How Much Do Information Technology Professionals Earn?
The career outcome for IT professionals is bright in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, reports employment for computer and IT professionals will rise by 13% by 2026, which is faster than average for all occupations. It is expected that this industry will add an estimated 557,000 new jobs in this period. That means if you have the qualifications and certifications in information technology, you are ready to get a desirable, well-paying job with longevity.
How much money can I actually make? Which factors affect salary?
- The career path you choose
- The IT certifications you hold
- The years of work experience you have
- The location you work
After reviewing the items above, you will have a better idea of how much money you could be making.
The career path you choose
The career path you choose will affect your income over your lifetime, with many different career options in the Information Technology field your career path offers endless possibilities. Below are some of the common IT jobs and their respective average salary:
- Web Developer: $61,000
- Information Security Analyst: $85,000
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator: $70,000
- Systems Administrator: $60,200
- IT Support Specialist: $43,500
- IT Manager: $87,300
- Senior Systems Administrator: $89,100
- Network Administrator: $55,500
- IT Specialist: $63,200
- Software Developer: $60,300
The IT certifications you hold
Whether just beginning or you are already in the IT industry, you want to continue to add certifications to your resume to build a solid foundation in IT. The more certifications you have, the more attractive you become to future employers. Salary variation is largely based upon certifications, degrees and your chosen field.
Common certifications for Information Technology positions above are:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCNA
- Cisco CCENT
- Linux +
- Microsoft MCT
- Microsoft MCTS
The years of work experience you have
As in most careers, the years of experience you have in tech will affect your level of pay. Below is the average reported salary information for technology managers by level of experience:
- IT managers with less than five years of experience earn $59,000 per year
- IT managers with five to 10 years of experience earn $76,000
- IT managers with 10 to 20 years of experience earn $91,000
- IT managers with more than 20 years of experience earn $99,000
If you have a master’s degree in combination with many years of work experience, you can likely earn $100,000 per year or more depending on location and chosen profession.
The location you work
The location in the United States you work will affect your overall salary. The national average salary for information technology managers is $84,800, but the salary can vary based upon living in these high-paying cities:
- Minneapolis: +34%
- San Francisco: +33%
- Chicago: +30%
- Washington: +30%
- Boston: +21%
- Atlanta: +20%
- Denver: +17%
- New York: +16%
- Houston: +14%
- Miami: -16%
The information technology field is a highly sought after field today, so If you are looking for great pay, career stability, and advancement, IT may be the right fit for you. Find out more about our Information Technology Programs by speaking to our admissions team today!
