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Key takeaways

IT career paths often begin in entry-level roles, such as IT associate positions, and progress with experience, offering numerous options for specialization.听

• The IT career field will continue growing at a faster-than-average rate, with more than 300,000 openings every year from 2024 through 2034 [].

• Entry-level IT certifications and gaining experience in the field can help you advance along your chosen career path.听

• You can choose from many computer science and IT specialties, including computer support, data analysis, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software or web development.听

Discover various IT career paths, their outlook, and corresponding salaries. If you're ready to start preparing for your first role, consider enrolling in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate. You'll develop a strong IT foundation in in-demand topics like cybersecurity, networking, cloud computing, and databases.

IT career paths

Understanding what paths are available to you can help you navigate your first steps as you begin your career in IT. Many IT professionals begin in generalist roles that cover a range of issues, like help desk technicians or IT associates. You may get an entry-level IT certification to help you land one of these roles, though it's often not required. Once you鈥檝e gained some experience and have a better grasp of what you like doing, you might think about focusing your career on a more specific area. You can explore entry-level IT jobs to see what other routes you can take if you鈥檙e just starting out.

IT skills remain in demand

IT skills are in high demand in various sectors, including hospitals, local governments, banks, and universities, in smaller cities across the country. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT-related jobs will grow at an above-average rate, with about 317,700 job openings projected each year from 2024 through 2034 []. In fact, the world of IT offers a range of career paths in diverse industries. An IT professional can specialize in cybersecurity to keep computers safe, cloud computing to make information easier to access, or in help desk roles to assist in the everyday functions of an organization

Average salary is sourced from Glassdoor as of October 2025 and represents the total median salary, which includes base salary plus profit sharing, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation.

1. Computer support

Many in the beginning phases of their IT career work in computer support roles that support many different aspects of computer operations. From there, it鈥檚 possible to specialize in a narrower field like cybersecurity or networks, or continue in computer support to become a senior or manager.

Salary: $69,000 [闭听

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 50,500 openings per year []

Early career jobs: IT support technician, desktop support technician, help desk technician, IT associate

Mid-career or senior jobs: Senior help desk support technician, service desk supervisor, support desk manager

Getting started: If you鈥檙e just starting out, getting an entry-level IT certification can bring you the skills you need.

2. Cybersecurity

Working in cybersecurity means protecting computer systems, devices, and sensitive information from malware, unauthorized access, damage, and data breaches. Cybersecurity is one of two fields in IT expected to see the most demand, according to Global Knowledge, an IT professional development company (the other being cloud computing).

Salary (cybersecurity analyst): $130,000 []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 29 percent []

Early career jobs: Information security analyst, cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity engineer

Mid-career or senior jobs: Senior cyber engineer, information security manager, ethical hacker

Getting started: Getting a grasp of basic cybersecurity principles can help launch a career in this space. Consider building experience by earning an entry-level certification, like the CompTIA Security+ or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certifications.

3. Networks and systems

Network IT professionals work with network-related tasks or hardware, and systems professionals work among servers and computer systems. They may have overlapping roles, particularly at smaller companies where you鈥檙e more likely to have to wear many hats. You might start as an analyst or administrator, and then work your way up to being a network or systems engineer or architect.

Salary (network administrator): $99,000 []

Salary (network architect): $168,000 [闭听

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034) (administration-specific roles): 14,300 openings yearly []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034) (engineering/architecture roles): 12 percent []

Early career jobs: Network administrator, systems administrator, network implementation technician, systems analyst

Mid-career or senior jobs: Network engineer, systems engineer, network security engineer, cloud network engineer, senior systems administrator, computer network architect

Getting started: Several certification options exist for networks and systems, like the CompTIA Server+ or the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Otherwise, you can start as a generalist on the IT help desk and work your way into one of these specialties.

4. Software development

Software developers, or software engineers, create computer programs that are used to accomplish any number of tasks鈥攜our internet browser, music streaming service, and online video conference app are all examples of software. Software development can open paths into a variety of different industries, including finance, video game development, and tech.

Salary: $121,000 []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 15 percent []

Jobs: Software engineer, software developer, senior software engineer

Getting started: Learning the coding languages used in software development will be key to landing a job in the field. Try starting with commonly requested ones like Python, Java, or Ruby.

Learn Python in just two months while earning a certificate from the University of Michigan by enrolling in Python for Everybody, a beginner-friendly, flexible online program.

5. Web development

Working in web development means you鈥檒l be responsible for creating and maintaining websites and phone applications. Web developers can be front-end or back-end developers, that is, the front-facing interfaces or behind-the-scenes mechanics of a website, respectively, or both.听

Salary: $99,000 []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 7 percent[]

Jobs: Web developer, web designer, front-end developer, back-end developer, full-stack developer, front-end engineer, back-end engineer, full-stack engineer

Getting started: Whether you鈥檙e self-taught or have a degree in computer programming, web development jobs often prioritize relevant experience over credentials. Taking a course in a web programming language鈥攍ike Python, JavaScript, CSS, or HTML鈥攃an get you oriented with the basics. From there, you can try building your own website or application before applying to entry-level jobs.

6. Data

With the ubiquity of internet-connected devices, companies have access to unprecedented amounts of data on their customers, services, and other business factors. And though data isn鈥檛 a traditional IT specialization, the increase in demand for data skills makes it a solid career option for those looking for IT-related work. Working with data can entail keeping up with hardware and security as a data technician, or sifting through data to find patterns and insights as a data analyst or scientist.

Salary (data analyst): $92,000 []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 4 percent []

Early career jobs: Data center technician, database administrator, data analyst

Mid-career or senior jobs: Data scientist, data engineer, data architect

Getting started: If the idea of working with data is enticing to you, consider getting a certification in data analytics from an industry leader, like the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.

7. Cloud computing

A career in cloud technology generally includes some programming on cloud software platforms like Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.听

Salary (cloud engineer): $150,000 []

Projected job growth (2024鈥�2034): 4 percent []

Early career jobs: Cloud engineer, cloud computing programmer

Mid-career or senior jobs: Cloud architect, cloud consultant

Getting started: If you want to break into cloud computing, you鈥檒l likely want to have cloud-specific knowledge. You can earn cloud certifications or find coursework to complete.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, . It's a low-commitment way to stay current with industry trends and skills you can use to guide your career path.听

Explore free resources to find your IT career path

Begin exploring your IT career path with our Career Resource Hub, where you can take quizzes, assess your skills, and find career planning tools. You might also consider the following:

• Watch on YouTube:

• Hear from an insider: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

• Bookmark a glossary: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary

When you鈥檙e ready to begin advancing your skill set and building the knowledge you need to embark on your IT career path, consider a 糖心vlog官网观看 Plus subscription. Choose from a monthly or annual plan, and gain access to more than 10,000 courses from over 350 of the world鈥檚 leading institutions and universities.听

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