An Overview of the Blockchain Job Market

The State of Blockchain Job Opportunities

Despite fluctuations in the job market due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “Great Resignation,” blockchain career options in the space continue to grow. From September 2020 to July 2021, blockchain-related jobs increased by 118% with blockchain job opportunities up 395% in roughly the same time period.

The industry job market itself remains stronger than ever as established firms adopt blockchain technology at a continuous rate. Since blockchain as a technology is relatively new, there is a disparity between the needs of these new roles and workers with the skills to fill them. This in turn has led to increased demand and inflated salaries in the blockchain job market. On average, jobs for blockchain developers pay USD 15,000–40,000 more than those in general software, and non-technical blockchain job titles pay more on average than those in traditional fields as well.

How To Get a Blockchain Job

Because of its nascency, it can be difficult to make the leap from other industries to the blockchain industry. Therefore, establishing a crypto base knowledge and developing blockchain job skills is crucial. Attending classes or engaging in the crypto space online are simple ways to learn about how blockchain works. Given the industry’s infancy, though, many companies will accept applications of those with education and experience in traditional finance and other sectors, and many allow for learning on the job.

When looking for blockchain careers, crypto job boards are a good place to start. There are many to choose from and most are updated daily. As in any industry, it pays to network, so being active in the crypto Twitter space or on Discord can be helpful. Taking part-time crypto jobs or accepting entry-level blockchain jobs can help open doors as well.

Popular Crypto Careers in the Blockchain Job Market

Since the blockchain market is primarily technology-based, many of the highest paying and most in-demand blockchain job opportunities are technical, but as the industry matures, other professional areas are being sought out by employers too.

Blockchain developer and other engineering roles: Also known as blockchain software developers or blockchain decentralized application (dApp) developers, workers in these roles are in-demand. Blockchain developers build the foundation of the blockchain systems that record and store data. Since the crypto space is relatively new, most blockchain developers have several years of software development knowledge in other fields plus a deep understanding of the blockchain and the technical skills needed to develop applications using it. Knowledge of blockchain architecture, digital transactions, data structure, web development, and cryptography are all needed to work as a blockchain developer.

Blockchain operations roles: Those in operations roles are tasked with helping an organization run smoothly by implementing business strategies that maximize profits. Project managers act as middlemen between clients and developers and ensure that the technology meets or exceeds the customer’s needs. Operations directors help manage the company's overall direction and manage future growth. While less technical than engineering roles, employees in the blockchain operations sector need to understand blockchain architecture and essential blockchain concepts as well as normal operational mechanics.

Marketing and non-technical roles: Blockchain careers are increasingly expanding to include more traditional business roles like those in marketing and sales. Marketing includes everything from junior copywriters to marketing officers focused on spreading awareness of new blockchain-based businesses. Those in community manager roles help handle online communities such as Discord and Twitter and drive traffic to company websites and platforms. Community managers are in high demand in a blockchain industry that relies heavily on digital word-of-mouth to gain traction on projects.

Crypto job postings for legal positions have also been increasing as companies attempt to navigate the new legal parameters and financial regulations presented by blockchain and crypto. Blockchain attorneys and legal consultants advise firms on legal partnerships and oversee contracts regarding crypto offerings.