The net effect on jobs

The Internet is great, isn't it? It retrieves almost any piece of information, tells you which car to buy, and gives you the latest stock tip. It also could eventually take your job away from you.

Thanks to the Web, traditional jobs like secretaries are on the decline while information management is on the rise, say researchers at Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Here's what jobs the Chicago-based outplacement firm says are on the way up, or out, this year.

What's hot

Job title 1999 estimated starting salary range

Computer/Network administrator $72,250 - $95,000

Database manager 72,000 - 90,000

Web site developer 51,500 - 73,000

Financial planner 40,000 - 60,000

Information systems managers 35,000 - 42,000

What's not and why

Data entry workers: Voice-recognition technology helps replace those who manually enter data.

Travel agents: More people go online to reserve rooms, rent cars, and buy airline tickets.

Bank tellers: Bank deregulation has led to fewer branch banks and more automated-teller machines.

Stockbrokers: Web sites like E-trade and Ameritrade may soon replace traditional brokerage houses.