Top 10 Reasons to Choose an IT Career in 2024

Information technology is one of the fastest-growing professions in the world. As we become more dependent on tech, the need for highly qualified professionals increases. With that in mind, here are 10 great reasons to choose an IT career in 2024.

1. Flexible Work/Life Balance

Having a job in IT almost guarantees you the ability to work from home. While more companies are returning to the office now, many software engineering departments are still allowed to work remotely.

By working from home, you will save money on gas, insurance, and wear and tear on your vehicle. Not to mention, you can focus on family, friends, and personal projects during the time you would otherwise be commuting. While other jobs allow employees to work from home, information technology pretty much guarantees it.

2. You’ll Establish Worthwhile Connections

A huge part of working in IT is helping others with their problems. It requires patience, empathy, and tenacity. Typically, an employee makes friends only with those in their department. However, an IT pro interacts with a diverse range of individuals. It is one of the best jobs as an extrovert to make friends and with those friends, connections.

These connections can give you more options to transfer laterally throughout the organization. Promotion vis-a-vis connections is not the only ticket to success. IT provides plenty of opportunity in and of itself. Let's walk through that next.

3. There's Plenty of Room for Growth

IT is constantly evolving. Whether it's SD-WAN, virtualization, or cloud technology, there is always a new skill to be learned. With that being said, organizations are always looking for ambitious individuals. This constant need for professionals drives plenty of growth and promotion opportunities for folks in IT.

Say, for example, that your organization has adopted AWS as an infrastructure solution. This means they will need people who understand the AWS console, EC2 instances, CodeDeploy, and more — all of which will be managed by a different person. Each one of these roles provides an opportunity to level up your skill and take on more responsibility.

4. IT Skills are in High Demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in IT is expected to grow significantly faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 377,500 job openings projected annually. By choosing a job centered around tech, you have job security for the foreseeable future.

Remember that IT is not just one set of skills: it is a diverse range of professions spanning from help desk employees to software architects, all of which are in high demand.

Think of it this way: not all organizations are equal. Some have better 401(k) matches than others. Some have great medical care but are lacking on PTO days. Luckily for IT, they are in demand in all organizations. Unlike an actuary for example; they can only work at insurance companies.  By choosing IT, you have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of companies.

Maybe working for a big organization is not for you. Or maybe it is for you, but you'd like to have a sidehustle too. If either of these describes your situation, let's talk about those more in-depth.

5. Develop Skills That can be Used Outside of Work

The vast majority of jobs would not be considered "side-hustle friendly." For example, a doctor is not going to be a doctor during the day, and side hustle as one when he clocks out. The same goes for lawyers, hair stylists, and virtually every other job in between. However, IT is different.

In IT, your on-the-job skills can easily satisfy the needs of paying customers. As an example, a software developer can easily write code for other paying customers outside of work. A system administrator can build, troubleshoot, or write about PCs in his spare time. An IT help desk associate can troubleshoot, update, and install complex systems for smaller clients. The list goes on and on.

By earning your way into the IT sphere, you are opening up quite literally a world of opportunity for yourself. Even better, none of this work is (generally) mundane. Let's talk about how creativity is used in IT.

6. IT Allows for Creative Problem Solving

IT allows for plenty of creative solutions. This is certainly the case if you are coding. Software developers are constantly faced with vexing problems that require unique solutions. Developers are given creative license to fix the issue as they see fit. This creative thinking consistently whets the mind and makes every day feel like a new one.

The other side of the coin is the help desk and system administration. While they are not necessarily coding, they face new and exciting challenges every day. Even though system administrators will write shell scripts, a lot of their time is also spent applying configurations.

The sheer amount of hard skills and soft skills needed for these positions will ensure your days are anything but mundane. It is especially nice that these jobs are open to everyone, not just college graduates.

7. An IT Career Doesn't Require a College Degree

Often, the most lucrative opportunities are gate-kept by a college degree. No matter how much experience a person may have, their resume is dismissed for lack of one. This is not the case in IT. For example, neither Apple, Google, Tesla, or Netflix require an applicant to have graduated from college. That is not to say a college degree is useless, but it is no longer a prerequisite to high-paying jobs.

Instead of a college degree, entry-level positions can be applied for with experience and/or certifications. Once your foot is in the door, it is easy to apply for different IT jobs once you have completed the requisite training. Of course, there is always some training, because the field is always changing. So if you love to learn, then you'll love IT.

8. If You Love Learning, You'll Love IT

There is no better career than IT for the curiosity inclined. Everything from Active Directory to cloud engineering falls within the realm of IT. Unlike many other careers, learning never stops in this profession.

There are always plenty of certifications to pursue such as CKAD, Network+, or CCNA. All of which cover a wide array of topics that would satiate even the most inquisitive mind. By learning more topics, you will be able to create more content and troubleshoot a wider array of devices that people use every day. Helping others is the best way to bring meaning to your career.

9. IT Is Impactful Work

It is a sad fact that over 20% of adults in the U.S. think that their job is meaningless. If you happen to fall into this category, then a career in IT is just the thing you need. Think about how technology has impacted your life and those around you.

Just to name a couple of examples, most banking is done online. Social interactions are largely done online. Even political campaigns are data-driven. Each one of these and more needs a professional who understands the ins and outs of their field. IT is very accessible and allows you to make a genuine impact on the world. Another thing to remember is that the more impactful the work, the higher the salary. Lastly, let's talk about IT pay.

10. Many IT Roles Command High Salaries

One of the best parts about IT is it puts you on a fast track to a higher salary. According to Indeed, the average national salary of a software developer is around $110,000 a year. That is far above the national average and could be higher from state to state.

The average salary of a system administrator can pull in just as much. Right off the bat, an entry-level position in IT can pull in significantly more than other budding careers. Suffice it to say, that if you like making money in a fun and relaxing environment, then IT is for you. Furthermore, it is easy to bump those salaries up by getting IT certifications.

Final Thoughts

We all have our own decisions to make about career paths. However, these are 10 compelling reasons to start a career in technology. If you are still on the fence, then hop off and start your journey today and learn with CBT Nuggets!