The technology industry is a great space to get into for those seeking a high-paying, flexible, and future-ready career. Tech jobs are in a massive growth period as IT spending from companies has quadrupled from 2023, with an expected spending amount of 5.7 trillion in 2025, according to a recent report by Deloitte.
The projected technological change that will occur over the next 5 years will add a whopping 78 million jobs to the labor market across industries. That means more chances than ever to break into tech, whether you’re into AI, design, marketing, data, or just want a stable remote job with real money potential.
Before you get stuck in the cycle of thinking, “but I don’t know how to code,” stop right there. 🫵
There are tons of jobs in tech that don’t require coding skills, but they do require digital skills. Tech and IT jobs offer both technical and non-technical opportunities, and there are many ways to get started with a career in tech and learn these high-income skills with or without a degree.
In this guide, you’ll learn which tech path is right for you, how to build the skills you need to get your foot in the door, and how to network and best position yourself to land the job — no matter your background or experience level.
We also included salary data for each area of tech that we’ve collected from the past 3+ years of interviews, data we’ve collected in our online Salary Database (don’t forget to join and add your salary too!), and job data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
*Keep in mind that our Salary Database currently doesn’t have a way to distinguish between base pay and total compensation. Our salary data may also include other compensation, such as bonuses, commissions, stock options, equity, or other forms of pay in addition to their yearly salary.
Different Career Paths to Break Into Tech
Working in tech means one of two things: working at a tech company or working on a technical team at a non-tech company.
A marketing role at a tech company may qualify as “working in tech” just as much as an IT support person working for a healthcare services company does. One works in the tech industry while the other is a technical professional in a different industry. They both work in tech. For example, many high-paying government jobs and creative jobs are tech roles.
There are also many companies that you may overlook as not being tech companies when thinking about pivoting into the space. For example, Mastercard is a financial tech company and Canva is a visual communication and design tech company. Keep this in mind as you work to build skills and look at the different tech career paths available.
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Engineering and Development
Engineering and development is an area that first comes to mind for many people when thinking of what a tech job looks like – coders in hoodies working around the clock. The truth is, not all engineers even write code. For example – while software engineers need to have some knowledge of certain programming languages, such as Python, C, or Java, there are some software engineers that spend the majority of their role in design, planning, or support and incident response.
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Other areas of engineering and development to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Systems Engineering | Ensures hardware and software systems work together | Systems design, scripting, operating systems (OS) basics |
| Hardware Engineering | Builds and tests physical tech like circuits and processors | PCB design, C/C++, embedded systems |
| Frontend Development | Codes the visual parts of websites and apps | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks like React |
| Backend Development | Handles server logic, databases, and APIs | Python/Java, SQL, API design, security basics |
| Full Stack Development | Works on both frontend and backend | Web dev stack, Git, debugging |
| Website Development | Builds and updates websites | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, CMS tools |
| Mobile App Development | Creates apps for iOS and Android | Swift, Kotlin, mobile UI, app deployment |
| Game Development | Develops video games and interactive experiences | Unity/Unreal, C#, game logic, asset integration |
Potential pay:
How to get into it: Start looking at available degree programs in computer science, software engineering, information technology, or a similar area. Not all companies require a bachelor’s degree, and many also accept associate’s degrees, bootcamps, certifications, and/or coding samples demonstrating your knowledge as alternatives, especially if you have any experience from personal projects, freelancing, or entry-level tech roles.
Get started with these courses and programs:
- Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
- IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate
- Amazon Junior Software Developer Professional Certificate
- Introduction to Systems Engineering
- Bachelor of Computer Science
Operations and Infrastructure
The operations and infrastructure side of tech jobs are the folks who keep systems running smoothly. They manage servers, networks, systems (including cloud systems), deployments, and uptime so developers can ship code and provide a good user experience on their applications and systems.
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For example, a DevOps engineer may be tasked with setting up an automated deployment pipeline, so that every time a developer pushes code, it automatically runs tests and deploys to the production environment. At the other end of that deployment, site reliability engineers are responsible for monitoring system performance and may respond to outages by rolling back the failed deployment and updating their incident response documentation and processes.
Other areas of operations and infrastructure to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| System Administration | Manages servers, updates, backups, and user access | OS basics, scripting, networking, troubleshooting |
| Database Administration | Maintains secure and high-performing databases | SQL, backup strategies, performance tuning, DB tools |
| Cloud Engineering & Infrastructure | Builds and manages cloud systems | AWS/Azure/GCP, IaC tools (e.g., Terraform), networking |
| Platform Engineering | Supports tools and systems for software deployment | CI/CD, scripting, containers (Docker, Kubernetes) |
| IT Support and Helpdesk | Solves user tech issues | Troubleshooting, customer service, basic IT knowledge |
| Service Event Management | Handles incidents and restores services quickly | Monitoring tools, incident response, escalation procedures |
| Technical Program Management | Coordinates technical projects across teams | Agile/Scrum, cross-team communication, planning tools |
| Project Management | Plans and tracks project timelines and goals | Budgeting, timelines, task tracking, stakeholder management |
| Program Management | Oversees multiple related projects to align with business goals | Strategy, portfolio management, stakeholder alignment |
Potential pay:
How to get into it: There are degree programs available in information systems, computer science, information technology, or related fields, but they aren’t always required for these roles. Trade schools/programs, certifications (like CompTIA), and hands-on experience in entry-level tech roles that don’t require degrees (such as helpdesk and customer support) can often be just as valuable.
Get started with these courses and programs:
- System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
- Introduction to Cloud Computing
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate
- Preparation for CompTIA A+ Certification Specialization
- Bachelor of Information Technology
Networking and Security
The networking and security departments handle network connectivity for companies, including what can and can’t pass through their network. They make sure devices are connected, systems can talk to each other securely, and that only authorized users have access to the right resources.
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Even though certain roles may seem like they should be specific to either networking or security, you can’t really have one without the other. That’s why it seems that many of these roles may overlap, or at least require similar skill sets, so they can efficiently work together.
Different areas of networking and security to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Network Engineering | Designs and builds secure, scalable networks | Routing, switching, firewalls, network protocols |
| Network Administration | Maintains network performance and user access | Monitoring tools, troubleshooting, permissions |
| Security Engineering | Builds systems to protect against cyber threats | Firewalls, intrusion detection, encryption, security tools |
| Cloud Network Engineering | Manages cloud-based network infrastructure | AWS/Azure networking, VPCs, load balancers, cloud security |
| Cybersecurity | Defends systems and data through testing and threat monitoring | Threat detection, pen testing, SIEM tools |
| Cyber Incident Response | Investigates and responds to security breaches | Forensics, threat containment, incident handling |
| Identity & Access Management | Controls who can access systems and data | Authentication, authorization, IAM tools |
| Information Security Management | Sets policies to protect data and systems | Risk analysis, compliance standards, policy frameworks |
| Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) | Ensures security and legal standards are met | Regulatory knowledge, audits, risk management |
Potential pay:
How to get into it: You can explore degree programs in information technology, network engineering, cybersecurity, or related fields, but they aren’t always required for these roles. CompTIA certifications are also popular in this field. Hands-on experience is also desired, and can be fulfilled with personal projects (like if you set up an impressive network with security in your own home or for a small business).
Get started with these courses and programs:
- Computer Networks and Network Security
- Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
- Preparation for CompTIA A+ Certification Specialization
- Bachelor of Information Technology
Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Everything is data – what we buy, eat, and drink, what we watch online, our Instagram activity, where we live, what we do for work, and anything else we’ve ever done that is digitally available in the form of data. That may all seem like meaningless information, but for tech companies (or any company, for that matter), it’s gold.
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Companies want to understand their customers’ and users’ data and use it in a way that improves products, and creates more personalized experiences. This is why they need skilled data and AI professionals to collect, clean, and analyze that data, so they can turn it into actionable insights and train AI with it.
Different areas of data and AI to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Data Analytics | Analyzes and visualizes data to support decisions and track performance | Excel, SQL, BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) |
| Data Science | Builds models to predict outcomes and reveal insights | Python/R, statistics, machine learning |
| Data Engineering | Builds systems to collect, clean, and store data | ETL tools, databases, cloud platforms, Python/SQL |
| Machine Learning Engineering | Deploys and scales machine learning models | Python, ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow), APIs, DevOps basics |
| AI Research & Development | Researches and builds cutting-edge AI technologies | Deep learning, NLP, computer vision, academic research methods |
| Business Intelligence (BI) | Creates reports and dashboards for business insights | SQL, BI platforms, data visualization, metrics tracking |
| Data Governance | Manages data quality, privacy, and compliance | Data policies, security, regulations (GDPR, HIPAA) |
Potential pay:
How to get into it: Being some of the most in-demand jobs for the future, data science, AI, and machine learning are fields that are growing so fast that many educational programs and courses can barely keep up with them. The best way to get into this field is to explore foundational courses (like those mentioned below) and to jump in and start trying tools out on your own. You can also explore degree programs and certificates in areas such as computer science, data science, and AI.
Get started with these courses and programs:
- Introduction to Data Analytics
- Fundamentals of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
- Bachelor of Computer Science
Product and Business
The product and business area of tech are the folks that shape what gets built, why it matters, and how it reaches the right people. They visualize and plan what building the product will look like, what it will require, how it will meet user needs, and how to make sure that the product is successful.
For example, a product manager might work with users to identify pain points, then collaborate with designers and engineers to define features and prioritize a roadmap.
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Other areas of product and business to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Product Marketing | Crafts messaging, drives adoption, and positions product in the market | Market research, copywriting, analytics, go-to-market strategy |
| Solutions Architecture | Designs tech solutions that meet business needs | Cloud platforms, system design, pre-sales knowledge |
| Sales Engineering / Technical Sales | Supports sales with product demos and technical expertise | Communication, product knowledge, light coding or system setup |
| Technical Account Management | Advises clients post-sale to ensure success | Customer service, technical knowledge, project coordination |
| Customer Success | Onboards and supports users to ensure long-term satisfaction | Product expertise, communication, training, retention strategies |
Potential pay:
- Median salary: $116,950 per year
- Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $750,000 per year (total compensation)
How to get into it: Get started with exploring business and product management courses and certifications, such as the ones mentioned below. Degree programs are also available in business administration, information systems, and other related areas. Hands-on experience, such as creating and managing your own product (as many online creators do), impresses employers and could be your ticket to getting your foot in the door.
Get started with these courses and programs:
- Business Foundations Specialization
- Product Management Essentials
- Digital Product Management Specialization
- IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Content, Marketing, and Design
Any application or system is useless without a designed user flow, visual layout, and content for users to engage with. Why use an application if it’s all code and barely operable? Technical products also need documentation for users to refer to. This is all made possible by content writers, marketers, and designers.
For example, a UX (User Experience) designer maps out how users will navigate a product to make sure it’s intuitive and accessible, while a UI (User Interface) designer creates the visual elements – like buttons, colors, and typography – that bring that experience to life.
Other areas of content, marketing, and design to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Content Strategy & Content Writing | Plans and writes content to support brand, marketing, and user engagement | Writing, content planning, search engine optimization (SEO), brand voice |
| Technical Writing & Documentation | Creates manuals, guides, and technical docs for users and developers | Technical knowledge, clear writing, tools like Markdown, Confluence |
| Marketing (Digital, SEO, Growth, etc.) | Promotes products online and drives traffic, signups, and sales | SEO, analytics, ad platforms, growth strategies |
| Product Design, UX/UI | Designs user-focused interfaces and experiences | UX/UI design, Figma, prototyping, design systems |
| Instructional Design & E-learning | Develops training content and digital learning programs | Curriculum design, e-learning tools, adult learning principles |
Potential pay:
- Median salary: $156,580 per year
- Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $155,000 per year
How to get into it: You can explore degree programs available in marketing, communications, design, information technology, and other areas to break in, but courses and certifications may also be acceptable to employers. Hands-on experience, such as personal or freelance projects, can also help you break in. Some ideas include writing your own documents for apps you use, sharing designs you’ve created on social media, or showing how you use your social media account that proves your ability to market your skills.
Get started with these courses and programs:
Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing
QA and testing is the last stop before a technical product reaches the outside world. This is a critical stage in the development lifecycle to make sure no defects make it to the public and hurt users’ or customers’ trust in a company’s products.
There are several types of testing roles that fall within this area. For example, a QA tester may manually test a new feature to make sure it works as expected across different devices and browsers, while an automation tester writes scripts that automatically run tests every time code is updated.
Other areas of QA and testing to explore include:
Area | What They Do | What They Need to Know |
| Automation Testing | Uses tools/scripts to run repeatable software tests automatically | Selenium, Python/Java, CI tools |
| SDET (Software Dev Engineer in Test) | Builds test automation frameworks and writes test code | Programming, testing frameworks, software dev principles |
| Performance Testing | Checks how software performs under load or stress | JMeter, LoadRunner, system monitoring |
| Security Testing | Finds vulnerabilities and tests defenses against attacks | OWASP, ethical hacking, security tools |
| Manual Testing | Tests software manually from a user’s point of view | Attention to detail, test cases, UI/UX awareness |
| Regression Testing | Re-tests features after updates to catch new bugs | Test planning, version control, automation tools |
| Usability Testing | Evaluates ease of use and overall user experience | UX principles, user research, feedback tools |
Potential pay:
How to get into it: You have the option to explore degree programs in areas such as computer science and information systems, but they aren’t always required. Many QA roles also welcome candidates with bootcamp experience, certifications, or hands-on testing projects (especially automation testing).
Get started with these courses and programs:
- Introduction to Software Testing
- Software Testing and Automation Specialization
- Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
- IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate
- Bachelor of Computer Science
How to Gain Experience and Build a Portfolio
As you explore different educational programs, think of ways to gain experience and show your work. There are many different ways to do this.
Freelance and Side Projects: Start working on freelance gigs or side projects that focus on solving real-world problems and can yield results to build a portfolio and share on your resume. Websites like LinkedIn, Upwork, Fiverr, and GitHub are great for showcasing your work.
Open Source Contributions: Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub to gain real-world coding experience and collaborate with professionals in the field.
Build a Personal Brand: Create content, such as blogs, newsletters, YouTube tutorials, or podcasts, where you demonstrate your tech knowledge and build your online presence. LinkedIn is a great place to do this, especially for folks new to the space that want to stand out to recruiters and employers.
Take on Entry-Level Gigs: Offer your tech skills to non-profits, local businesses, online small businesses and creators in exchange for an entry-level salary or freelance rate, experience, testimonials, and portfolio pieces.
Internships and Apprenticeships: Look for internships (paid ones!) or apprenticeships that offer mentorship and practical experience in real-world tech environments.
Putting Together a Resume
You'll need a resume when applying to jobs. Start out with pulling a simple resume template/format from tools like ResumeGenuis or using a resume builder, such as Teal’s ATS friendly resume builder. Then fill it in with your relevant information and experience.
Highlight Transferable Skills: Emphasize skills like troubleshooting and problem-solving, project management, communication, and analytical thinking that are relevant across industries. For example, if you've managed teams or handled customer support, those organizational and communication skills are valuable in tech roles like project management or customer success. Be sure to pair these with results you were able to drive using these skills.
Showcase Relevant Tech Experience: Even if you haven't worked in tech, include any personal projects, freelance gigs, or coursework that involved tech skills like coding, data analysis, or design. Mention tools or platforms you’ve used, such as GitHub for code or Google Analytics for data. Include links to your LinkedIn and portfolio on your resume.
Certifications and Learning: List any tech-related certifications or online courses you've completed (refer to affiliate links for courses, certs, and bootcamps that were mentioned above in each career path).
Add a Cover Letter: Cover letters are perfect for situations when folks want to pivot into a new space. This is where you can explain your work experience and how it lines up with the role you’ve applied for, even when your experience isn’t a perfect match. You can explain your unique situation of wanting to pivot to this new area, what you’re doing to make it happen, and how you have the transferable skills, experience, credentials, and past results to back up why you’re perfect for the job. Show them what you can do for them and how you plan to do it.
Connecting With Your Community
Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s not what you know, but who you know,”? Well, it’s partially true. You still need to know what you’re doing but you also need personal and professional connections who will champion you and your experience when referring or recommending you for positions.
Attend Tech Meetups and Conferences: Participate in local or virtual tech events, conferences, meetups, or hackathons to connect with professionals in the industry. Networking at these events can lead to job referrals and mentorship opportunities.
Engage on LinkedIn: Connect with people in roles you're interested in, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and actively comment on industry-related posts. Share your own insights and projects to establish your personal brand and demonstrate your knowledge. Don’t forget to engage with the people at your current job too, even if it isn’t tech related.
Find a Mentor: Reach out to experienced professionals in your desired tech field for advice and guidance. Having a mentor can provide valuable career insights, help you navigate challenges, and open up connection opportunities.
Contribute to Open Source or Tech Communities: Get involved in online forums or contribute to open-source projects on platforms like GitHub or Stack Overflow. These communities allow you to build relationships while demonstrating your skills.
Staying On Track In Your Job Search
There may be times during your job search and career path that you’ll feel discouraged. Breaking into a new career can be tough, and you may experience more rejections and crickets than you may get call backs. But everything you’re doing eventually pays off.
Not every opportunity is the right opportunity for you. Keep going, learning, and honing your job search skills, tapping into your network and using alternative job search methods along the way (and don’t forget to utilize our very own transparent job board!).
We also have a wealth of resources available to you as you navigate your career, including finding your market rate, interview questions and answers to prepare for, salary negotiation scripts and myths, how to ask for a raise, guides to the highest-paying jobs without a college degree, and more!
Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the CNET Money Expert Review Board, and original creator of the award-winning blog and podcast for leveling up your money, career, and side hustles, I Like to Dabble and Remote Work Bestie. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Linkedin. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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