Get the lowdown on the high-demand field of Information Technology (IT) and the various roles it encompasses. Explore how skills such as Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Microsoft Excel, and project management can open up numerous career paths in technology and business, many with significant earning potential.
Key Insights
- Information Technology (IT) combines business with technology, offering a wide range of job roles from network administration to software development.
- Jobs within IT are expected to grow by approximately 15% until 2029, with average salaries around $100,000.
- Specific IT roles, such as Software Developer, can earn higher than average salaries, with Software Developers earning around $110,000 annually.
- IT workers within certain industries, like Aerospace and Defense, can earn even higher salaries, with an average of $142,000 annually.
- In-demand IT skills include Cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics, software development, machine learning, and project management.
- Microsoft Office proficiency is a valuable skill in IT, as it is the most-requested job skill worldwide.
Information Technology (IT) harnesses the power of technology to solve business problems. If you already have IT skills, consider learningan in-demand IT specialization, such as Cybersecurity or Data Analytics. Other in-demand skills include Microsoft Excel and project management. We’ll cover specialized IT skills below so you clearly understand what skill you want to tackle next.
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.
IT Specialization
At its core, IT uses the power of technology to solve business problems. Any job that combines technology with business could be considered an IT role. Because of this, IT is an immense job category that includes nearly limitless job roles across every industry.
IT can include more general job roles, such as network administration or help desk, or more specialized job roles, such as data analytics and cybersecurity. IT has also been expanded to include software development roles, such as Full Stack Developer or Software Engineer.
Adding training in an IT specialization can increase your salary. The average salary for an IT worker is around $100,000 annually. Salaries for specific roles and within specific industries can increase your salary. For example, a Software Developer earns around $110,000 annually, more than the average for all IT roles. IT workers in specific industries can also earn more. For example, the average annual IT salary in the Aerospace and Defense industry is around $142,000.
Skillsoft performed an IT Skills and Salary Survey in 2022. According to their report, some of the industries with the highest-paid IT workers include:
- Aerospace and Defense: $142,000
- Software: $135,000
- Construction, Architecture, and Engineering: $127,000
- Consulting: $126,000
- Insurance, Real Estate, and Legal: $126,000
- Entertainment: $122,000
- NaturalResources: $118,000
In addition to higher salaries, choosing a hot IT career path can lead to more job opportunities. For example, let’s consider cybersecurity. A cybersecurity specialist makes around $100,000 yearly, which is more than the average for all IT roles. People with cybersecurity skills are also in high demand because there is currently a need for around 3 million workers with cybersecurity training. Over the past several years, this has led to 0% unemployment for those with cybersecurity skills.
Microsoft Excel and Office
The iconic Microsoft Office is installed on over 1 billion devices worldwide. It has been the most widely-used business software in the world for decades. Anyone who wants to work in technology, such as in an IT role, will need advanced familiarity with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Office proficiency is the most-requested job skill in the world.
Taking a bootcamp or certificate program is a great way to learn Microsoft Office and Excel. For example, NYIM offers a Microsoft Office Bootcamp, which combines Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word training. You could also take single courses in Office topics, such as Excel for Business Fundamentals.
Project Management
IT combines business and technology: you will need solid skills in both to launch a career in IT. One of the most in-demand business skills at the moment is project management. The Project Management Institute (PMI) estimates that more than 22 million new jobs requiring project management skills will be created by 2027. This makes it a great time to learn project management skills.
Adding project management skills to your IT skills could lead to a lucrative and rewarding career path. IT Project Managers are in high demand and earn high salaries. The average annual salary for an IT Project Manager is around $125,000.
Bootcamps are a great way to learn project management. For example, Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp offers comprehensive training in project management theories, practices, and skills.
Key Insights
- Since technology is always evolving, you’ll need to stay up-to-date and continue learning when you become an IT professional.
- Some IT subfields earn more than others. The industry you work in can also affect your salary as an IT professional.
- Some additional skills you should consider after learning IT are IT specialization either in a job role or industry, Microsoft Office, and project management.
- You can receive comprehensive IT training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.
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.