Are Quantum Computing Jobs in High Demand?

Quantum computing uses special physics rules to solve problems. Regular computers utilize bits (zeros and ones). Quantum computers utilize qubits. Qubits can exist in both 0 and 1 states simultaneously. Essentially, this enables quicker solutions to issues by utilizing less time. It’s as though countless calculators have been employed to function with increased efficiency when there is only one.

Large corporations are developing quantum computers today. IBM, Google, and Microsoft are racing to be the first. Additionally, there are a large number of small startups as well. What used to be science fiction is fast emerging as reality and creating a workforce with actual opportunities.

The Current State of Quantum Computing Jobs

Quantum jobs are growing fast. According to LinkedIn statistics, roles with “quantum” in the title surged 180% within the timeframe of 2020-2024. Around three thousand quantum jobs were advertised in 2020. That number swelled to over eight thousand four hundred job advertisements during the middle of 2024.

Quantum technology is attracting more and more funds. Companies spent $2.35 billion this year alone on quantum computing. These figures are attributed to the McKinsey and Company report. Such statistics will cause an increase in employment rates due to all the funding.

By 2030, experts predict a demand for a hundred thousand additional workers in quantum science. This claim comes from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C). At this point in time, there are inadequate workers with the necessary training.

An IEEE survey done in 2023 uncovered something critical. Approximately 68% of the leaders from quantum firms cited the acquisition of personnel as one of the challenges they faced. The lack of workers translates to a growing need for quantum expertise.

We are in urgent need of talent. The demand is outpacing the supply by a significant margin. - Krysta Svore, General Manager of Quantum Systems, Microsoft

Why Are Quantum Jobs Growing?

Several things are driving quantum job growth:

Government Money

Countries are spending huge amounts funding quantum technology. The U.S. has a National Quantum Initiative, which has earmarked $1.2 billion. The European Union has also introduced a Quantum Flagship program worth €1 billion. China has invested approximately $10 billion into quantum research. Government funding leads to job creation.

Business Interest

Large corporations see the value in quantum and are establishing quantum departments. Over 1000 employees at IBM are dedicated to quantum and google , Microsoft, Amazon, and Intel all have sizable quantum teams. Even the world of banking has now adopted quantum, with JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs both open labs for quantum research.

Practical Uses Coming Soon

Quantum computers are getting better each year. They're starting to solve real problems. This includes:

• Medicine design and formulation
• New materials construction
• Delivery route optimization
• Financial modeling
• Battery improvement

As these practical uses grow, so do the jobs.

Startup Boom

New quantum companies are popping up everywhere. There are also many emerging firms, like Paxwind, QxBranch, QxBranch, IonQ, Rigetti, Dz, Psi, Quantum, and D-Wave. In 2023, these start up companies raised around 1.7 billion dollars. Any new business set up will create demand for employees with quantum skills.

Quantum talent is our biggest bottleneck. We can’t scale without more people who understand the technology. - Jay Gambetta, Vice President of Quantum, IBM Research

Types of Quantum Computing Jobs

Many people believe that only physics Phds are capable of working in quantum physics. This is not the case! The sector requires more distinct skills:

Quantum Hardware Engineers

They actually construct quantum computers. These systems require the use of super cold temperatures, lasers, and other exotic materials. The average income is somewhere between $120,000 to $180,000 a year. Employers increased the hiring of hardware engineers by 35% in 2023 compared to 2022.

Quantum Software Developers

They are responsible for programming quantum computers. They devise computer codes that develop quantum algorithms and coding aids. Average salary is between $110,000 to $160,000. The number of Software jobs increased by 65% for the last two years. You can read here more about Quantum Jobs Salaries.

Quantum Algorithm Researchers

These brilliant humans develop novel methods for use quantum computers. They possess great mathematical capability. Their average salary is around $130,000 to $200,000. This branch has approximately 3000 vacancies globally.

Quantum Application Specialists

These professionals look for practical applications of quantum computers in different fields. Such fields may include chemistry, finance, and logistics. $100,000 to $150,000 is the average salary for this group. This is the most rapidly increasing group of professions, which has increased by 85% since 2022.

Quantum Error Correction Experts

Quantum computers make mistakes easily. These experts help in resolving those issues. Their area of expertise involves the application of math and physics. Salaries vary, but can be as low as $120,000 and as high as $190,000. There are roughly 500 people in the world who qualify, but over 1200 vacancies exist.

Business and Sales Roles

Quantum companies need people to sell their technology. Analysts, managers, and marketers are also in great demand. Depending on the job title, these positions pay anywhere from $90,000 to 200,000. Estimates show that non-technical business roles constitute five percent of total quantum employment positions.

Where Are the Quantum Jobs?

Quantum jobs aren't very famous, so they are not everywhere yet. They cluster in certain places:

United States

The quantum industry in the U.S. is extremely developed. Some of the major hotspots are:

• San Francisco Bay Area (800+ jobs)
• Boulder/Denver, Colorado (400+ jobs)
• Chicago area (300+ jobs)
• Washington DC area (250+ jobs)
• Boston area (200+ jobs)

In these locations Google and Microsoft plus IBM have substantial quantum labs.

Europe

Europe has strong quantum centers:

• United Kingdom (600+ jobs concentrated in London, Oxford, Cambridge mainly)
• Germany – 500+ Jobs Focused on Munich & Berlin
• France – 300 Paris Based Jobs
• Netherlands – 250 Delft and Amsterdam Based Jobs

Many of these positions are created through EU Quantum Flagship program.

Asia

Asia: On a large scale Asia is investing strongly:

• China (700+ jobs mainly Beijing and Shanghai)
• Japan – 300 Tokyo Based Jobs
• Singapore (150 +jobs)
• South Korea (120 +jobs)

China's national quantum plan is creating many new positions.

Canada

Canada has about 300 quantum jobs. This country also has the most significant number of such employees based in Waterloo, Vancouver, and Montreal. Additionally, this number continues to rise with the National Quantum Strategy announced by the government.

Australia

Approximately 200 vacancies are available in Australia. Most job openings are situated in Sydney and Melbourne cities. The growth of this industry is also supported by the national quantum roadmap.

The quantum workforce is not keeping up with the pace of investment and development. This skills gap is a major concern. - Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) Report, 2024

Skills Needed for Quantum Jobs - What Employers Want

Different quantum-level positions require a specific skill set. These are the keys:

Technical Skills

Most quantum jobs need some of these:

• An understanding of quantum physics
• Ability to do linear algebra calculations
• Programming skills, primarily in Python
• Familiarity with quantum algorithms
• Certain engineering positions require the understanding of computer hardware

Education Levels

The field has jobs for various education levels:

• Ph.D. (35% of jobs, mainly research roles)
• Master's degree (40% of jobs)
• Bachelor's degree (20% of jobs)
• Other/no degree (5% of jobs, mainly in business roles)

Specific Tools and Languages

Job postings often mention:

• Qiskit (IBM's quantum programming framework)
• Cirq (Google's quantum programming tool)
• Q# (Microsoft's quantum language)
• Python (used in 85% of quantum job listings)
• MATLAB (used in 30% of listings)

Soft Skills

Employers also want:

• Problem-solving ability
• Teamwork skills
• Good communication
• Adaptability (the field changes fast!)
• Creativity

How to Get Into Quantum Computing - Paths to a Quantum Career

If you’d like to pursue a quantum career, we can help you get started. Here’s how to get ahead:

Education Options

Currently, several universities are implementing quantum programs into their curriculums:

• 45 universities grant degrees in quantum computing.
• Over 120 schools offer quantum courses.
• More than 200 institutions are known to have quantum research associations.

Top programs include:

• MIT's Quantum Engineering program
• University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing.
• TU Delft's QuTech Academy.
• University of Chicago’s Einstein Institute of Quantum Studies.

Online Learning

Can't go back to school? Try these:

• edX “Quantum Computing Fundamentals”. This course can be audited for free.
• Coursera “Quantum Computing” by University of California San Diego.
• IBM Quantum Learning.
• Microsoft Quantum Katas. Available at no cost on GitHub.

Over 50,000 people took quantum online courses in 2023.

Suggested Read: What Qualifications Do You Need for a Job in Quantum Computing?

Certifications

Some companies offer quantum certifications:

• IBM quantum developer certification. Over 15,000 people have taken it.
• Microsoft Azure quantum developer.
• QWorld bronze/silver/gold certificates.
• Qubit by Qubit certification.

These cost between $0 and $300. They look good on resumes.

Transition Paths

People come to quantum from many backgrounds:

• Physicist (this is usually the most popular route)
• Computing Scientist (especially those working with algorithms)
• Electrical Engineer (for software engineering positions)
• Mathematician (for algorithm design)
• Chemists (for those interested in quantum chemistry)

Approximately 60% of people currently working in quantum came from other areas.

The number of quantum-related job postings has surged by over 180% in the last four years. The demand is real—and growing fast. - LinkedIn Workforce Insights, 2024

Challenges in the Quantum Job Market

The quantum job market has some problems:

Skills Gap

There's a big gap between job needs and worker skills. Companies claim a staggering 75% of individuals who apply for work do not possess the necessary skills competency. Schools are trying to balance out the market with new curriculums, however, their attempts do not seem to be very useful

Job Stability Questions

Some quantum startups may fail. The allocation of funds by larger companies might also shift. Approximately 15% of quantum start-ups went under within the year 2023. Employees must take this risk into consideration

Geographic Limitations

The majority of positions available are located in far too costly metropolitan regions. The allowance of working from home is not as common as other fields within technology. Roughly 20% of job postings in quantum let employees work from home.

Competition for Top Talent

The best quantum experts get fought over. Leading researchers can potentially receive more than five job offers. More competition exists for beginners, with each junior post receiving on average eighty applicants looking for work. 

Changing Technology

Quantum technology is one of the fast progressing fields. Skills useful at present might become obsolete shortly. Continual learning is a prerequisite. The typical workforce participates in education, training and professional development for eight hours in a week.

Future of Quantum Computing Jobs

What lies ahead for quantum-related jobs? Here’s what the experts think:

Growth Projections

Quantum salaries are likely to remain growing. The average quantum salary grew by 12% in 2023, which is certainly much higher than the tech industry average salary increase of 5%.

Salary Trends

Quantum salaries will likely stay high. The average quantum salary grew 12% in 2023. This outpaced regular tech salaries, which grew 5%.

New Job Types

New quantum jobs will appear as the field matures:

• Managers of quantum cloud services
• Security experts in quantum technology
• Machine learning specialists in quantum computing
• Finance analysts in quantum computing
• Consultants in quantum healthcare

Industry Expansion

Quantum will spread to more industries:

• Healthcare organizations are forming quantum teams.
• Energy companies are investigating quantum options.
• Quantum optimization is being embraced in manufacturing.
• Transport companies are experimenting with quantum logistics.

Currently, around 35% of the Fortune 500 companies have a quantum initiative.

Educational System Changes

Education will adapt to quantum needs:

• Secondary schools are incorporating quantum subjects
• Associates degree colleges are developing quantum technology specialist programs
• Virtual universities are offering quantum diplomas
• Business sponsored education programs are growing in scope

Over 200 new quantum education programs launched in 2024.

Is a Quantum Career Right for You?

Quantum computing jobs are definitely in high demand. The numbers show this clearly. There are more jobs than qualified workers. Pay is high. Growth is strong.

Still, quantum technologies are not for everyone. The pace of advancement is incredibly rapid which will require constant retraining, hence there will be some tough skills and zoning restrictions in place.

If you are interested in cutting edge technology then quantum technologies is well suited for you. If you prefer less risk and pre-established methods then perhaps seeking a position somewhere else would be more beneficial.

If you want to change the world, quantum computing will allow you to do so. You can take part in building the future computing revolution. In simple terms, the quantum job boom has only just commenced.

It is not only physicists that are needed- businesspeople, engineers and programmers are all sought after. There is probably an open quantum position corresponding with your work experience.