Start your IT career path here. Take the quiz.
Before you apply for your first job in IT, the first thing you'll need to do is choose a career path that fits your interests. Then, you can focus on learning the skills you'll need for that specific role. Ready to choose an IT career path? Let's go!
Earn higher pay with a career in IT.
IT jobs are plentiful and pay well — even entry-level roles have a national median average of $69K per year.* And employment in computer and IT occupations is projected to grow 13% through 2030 — faster than the average for any other occupation.
Job security is great, but a role in IT can also mean earning a higher paycheck. IT pros with 3 to 5 years experience earn an average median salary of nearly $97,500 as of May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To be successful in IT, you'll need to be comfortable learning new skills and staying up-to-date with advances in technology.
Ready for a flexible career with a solid paycheck and plenty of growth opportunities? Use this quiz to discover which IT job is right for you based on your interests. Your results will show which professional certification you should focus on earning to learn the skills needed to land your first job in IT.
Entry-Level Training for Networking Jobs
Starting salaries for network admins are approximately $58K annually, according to Glassdoor.com (Nov. 2022). Learn the skills needed to land your first networking job with a foundational cert like CompTIA Network+. Then, you can start to specialize for a variety of IT roles like network admins, networking engineers, and support specialists.
View all network admin cert training
Entry-Level Training for Help Desk Jobs
The average entry-level salary for a help desk technician is $49K annually, according to Glassdoor.com (Nov. 2022). If you don’t have any tech experience, these CompTIA certs are a good place to start. You’ll learn fundamentals like IT terms and concepts, hardware and software installation, common operating systems, and basic networking concepts.
View all CompTIA cert training
Entry-Level Training for SysAdmin Jobs
Entry-level systems administrators can expect to make around $63K annually, according to Glassdoor.com (Nov. 2022). Learn what’s needed to perform the role of a SysAdmin by training for a certification exam. Earning one of these certs shows you know the skills needed to perform the duties of a systems administrator.
View all systems administration cert training
Entry-Level Training for Cybersecurity Jobs
If you’re interested in cybersecurity, certification training can help you learn the skills you’ll need to get hired. Many IT security jobs — like associate analysts or risk analysts — require a few years of experience in networking or tech support. But it’s possible to teach yourself the skills needed to land an entry-level role in cybersecurity by earning a cert that shows potential employers you have the skills needed to keep their networks safe.
View all security cert training
Entry-Level Training for Cloud Jobs
Cloud administrators and engineers get paid well, as their specialized skills are very valuable. On average, cloud engineers earn approximately $86K, according to Glassdoor.com (Nov. 2022), but skills and years of experience can make that number climb much higher. These courses can help you learn what’s needed for a job in the cloud.
Step into a career in IT.
Online IT training from CBT Nuggets will help you get there.
*Source: Glassdoor, July 2022