Dive into the expansive field of Information Technology (IT) and discover a variety of career paths with promising growth and high demand. Explore the specifics of IT, such as the roles within the field, salaries, required training, popular certifications, and more.
Key Insights
- Information Technology (IT) is a broad field that includes various roles such as data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development, all aimed at using technology to solve business problems and make business decisions.
- The average salary for IT professionals is around $100,000, with certain subfields like cybersecurity experiencing a 0% unemployment rate.
- Training in IT can come in various forms, such as bootcamps, and the cost will vary depending on the chosen method and career path. For instance, training in software development may cost more than IT support.
- Getting certified in IT is highly recommended, with 92% of IT professionals possessing a certificate or certification. Popular certifications include CompTIA's A+ certification ($500), Cisco's Certified Network Associate (CCNA) ($300), Microsoft Fundamentals certification ($100), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner ($100).
- Noble Desktop offers certificate programs in IT topics such as Cybersecurity and Data Analytics, providing comprehensive training and a New York State Licensed Certificate upon completion.
- The growth of IT jobs is expected to continue at a rate of 15% until 2029, with an increase in demand due to factors like the transition to remote work during COVID-19 and the rise of streaming services.
Information Technology (IT) is a massive field with nearly limitless career paths.
The cost of training in IT will vary based on which training method and career path you choose. For example, training in software development may take longer and cost more than in an IT support role. However, the salary prospects for a Software Developer will be more than for an IT support professional.
What is IT?
IT stands for Information Technology. IT is an umbrella term for many job roles that combine business with technology. People who work in IT use computers and technology to solve business problems, make business decisions, and keep businesses running smoothly.
Many companies have IT departments that manage computers, networks, software applications, and other technical aspects of running a successful business. The IT department could include providing technical support to employees, server maintenance, network security, software development, data analytics, or maintaining hardware and network infrastructure.
People often think of IT as a support role. While support is a role within IT, IT has many subcategories beyond support, including data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, DevOps, and blockchain. IT professionals might ensure the network is secure, analyze data to help make business decisions, or develop a new software product.
Jobs requiring IT skills are in high demand, with growth expected to continue at around 15% until 2029. IT can also be a lucrative career path: the average salary for IT professionals is around $100,000. Some IT subfields, such as cybersecurity, have a 0% unemployment rate. Training in IT could lead to an exciting career with an excellent salary.
Read more about what IT is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with IT?
IT describes jobs that combine technology with business, which makes it a huge field with no single job role or learning path. You’ll need verifiable technical training to become an IT professional. However, the size of IT adds a lot of flexibility to its career options and increases the number of opportunities.
Being knowledgeable about technology is critical for working in IT. You’ll need a combination of intuitive and learned tech skills to excel, especially if you choose a role that requires troubleshooting, such as a support role or cybersecurity. People often underestimate the soft skills necessary in IT jobs, such as logical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, or critical-thinking skills.
IT skills are also highly prized because they improve your work process. Some of the most in-demand IT skills include cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and data science, networking, software development, machine learning, and project management. Skills in these areas can get you hired in almost any industry.
In-Depth Review of the Cost
IT harnesses the power of technology to solve business problems and make business decisions. Aspiring IT professionals will need technical and business training to compete in the IT job market.
It is worth noting that 92% of IT professionals have a certificate or certification in IT. Seeking a certificate of certification is highly recommended for aspiring IT professionals but may create additional training costs, such as the need for more structured training and exam fees.
Here are some costs for the most popular IT certifications to better understand the costs involved in launching a new career in IT:
CompTIA’s A+ certification is considered the standard for entry-level IT workers. This certification verifies that you have mastered IT fundamentals and are ready to pursue a specialty, such as cybersecurity or data analytics. The cost for A+ certification is around $500.
Cisco’s Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is an entry-level networking certification. The exam has no prerequisites but requires knowledge of network access, IP services, and systems administration. The cost for the CCNA exam is around $300.
Microsoft Fundamentals certification tests proficiency with IT fundamentals and Microsoft products. This certification replaced the popular Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification in 2021. The cost for the Microsoft Fundamentals certification exam is around $100.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner is a very hot certification recommended for aspiring IT professionals who want to work with cloud services. Cloud Practitioner is AWS’s most entry-level certification; the exam fee is around $100.
You should pursue structured training in IT before attempting a certification exam. Bootcamps are an excellent way to launch a new career in IT since they provide comprehensive training, and some come with certificates. For example, Noble Desktop offers certificate programs in IT topics, such as their Cybersecurity Bootcamp or Data Analytics Certificate, in which graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate without having to sit for a certification exam. At the same time, training in IT could be a great way to streamline costs and launch your new career in IT much faster.
Why Learn IT?
IT professionals use technology to solve business problems. The need for innovative technological solutions has driven high demand for employees trained in IT skills.
As information and technology drive more and more of our business, people trained in IT have excellent job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that IT jobs are expected to grow by more than 15%, with around 500,000 IT jobs added each year. The demand for employees with IT skills is driven by factors such as the transition to remote work during COVID-19, the rise of streaming services, and digital transformation of the market. Because technology is used in every industry, IT skills are needed in every industry.
IT is a large job category and includes many fields you might not typically associate with IT, such as cybersecurity, data science, and software development. Some of the most popular IT job titles include IT Support Tech, Web Developer, Systems Administrator, Cloud Engineer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Full Stack Developer, Mobile Developer, Web Administrator, User Experience (UX) Designer, Database Administrator, and IT Project Manager.
IT can be a lucrative career path, with many job titles earning more than double the national average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current median annual salary for someone in an IT role is around $100,000. IT professionals rank high on Glassdoor’s list of Top U.S. jobs, which considers average salary, job satisfaction, and job openings. 8 of the Top 10 US Jobs listed on Glassdoor are in IT: Enterprise Architect, Full Stack Developer, Data Scientist, DevOps Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Data Engineer, Software Engineer, and Java Developer.
Read more about why you should learn IT.
Free Introductory IT Course Online
Free online resources are a great way to explore your interests if you want to test out a few different IT career paths. You can learn some basics without making a significant financial or time commitment.
For example, Glassdoor has ranked Full Stack Developer in the Top 3 jobs in the U.S. Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Full-Stack JavaScript seminar can give you insight into whether it's a career path you’d like to pursue more seriously. You’ll also get a sample of Noble Desktop’s unique hands-on, project-based instruction method and if a live online bootcamp is the right choice.
Coursera offers free online IT courses, such as the popular Crash Course in Data Science by Johns Hopkins University. Universities often have great free introductory resources, such as MIT OpenCourseWare, which you can use to familiarize yourself with basic IT concepts.
Read about more free IT videos and online tutorials.
Learn IT with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
IT is a large job field with many career paths and nearly limitless opportunities. There are many paths to working in IT. However, there are recommended training paths based on your goals.
To become an IT professional, you’ll need verifiable job skills. Many tech and coding schools offer IT training, but you’ll want to choose one that focuses on technology and business since IT demands skills in both. Bootcamps are highly recommended for launching a new career in IT or pivoting to a different job role because they offer comprehensive technical training in the least amount of time.
Many bootcamps offer a live online training format which is an excellent option if there are no in-person IT courses in your area. Because the class is live, it works like an in-person class. You can ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You can collaborate with classmates or receive direct feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. One advantage of live online classes is that they give you the interaction of an in-person classroom without any commute time. You can train in IT skills from your home or from anywhere.
Noble Desktop is a coding, business, and design school that offers live online bootcamps and certificate programs in some of IT’s hottest career paths, including data analytics, full stack development, and cybersecurity. All their classes have guaranteed small class sizes, so you get extra guidance from an expert instructor. Noble Desktop uses a unique approach in all its classes: instructors teach a “micro-lecture” and immediately guide students through applying the concept they’ve just learned. They also have a “learn the skills guarantee,” which includes a “free retake” option in which graduates can retake a course for free to continue developing their skills.
Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate provides comprehensive training in data analysis, data visualization, business intelligence, and databases. Data Analysts use data to help businesses make good decisions. Students are guided through real-world, hands-on projects to develop skills in using Excel for data analysis, working with Python, SQL and database operations, data interpretation, business forecasting, machine learning, and using Tableau for data visualization. Graduates earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics which is shareable on Linkedin.
You can earn a New York State Licensed Certificate in Cybersecurity by taking Noble Desktop’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Students work with an expert instructor to develop skills in network security tools, evaluating network security using penetration testing, Security Operations Center (SOC) principles and practices, understanding attackers, security monitoring and logging techniques, information gathering techniques, and understanding application vulnerabilities.
Full Stack Developer is listed as a Top 3 Job in the US by Glassdoor. Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate provides comprehensive training for becoming a Full Stack Developer who creates both the front end (what you see) and the back end (how it runs) of websites and applications. Students learn to create layouts using HTML and CSS, program in JavaScript, create web applications using Node.js, use MongoDB to work with databases, API development using Express.js, work with Git to track changes, and use JavaScript libraries.