cloud computing, and 5G expands globally, IoT devices and subsequent solutions are expected to automate more business and domestic use cases.

Learn more: Internet of Things (IoT) Market Size & Forecast

IoT job types

The IoT job market is nuanced and diverse, but the majority of IoT tech workers fall into jobs where they work with the actual IoT framework, IoT applications, or clients who want to implement those solutions.

• IoT engineer: Sometimes called an IoT developer, the IoT engineer is one of the most versatile IoT roles that can focus on anything from developing IoT-based use cases and software to supporting security. 
• IoT architect: The IoT architect is primarily responsible for creating and maintaining the actual infrastructure of IoT networks: devices to sensors, connectivity, the cloud, and software.
• IoT researcher: Since IoT is a growing and rapidly changing field, IoT researchers are dedicated to researching new IoT use cases as well as security innovations that can support IoT solutions.
• IoT consultant: The IoT consultant works with external business users, primarily enterprises at this point, to implement IoT solutions in their markets.

Learn more about security roles here: Cybersecurity Job Market: Build a Security Career

Education for IoT roles

The majority of hiring managers for IoT roles are looking for candidates who hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a technical specialty, like computer science or computer engineering.

Depending on the company and the type of IoT role, they may also ask for the following education and experience from qualified candidates:

• At least a few years of relevant software development experience; cloud-based experience is often preferred
• Platform-specific experience, such as AWS
• Programming and coding knowledge in areas like AngularJS, Java, Go, C, C#, HTML5, JavaScript, and Python
• Machine learning (ML), big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge; hands-on experience preferred
• Industry-specific knowledge for industrial IoT positions

More on IoT and the cloud: How the Cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) are Used by Dow, DHL Supply Chain, Thermo Fisher, Coca-Cola Icecek, and Deep Sky Vineyard: Case Studies

IoT job openings

Tech professionals who are interested in working with the Internet of Things may find themselves looking at related cutting-edge network technology careers that focus on areas like edge computing and network infrastructure development. 

However, for those who are interested in a specialized role that focuses solely on creating, researching, or maintaining IoT solutions, a variety of top companies are hiring. 

Over 13,000 IoT-related job openings are available in the U.S., according to LinkedIn. Here are some of the roles:

• Internet of Things engineer
• IIoT delivery associate manager
• IoT software development engineer
• Software engineer for IoT and edge computing
• IoT research manager
• IoT technical program manager
• IoT specialist
• IoT activation and customer success consultant

IoT jobs are open almost entirely at larger tech enterprises, according to LinkedIn. These are some of the companies offering positions:

• AWS
• Google
• Verizon
• Intel
• IBM
• Accenture
• Michelin
• Xerox
• PwC

Exploring cloud infrastructure careers: Cloud Computing Job Market

IoT salaries

The U.S. average salary for IoT careers is $118,086 per year, according to a salary study by ZipRecruiter. 

Although many entry-level positions hover closer to that national average, the ZipRecruiter study shares the following data about the five highest-paying IoT jobs:

(Source: ZipRecruiter)

Conclusions

Most areas of the globe do not yet have the wireless networking capabilities to support large numbers of IoT devices and use cases, so IoT solutions are often for specific enterprise use cases where larger companies can wire in the connectivity they need.

But as high-speed connectivity with 5G, including private 5G, is gaining momentum in all corners of the globe, more companies are realizing the automated efficiencies that IoT can provide for both workers and customers. 

Now is a great time for tech professionals to get their foot in the door for IoT research and development roles where they can lay the foundation for future use cases. If you are a tech professional who prefers to pioneer new solutions, the IoT job market is a great place to start an entrepreneurial tech career.

Find the IoT software that works best for your business: Best IoT Platforms & Software