ZDNet: CareerCast has put together a list of the best IT and technical jobs right now, based on salary and a calculated "hiring outlook number." It includes the following:
- Software engineer. Average salary: $90,000. Hiring outlook: 25.02
- Computer systems analyst. Average salary: $78,000. Hiring outlook: 22.58
- Web developer. Average salary: $75,000. Hiring outlook: 21.49
- Petroleum engineer. Average salary: $114,000. Hiring outlook: 17.48
- Civil engineer. Average salary: $77,000. Hiring outlook: 18.73
- Computer programmer. Average salary: $71,000. Hiring outlook: 11.78
- Technical writer. Average salary: $63,000. Hiring outlook: 15.93
- Nuclear engineer. Average salary: $99,000. Hiring outlook: 10.32
- Aerospace engineer. Average salary: $97,000. Hiring outlook: 4.24
- Mechanical engineer. Average salary: $78,000. Hiring outlook: 9.03
- Electrical engineer. Average salary: $87,000. Hiring outlook: 7.39
- Industrial designer. Average salary: $76,000. Hiring outlook: 9.35