As more cloud computing technologies roll out in the next decade, the demand for entry level IT jobs is at an all-time high. The global Information Technology sector is projected to grow 15% in ten years, from 2021 to 2031.
In addition, the industry expects to see over 600,000 new jobs pouring in. Undoubtedly, the market is looking for skilled talents who'll successfully fill out all these positions.
There's no question just how many in-demand entry level IT jobs are. Aside from the many different specializations available, IT jobs have become lucrative career options.
Whether you're a fresh graduate looking to land roles from reputable companies or a long-time professional seeking a career change, there's bound to be an IT position for you.
With no shortage of job opportunities in sight, however, choosing an IT specialization can get overwhelming. To help you begin, we've curated a list of only the most sought-after IT jobs in the market. We'll go over job descriptions, skill requirements, and certifications for each.
Job Description: Help desk technicians offer technical support and assistance on the phone or in person. They're also referred to as:
Their goal is to ensure client satisfaction by training them to operate systems or troubleshoot technical issues.
Help desk support can include (but isn't limited to): systems maintenance, network support, configurations, etc.
Skills: Before considering the help desk technician position, you must have strong knowledge of software installation, file backup and restoration, network support systems calibration, etc. It also pays to have the following certifications
Salary*: In the US, help desk positions make a median salary of $48,600 (USD). Salaries range from $28,990 (lowest) to $81,260 (highest).
Job Description: Systems analysts are also known as:
A systems analyst must ensure computer systems, infrastructures, and software are effectively functioning. Businesses hire systems analysts to improve, design, test and deploy systems. Additionally, they work closely with industry stakeholders to identify, troubleshoot, and recommend solutions/action points to organizations.
Skills: A good systems analyst has an arsenal of soft and hard skills. They must have project management, problem-solving, and strong critical thinking skills to succeed in their field.
Here are some recommended certifications for analysts:
Salary*: Annual salaries for entry level systems specialists average $58,476 (in USD). However, top digital solutions companies offer over $100,000 annually, exclusive of benefits and other bonuses.
Job Description: Web developers design, build and maintain websites. They help ensure websites are user-friendly, run smoothly, and are easily accessible to page visitors. They must also maintain the site speed and fix page loading issues or error messages whenever they arise.
The three main types of web developer specializations are:
Skills: Web developers must have a strong command of the top and most widely-used programming languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
Full stack developers, in particular, need to understand both client-side and server-side languages and databases. (MySQL).
Most employers prefer developers with the following (and other related) certifications:
Salary*: Annual salaries for entry level jobs web development jobs range from $55,390 to $107,620. The median salary is $77,200, excluding bonuses and other company benefits.
Job Description: IT technicians troubleshoot, support, and maintain hardware, software, and networks for a client's computer systems. They also install, test, and roll out security features remotely or on-site. They occasionally offer diagnoses and provide support for clients with IT-related issues.
Skills: Professional IT technicians must be comfortable installing software, differentiating file types, and implementing cybersecurity tactics to secure business systems and networks.
Although certification is not necessary, it will help your resume stand out from the rest of the applications. If you want to land an IT technician position, consider getting the following certifications:
Salary*: IT technicians in the US earn an average salary of $51,68. Senior technicians may earn as much as $175,000, plus other employee benefits.
Job Description: Systems administrators ensure the uptime of computer systems, networks, and servers to eliminate work disruptions. They work alongside IT specialists to install, test, or roll out security features, patches, and updates.
A systems administrator may deal with LAN (Local Area Networks), WAN (Wide Area Networks) and other types of data communication systems.
Skills: A good combination of soft and hard skills makes an ideal systems administrator candidate. Regardless of the industry (healthcare, local government, banking, retail, etc.), systems analysts must know how to collaborate with others in a team.
Most companies also look for these qualities when hiring administrators:
Any aspiring systems administrator can formalize their skills by getting the necessary certification. Here are some suggestions:
Salary*: The average salary range for a systems administrator based in the US is $43,000 to $145,000 annually. Many entry level candidates earn an average of $80,000 or lower, depending on location, company, experience level, educational background, seniority, etc.
Job Description: Quality assurance (QA) testers ensure software and web applications are fully functional. They assess and test new or current programs to remove bugs, glitches, and other issues experienced by the user.
QA testers must work closely with the web development team to produce user-friendly websites and error-free applications and software.
Skills: Like all other IT positions, QA testers must have critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, among others.
Their technical expertise must cover proficiency in computer systems since they will be part of the entire software development cycle.
Recommended certifications for QA testers:
Salary*: An entry level QA tester can earn an average salary of $24.18 per hour in the US, or around $46,416 annually. They can make as high and as low as $72,500 and $21,500, respectively.
Job Description: IT security specialists develop plans to ensure the safety of an organization's files against cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity threats may be in the form of:
IT security specialists must maintain the overall cybersecurity of an organization. They handle the decision-making regarding choosing, monitoring, and implementing anti-virus and other protection software. They also erect firewalls to secure all confidential files and information.
Skills: IT security specialists need to have a strong understanding of computer systems and network infrastructures to identify weak points and potential data breach sources.
Recommended IT security specialist certifications:
Salary*: The annual average salary for IT specialists in the US is $54,427. $30,500 and $162,500 are the lowest and highest salaries, respectively.
Job Description: Database administrators ensure databases are running smoothly and efficiently. They create and manage systems to store various data types, such as:
Skills: Must have a strong background in database languages, especially SQL. Knowledge of other programming languages (Java, Apache, HTML) is also a plus.
Best certifications for a data admin:
Salary*: The annual average salary for database admins is $58,322 in the US. Database administrator salaries range from $25,000 and $124,000.
Job Description: Software developers design, build, test, and optimize systems and applications that run on computers, smartphones, and other devices. Businesses use these apps for various tasks, like managing data, finances, etc.
Skills: Like all positions in this list, a background in computer science is ideal. Software developers must also understand basic data structures, computer networking, algorithms, etc.
If you want to become a software developer, we recommend the following certifications:
Salary*: Entry level software developers in the US earn an average salary of $73,476. The salaries are much higher across top companies, which offer more than $120,000 to experienced developers.
Job Description: Cloud engineers build and maintain cloud infrastructure. They are responsible for everything to do with cloud computing:
Skills: The ideal cloud engineer is highly proficient in programming languages like SQL, Java, and Python.
Here are suggested certifications for cloud engineers:
Salary*: The average cloud engineer salary in the US is $86,969 at the entry level. It could go as high as $120,700 the further up the chain you are.
The IT sector is awash with a multitude of job opportunities. From web developers and database administrators to IT specialists and help desk support, many roles are available for the taking.
It goes without saying that the job market is just as equally fierce. Therefore, aspiring IT employees must set themselves apart from their peers by establishing an excellent job foundation and continuously investing in their learning.
Now's your chance to begin your IT career path with Luxoft! We are the world's top digital solutions provider, operating in over 40 cities. Check out our careers page to apply, or contact us via email (luxoftcareers-sg@dxc.com) for more information.
*Note: The salary figures indicated in this guide were collated from multiple job portals and salary comparison platforms such as Glassdoor, Talent.com, Indeed, AmbitionBox, PayScale, Salary Expert, and Salary Explorer.
An entry level IT profession requires minimal-to-no professional experience from aspiring applicants. Most employees learn all their expertise on the job through mentoring and experience. Many employers prefer candidates with relevant educational backgrounds, certifications, or completed internships.
Here are some tips for getting an IT job with zero experience:
Here are the top in-demand IT skills every professional must know
While it pays to have a relevant educational background, a college or undergraduate degree is not necessary to get into IT. Many IT skills are transferable across different positions. More than 25% of IT professionals globally don't have college or university degrees.