Several lucrative career paths within the information technology field are in high demand and offer competitive salaries. Recent graduates with IT degrees have the knowledge and skills needed to help land an entry-level position and get a foot in the door as tech support specialists, software developers, computer system analysts, cloud infrastructure engineers, and technical writers. Here's a closer look at these five entry-level IT jobs, their projected salaries and growth rates, and the skills new graduates should expect to bring to the table.
Tech Support Specialist
The primary responsibility of technical support specialists is to solve problems that end users and customers have with computer systems and software. Their responsibilities may include troubleshooting by testing and evaluating networks and internet systems, as well as performing regular maintenance and solving a range of IT problems. Tech support specialists are often critical thinkers who pay close attention to details and have strong problem-solving skills.
The median salary for tech support specialists is around $63,460, and jobs are expected to see 8% growth through 2029.
Software Developer
End users must be able to operate software and process information confidently and efficiently. It's the job of software developers to design programs and software that offer a high-quality user experience and meet each user's needs. By writing code, collaborating with software architects and other developers, and analyzing what users expect from software on computers and mobile devices, software developers work to streamline software, programs, and applications for maximum accessibility and functionality.
Software developers can expect a median salary of around $105,510 and a job growth outlook of 22% through 2029.