The dominance of information technology (IT) will always be around for a long time as it continues to impact our daily lives and businesses. Thus, this will see a boom in the IT career path market, as more people will need technology to survive. IT is also one of the fastest-growing sectors of the workforce with the rapid use of the Internet and e-commerce. Additionally, the IT career path will continue to get more competitive salary-wise due to his high salaries.
What is an IT career Path?
Information technology is the use of computers, storage, and networking devices to create, process, store, share, and secure electronic data.
IT career encompasses computer, design, internet marketing, and network support services; these range from hardware and software system management to technical problem resolution.
How To Get Into The IT Career Path
Recruiters look out for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in IT-related courses when sourcing employees in this field. To begin a career in this field, you will need a bachelor’s in computer sciences or information technology. Although these two courses are mostly the bachelor’s degree demand, other companies may expand their demands to other courses. Examples of such courses are Software engineering, information systems, computer application, and computer engineering.
Additionally, other companies may require only certifications or associated IT-related programs with relevant experience to hire a person.
A person venturing into tech may also take specific programming languages certifications or a specified tech field like Data analytics, etc. A person may acquire these certifications or associate degrees through an online study, Bootcamp universities, or apprenticeship programs.
Examples of institutions where you can get online verifiable certified courses in tech are Google learning, Udemy, Coursera, and w3Schools.
Andela, Galvanize, Flatiron School, Hack Reactor, and Springboard are some of the organizations that offer tech Bootcamps to prospective tech professionals.
However, apprenticeship programs are the easiest to get. You can enrol for apprenticeship programs in schools, Bootcamps, or Workplace organisations. The apprenticeship programs can last up to one to six years.
See the 20 best Software Developer Apprenticeship Program
Furthermore, earning an advanced degree in the course of your career is a gateway to senior roles with higher salaries.
IT career paths can be broadly classified into two main fields; hardware and software. Also services; are classified into three services; coding, support, and marketing services (commonly known as “no-code tech”).
Classification of IT Career Path
Manufacturing, maintenance, research & development, and management are under the category of hardware while software categories are manufacturing, development, programming, software testing, and maintenance and support. Other software-related areas are computer operations, database administration, sales/marketing, and also data-centre management.
Coding services include:
- Website, Application and Desktop Development
- Enterprise Software
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Manual and Automated Testing
- Cyber Security
- Project Management
- Process Design and Implementation
Support services include:
- Inbound & Outbound Customer Services
- Email Marketing and Sales Lead Generation
- Inbound Technical Support
- Network Engineering
- Quality Assurance
No code tech includes:
- SEO and SEM
- Email Marketing
- Technical writing and copywriting
- Analytics
- Graphics Design
- Social Media Management
Popular IT Career Jobs and Their Average Salary
There are several professions spread across all three services of information technology. Below are some of the jobs and their cumulative average salary.
You can visit Vizajobs to find the latest jobs in this category. We provide remote jobs across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. We also provide resume services that will help you land your dream job.
Developers:
There are several types of developers. The most common are Front-end developers, Full-stack developers, back-end developers, mobile and app developers, and website developers. People in this field develop computer programs, operating systems, web and mobile applications, and many more. Additionally, they build from scratch by writing codes. However, with the advent of advanced technology, a developer may not necessarily write codes to build a website. Software applications like the Content Management System (CMS) allow developers to build apps or websites without codes. The average salary of developers ranges from $82,430 to $136,320, with full-stack developers being the highest-paid.
AI and Machine Learning Professionals:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning professionals are responsible for programming computers to simulate thinking. Furthermore, their job is largely centred on creating a system to collect information, analyse it, and act on it. The average salary of an entry-level Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning professional is $162,918.
Information Security Analysts:
As the name indicates, IT Security Specialists are professionals entrusted with securing an organization’s data and computer systems. They earn an average annual salary of $104,000. Additionally, because of the job complexity, hiring managers will look out for It security specialists with certifications.
Database Administrator
A database administrator (DBA) is the information technician who directs or performs all tasks connected to the effective operation of a database environment. They also manage and back up data. Additionally, a DBA earns an average salary of $90,701 in the United States.
Software Engineer
A software engineer is a person who uses software engineering concepts to design, build, maintain, test, and also evaluate computer software. Their average annual salary is $93,972
See Also: Software Developer vs Software Engineer
Data Scientist
Data scientists and analysts analyze and collate data in search of relevant knowledge. Furthermore, the roles of data scientist and data analyst are distinct yet related. While data scientists develop innovative methods of acquiring and analyzing data for use by analysts, data analysts make sense of current data. The average annual salary for a data analyst is $65,520, while data scientists earn an average of $101,891 yearly.
Cloud Engineer
Cloud engineers are in charge of managing an organization’s cloud-based systems and processes, as well as establishing architecture with providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. The average salary for a cloud engineer is $121,141 per year in the United States.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers are visual professionals who use their hands or specialised graphics design tools to create concepts that convey a message. Unlike other IT roles, most graphic designers have a bachelors in fine arts, graphic design, multimedia production, or a related field. The average salary for a graphics designer is $57,000.
UI/UX Designer
A UX designer ensures a product makes sense to the user by creating a path that logically flows from one step to the next. A UI designer, however, deals with the quality and visuals of the end product using hi-fi models as prototypes. UI means User Interface, while UX refers to User Experience. However, both professions have similar average salaries of $94,764. Significantly a person may be a professional in both roles.
Programmer
A programmer is an individual that writes/creates computer software or applications by giving specific programming instructions to the computer. The average annual salary of these individuals is $56,484.
Project Manager
A project manager is a professional in charge of project planning, procurement, and implementation. They also assist team members in learning and comprehending projects and their strategic purpose in a company while adhering to a rigorous timetable and budget. The average salary for a project manager is $78,678 per year in the United States.
Technical Writer
A technical writer is a professional who transforms complex and technical written material into clear and concise documentation for targeted audiences or readers. Additionally, other similar roles include a content writer and copywriter. The average salary of a technical writer is $62016.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer is an IT professional who works with software developers, and system operators. They also work with production IT staff to oversee code releases and deployment. They also introduce processes, tools, and methodologies to balance needs throughout the software development life cycle. The average salary for a DevOps Engineer in the US is $126,352.