There’s a reason STEM — the acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, and math — is a hot topic for educators, parents, and students: these skills are valuable, and students that display aptitudes in these areas are in high demand. But even within these four areas, the technology sector more than any other continues to boom. The future is especially bright for young people that attend a university or information technology college willing and able to learn the skills needed for a career in the technology industry.
A career in the information technology (IT) field will pay well. Moreover, there are a lot of openings for the right people to fill those jobs. For that reason, many students are attending university with the goal of gaining a degree in IT, or choosing to go directly to an information technology college. Even established professionals are returning to school to earn these degrees or certifications because of the value across industries.
Consider the data. The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that employment opportunities are growing at a faster rate, at 10 percent annually, for graduates with a bachelor’s degree than for all other candidates, at 7 percent growth rate, who don’t have the same level of education. The BLS categorizes 174 occupations as “typically requiring a bachelor’s degree for entry” and includes the Information Technology industry as part of this list of occupations. In essence, that means that students that earn an IT degree can expect better job prospects at the time of graduation.
And there are additional factors that support this conclusion. Of the industries included on the BLS list, the IT field is one of nine that has even more job opportunities open than all others. The other eight industries are business; community and social service; engineering and architecture; healthcare and science; management-related; sports, communication and design; and teaching.
That might seem like a whole range of options for students seeking to enter the job market with strong prospects, and we wouldn’t want to discourage a student whose interests and talents lie in another area. But for students that display an interest and aptitude for technology, they can also reasonably expect to earn a higher salary than their peers. An IT job arguably has the edge in entry-level salaries and earning potential. The average median annual income ranges from $82,000 – $107,000. That’s higher than every other industry listed with the exception of management, which typically requires additional years of work experience to achieve.
Moreover, technology careers aren’t limited to jobs for people who can write computer code. There are a number of options out there for people who are analytical, detail-oriented, and interested in problem solving and innovation. Earning a degree at an accredited information technology college can prepare individuals for a career path in these quickly evolving industries. So, what type of jobs are included in the IT field?
Here are some common job titles for candidates with a degree from an information technology college or university:
- Software developers, applications
- Computer systems analyst
- Software developers, systems software
- Network and computer systems administrators
- Computer programmers
Those are the primary job titles listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beyond that, qualified IT job seekers and candidates will see openings for business analysts, senior systems administrators, information technology support specialists, and more. There are many websites that list jobs and will provide information about the market value and salaries for these openings. But in general, understanding how technology works will make these information technology college graduates a huge asset in whatever field they enter.
All of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree from a university or information technology college. While there are programs throughout the country, right now the hot spots for IT employment are located in New York, New York; Houston, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Louis, Missouri; and right here locally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are also many openings in Boston and on the West Coast. Basically, graduates have a lot of opportunity and options!
For all of these reasons, students seeking a solid foundation for their future are looking into IT degrees. If this is something you or your students are interested in learning more about, please visit our website for additional information about programs of study and options for students. As your local accredited business and information technology college in Johnstown Pennsylvania, the advisors at Eberly College of Business & Information Technology would be happy to help you learn more.