Welcome to my guide to today’s best crypto jobs, blockchain jobs, and careers. If you have ever thought about a career in blockchain or wondered about the top blockchain jobs and careers you need to know about, then this is the guide for you!
Also, if you're interested in the topic, you would benefit greatly from checking out some of the courses either Udacity, edX, or Coursera offer!
In this guide, I’m going to tell you about one of the fastest-growing job markets in the world. The cryptocurrency market is worth around $270 billion and needs all kinds of different people to support it.
I’ll tell you what kinds of cryptocurrency jobs are available, which ones have the highest salaries, and what the best entry-level positions are.
I’ll also talk about the cryptocurrency jobs market in general. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know which areas of the industry are growing and which skills are most needed. You’ll also know which businesses are hiring and what kind of employee they’re looking for.
This is a very exciting time for crypto jobs. There are hundreds of opportunities for people like you to get involved in the creation of the technology of the future. So, if you haven’t thought about a career in blockchain, then now is the time to start!
Let’s begin with a quick look at how blockchain tech has been changing the job market.
Table of Contents
The Arrival of Blockchain
In 2009, a coder named Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin - the world’s first decentralized digital currency.
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Bitcoin allows users to transfer funds to each other across a huge network from anywhere in the world. Transaction information is securely stored on thousands of different computers.
This means that users can see every transaction that’s ever been made. It also means that information isn’t hidden on servers at the offices of companies like Facebook and Google, where it can be sold or stolen. Bitcoin is almost impossible to hack.
To put it very simply, blockchains are a safe way to store and transfer huge amounts of important information. Bitcoin has a very simple function; to send funds from one user to another. However, the potential of the technology Nakamoto created is limitless, and now many people have Bitcoin jobs.
Blockchain development might still appear a little mysterious but if you'd like to know more about it you should definitely check out classes on it by edX, Udacity, or Coursera.
Since Bitcoin, hundreds of other cryptocurrencies have been launched and thousands of different companies have been formed which offer blockchain services.
Digital money was the first successful use of blockchain tech, but there are many others now. Every new blog, exchange, or cryptocurrency creates new blockchain jobs. Every new technical improvement creates new skills that need to be taught and learned.
Ethereum, Coinbase, and BlockGeeks aren’t the only places creating blockchain jobs. Almost ten years after the invention of Bitcoin, there are very few industries that aren’t investigating or developing new uses for blockchain tech.
Let’s have a look at where the new blockchain jobs are coming from.
Who’s Hiring?
There are four major players in the crypto job market; startups, legacies, tech companies and governments. Here’s how each got involved in blockchain and what they’re doing with it;
1. Startups: These are the independent businesses and products created since the invention of Bitcoin. AngelList holds records of over 1,500 crypto startups which have raised more than 3.7 billion USD from Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) in America alone.
Startups are run by crypto nerds and blockchain businessmen who saw how important the technology was and got involved early. They are creating platforms like EOS, Monero, and Qtum as well as exchanges like Bittrex, Kraken, and Binance.
Startups can also be wallet providers, news sites, blogs, and educational tools that have been formed to support blockchain projects. Many of the jobs created by startups were unpaid, to begin with, but have now started to pay very well!
2. Legacies: These are big companies like banks, accountancy firms, and law offices that have been around for many years. They took a long time to react to the technological developments of Bitcoin. They have seen it grow over the years and now they’re scared.
If they don’t work out ways to use blockchain tech, it could put them out of business! Legacy companies have a lot of power and money. Their global reputations allow them to hire almost anyone they want. Most are hiring whole teams of blockchain experts to help them keep up with the technology.
3. Tech firms: These are the companies that have the most to lose if blockchain tech takes over the world. They are companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Facebook. Much of their success and power relies on the centralized services they offer.
If the popularity of decentralized platforms keeps growing, users won’t want to use centralized networks anymore. Tech firms are having to adapt, and fast! Blockchain development has become a high priority.
Most are investing in projects which will use blockchain tech to benefit their businesses. One of the biggest projects of this kind is Hyperledger. Hyperledger aims to provide businesses with the tools they need to implement blockchain technology.
4. Governments: the cost-cutting potential of blockchain is huge so many national governments have been hiring crypto experts to advise them. In Britain, Sir Mark Walport has suggested that a blockchain could be used to manage student loan payments.
In Estonia, blockchain tech is being used to make government agencies fairer and more efficient. Projects like e-Residency are being used to make it the world’s first “digital nation.” Venezuela has gone even further and created its cryptocurrency called Petro!
All of these institutions are creating new blockchain jobs every day. So, what are cryptocurrency jobs, and who is filling them? Let’s find out!
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Who’s Being Hired?
Blockchain technology is a new science and it changes fast. Many different kinds of people are being hired to do the jobs that this new industry provides. A blockchain employee can come from almost any professional background but they can be separated into two main groups:
Techies: These are tech professionals like software developers and engineers. They are highly trained in programming languages like Java, Python, and C++. Some will have experience with crypto tech but most won’t.
Even for techies, cryptocurrency jobs are a new challenge! Developers and engineers will need to become familiar with new coding languages like Ethereum’s Solidity or the Ripple protocol if they want the best blockchain careers.
Blockchain developer jobs are different. They require engineers and developers to do many tasks which they wouldn’t normally do. Blockchain projects might require them to research, design, and build a new platform as well as offering business ideas and plans for the future.
While reading these requirements, you might start thinking it's impossible for you to be employed in this sphere since you lack those skills. Luckily, there's an easy way to fix this. Check out the classes on these topics that could help you with blockchain developing and you'll soon be ready for employment.
Non-techies: Blockchains need more than just technical support. Like any business, blockchain projects need accountants, lawyers, public relations (PR), marketers and much more. The blockchain jobs site, Crypto Jobs List, advertises vacancies in marketing, community, design and even has listings for meme specialists!
Whether you’re a techie or not, a career in the blockchain is a new and exciting opportunity. Next, let’s look at the areas which could see a lot of growth in the next few years.
Growth Areas
Blockchains are threatening the way a lot of industries work but they are finding new roles for people trained in those fields. Below are a few of the skill sets that will be needed in crypto in the future;
1. Media: The blockchain industry needs to reach a wider audience. We could see dedicated blockchain advertising agencies, PR firms, and media outlets in the coming years. Youtube vloggers like Ameer Rosic, Ivan on Tech, and Crypt0 are the first of a new breed of crypto journalists.
2. DApp development: Blockchain projects will only succeed by building decentralized applications that people want to use. There will be a huge focus on hiring software designers who can build dApps for a mass market. Decentralized Facebook, anyone?
3. Legal compliance: All around the world, new laws are being written about how cryptocurrencies can be used. The technology itself can guide legal contracts (in the form of smart contracts). This means that law firms will need crypto experts and crypto businesses will need legal advisors!
4. Logistics: The ability to store and transfer large amounts of information could have a big effect on the way supply chains work. This could mean big changes and new jobs in farming, heavy industry, and international trade.
5. Trading/Sales: The stock market grew massively in the 1980s and now the coin market is growing even faster! Coin exchanges handle tens of millions of crypto trades every day. They need: asset managers, crypto brokers, analysts, and ICO advisors.
As you can see, the average blockchain employee isn’t average at all!
Now you know what the blockchain jobs market looks like, what jobs are available and where. Next, I want to look a little closer at the ratio between available blockchain jobs and the people looking for them.
Blockchain Jobs: Supply and Demand
Demand for blockchain professionals has gone up a lot in recent years. Between November 2015 and April 2018, listings for blockchain jobs on Indeed have gone up by 63%. LinkedIn lists 2,527 search results for blockchain developer jobs in the USA alone.
Of those listed, 483 are based in New York, 360 are based in San Francisco and there are 142 vacant blockchain developer jobs in Los Angeles.
So, demand is high but is it being met? The short answer is no. There’s a serious shortage of qualified blockchain professionals, especially those focused on the more technical side of the business.
Specialist tech recruiters like Toptal recorded a 700% increase in the number of blockchain jobs being advertised since January 2017. Another tech recruiter, Upwork, has reported that blockchain engineering is the fastest-growing skillset searched for by employers using its site.
However, Computerworld estimates that there are only about 250 software developers in the United Kingdom who “truly get” blockchain technology. Similar shortages can be found throughout the world.
These statistics are shocking when you think about how much money the industry is worth! Fortunately, a shortage of skilled labor makes this the perfect time for newbies to start thinking about a career in crypto. It also means that blockchain experts can name their salaries!
Let’s have a look at what the four main players I talked about earlier are willing to pay blockchain developers.
How Much Does a Blockchain Developer Earn?
What a blockchain developer earns will depend on their level of experience and also on where they choose to work. Here’s who pays what:
- Startups attract some of the best blockchain talents. They offer a lot of responsibility and freedom. They don’t offer the highest wages though. The average yearly salary for a blockchain developer with no experience is around 50,000 USD.
With five or more years of experience, this can go up to around 70,000 USD per year. Some startups offer their staff equity in the company, which is a bonus not usually found elsewhere. - Legacies and tech firms offer the best salaries in the business. Entry-level salaries can be as high as 70,000-80,000 USD. After five years in the trade, salaries can go as high as 100,000-120,000 USD! Which is quite reasonable, I think you’ll agree!
IBM’s VP for People and Culture, Mike Schade, has said that the gap between startup salaries and those of more established companies is so large for one simple reason. Blockchain developers don’t like working for large centralized organizations. Therefore, legacy businesses and tech firms have to offer a lot more money to attract the right staff. - Government salaries vary from country to country but are generally paid less than either startups or established companies. Working for the government does have its benefits though.
Government projects tend to involve top-secret data and systems so blockchain techies can pretend to be James Bond while they work!
So, big tech firms pay the most, but startups are more popular to work for. Imagine how Mark Zuckerberg’s life would have turned out if he’d taken a job at Microsoft instead of creating his startup!
Before I leave you to consider your future as a blockchain superstar, let’s look at the steps you need to take to get there.
Blockchain Career Roadmap
Ideally, you need to have a background in computer science and software development. If you don’t, then I would recommend doing some training. Your options are;
1. A blockchain-focused degree: Some of the world’s top universities - including Berkeley, MIT, and Princeton - have begun offering degrees in blockchain development.
2. A MOOC: Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are affordable and easy to access. For example, BitDegree offers blockchain courses for beginners and more advanced students. Also, you could check out Udacity and their courses!
3. On-the-job training: If you are lucky enough to work in a field in which blockchain tech is being applied, then you might get retrained for free! 75% of blockchain jobs are being given to employees who already work for the hiring company.
Here are three top tips for finding success in your new crypto career;
- Keep up to date with industry trends: Blockchain tech is changing all the time. Visit Reddit and GitHub for regular updates on industry developments.
- Be flexible: Blockchain careers come in many forms. You need to be part-coder, part-entrepreneur, and part-Youtube celebrity. There are a lot of skills to master, so be ready!
- Love crypto: If the Bitcoin protocol doesn’t put a smile on your face, then Bitcoin jobs probably aren’t for you. This is one of the greatest technological breakthroughs in history, so enjoy it!
And that’s it, a complete beginner’s tour through today’s best blockchain jobs and careers. Before you choose which one suits you best, I’ll leave you with a few final thoughts.
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Final Thoughts
Bitcoin jobs and blockchain careers are here to stay. People who hadn’t even heard of Bitcoin six months ago are learning how its technology is going to affect their workplace.
Blockchain tech has the potential to change every industry in the world. It will become a part of our working lives whether we like it or not. To quote Mr. Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changing’.”
The best blockchain jobs today are the ones people are creating for themselves. If you’re a lawyer, become a crypto compliance consultant. If you’re a stockbroker, become an ICO advisor. Or, if you work in a supermarket, become a supply chain expert! The possibilities are endless…
However, it might not be easy if you have no prior knowledge in the field. But we're here to help you. We advise you to check out some of the best courses on blockchain development such as Udacity's course or Edx's course.
Are you considering applying for crypto jobs? Have you already got one? If you’ve got anything at all to add to this topic, then let me know!
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