The high-tech industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Texas. San Francisco Chronicle recently reported nearly two dozen Bay Area tech companies relocated to Texas or opened outposts here since 2014. This includes big names like Google, Apple, Dropbox and Oracle—which all recently built or expanded major campuses in Austin.
These companies are some of the best places to work, with storied employee benefits and perks. But do you have to be a tech genius to snag a job at one of these coveted high-tech companies? Absolutely not. We compiled a list of the top seven low-tech jobs in high-tech industries to help you see yourself in the thick of the high-tech action.
1. Business Strategist: Fortune magazine names the position of business strategy manager one of the highest paying tech jobs that doesn’t require a STEM degree. Using Payscale data, the magazine reports the job’s median pay in 2015 was $102,000 and its projected job growth by 2022 is 19 percent. While the job does usually require an MBA, the magazine lists the position of business insight and analytics manager—requiring a bachelor’s in business or finance—an impressive alternative, raking in a median pay of $96,700 and projected job growth of 27 percent.
2. Sales Manager: As TheStreet’s Laurie Kulikowski explains, “The tech industry is a lucrative area to become a salesperson. Plenty of tech companies need help selling their software, applications and programs to corporations and organizations around the world—and they’re willing to pay handsomely for it.” How handsomely? The median salary for an average sales manager is $110,660. The best part? Sales manager jobs, according to U.S. News and World Report, are dependent on growth in the industry they are employed in. Right now, sales and tech are a match made in heaven.
3. Content Marketer: From startups like Austin-based CrateJoy to huge enterprises like the IBM Watson Internet of Things team, it seems every tech company understands: Content is king when it comes to marketing. If you’re a word wizard, you’re in luck. The number of content marketing job listings has grown nearly 350 percent since 2011.
4. Human Resources: Both roles of human resources director and human resource manager have solid standings among the best low-tech jobs in high-tech fields. With median pay above $100,000, these jobs are solidly in demand regardless of outside forces like the economy. Plus, with so many specialties within the field, it seems there’s something for everyone. Human resource professionals can specialize in compensation and benefits, training and development, recruitment and placement, employee assistance, and even human resource information systems (for those with a slight technical flair).
5. Financial Analyst: So you love crunching numbers but you hate wearing suits. Serving as a financial analyst for a tech company may be your perfect match. Fortune ranks it high on its list for its median pay of $93,600 and projected job growth of 16 percent by 2022.
6. Logistics: Have you ever heard of a logistician? You will. These professionals focus on supply chains, identifying areas for improvement and developing strategies to minimize costs and maximize efficiency. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that while the role of logistician is a niche one, it will increase in demand over the next couple years.
7. Executive Assistant (EA): We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: An executive assistant should be among the first hires any startup company should make. In fact, as USA Today states, “In Silicon Valley, a once lowly job with meager pay is starting to mean big bucks—and quite a bit of influence. It’s the golden age of the executive assistants.” So, if you can rise above the stigma of the title, becoming an executive assistant in the tech world can translate into an exciting job with plenty of variety and a high level of responsibility.
While you may not be a whiz with code, you can still be a valuable addition to a thriving tech company. What other skills do you have that might make a hiring manager at a startup or established high-tech business take notice? Is there a low-tech job not on this list you think should be? Let us know by leaving us a comment!
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