Working in the information technology field can mean earning a high starting salary if you have the right skills and certifications.
Information technology is a growing career field with many job openings for those with the right skills and qualifications. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects computer science jobs to grow by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is more than the average job growth of 7 percent expected for all professions.
As a field, information technology also offers jobs with higher starting salaries than most other fields that require a similar level of education. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for all jobs was $37,040 as of May 2016, whereas the median annual salary for computer science jobs was $82,860. This means that many computer science jobs pay more than twice as much as jobs in other fields—even some jobs that require lots of study and advanced degrees.
Computer Science Jobs Paying At Least $60K to Start
There are many jobs in information technology that allow entry-level earners to make $60,000 per year or more in base salary with the right skills and networking certifications. Computer science jobs are also likely to pay a bonus if certain criteria are met, as well as offer stock options in the company.
Network administrator: These professionals are responsible for keeping the network running at peak efficiency, updating it when needed with minimal disruption, and fixing problems when they occur. In larger companies, network administrators may have a team of technicians to manage in order to take care of all network-related tasks.
Systems administrator: Similar to network administrators, systems administrators need to keep an organization’s computer systems running well. Systems administrators need to handle the comprehensive technology needs of the organization, including networks, servers, intranets, and other systems used. Getting all of these different systems to work together without problems often takes up a great deal of a systems administrator’s time and energy.
Networking certifications can teach you what to do when the network goes down or doesn’t function.
Network engineer: More so than other similar jobs, engineers create things. In this case, a network engineer might build a network from the bottom up, or significantly expand an existing network by building additional infrastructure and parts that will allow better or increased functioning of the network. As companies grow, they often need network engineers to help them expand their technological capabilities as well.
Network Security Analyst: The larger the network, the more likely it will be that a hacker or other cybercriminal will come along and try to topple it—either to cause the company to lose money or in an attempt to steal vital information to use for their own benefit or to hold for ransom. More and more companies, as well as government agencies like the military, are finding that they need to address network security. They are either taking a proactive approach by putting strong security measures in place or a reactive one to repair a cyber attack and prevent future breaches that can be costly to the company and cause them to lose business.
Jobs like these and many others in the IT field that require networking certifications can help you launch a career in which you will be well compensated for your time, talent and expertise. Request info from PC AGE to find out how you can learn the skills and networking certifications you will need to qualify for an IT job like one of these.