it vs computer science
Are you the type of person who likes to tinker with your computer when it’s having an issue? Do you like to work with computer-related problems and find solutions?
If you answered yes to both those questions, a career in information technology (IT) could be an area to consider.
While it’s true you can enter the IT field without a college degree, and that you can obtain knowledge over time about the field through job experience and certifications, your options for how you start your career without prior experience, and the salary you can demand, will be limited.With a college degree, knowledge about the field, and even some hands-on experience, you’ll be able to start in a better position, demand a higher salary, and move up the corporate ladder faster.
There are jobs out there in the world that may seem impossible to obtain because certain skills or background is needed. This belief is certainly true about jobs in the IT field. Those beliefs are that you need a four-year degree (preferably in a technical area to even get in the door); that to be successful in a technology job, the skills needed can only be learned in college; and that hiring managers are more interested in your educational background than job experience.
The reality is that 26% of people working in the IT field in the United States don’t have a bachelor’s degree, and many IT job listings don’t list a college degree as a requirement. Additionally, hiring managers are more interested in job experience, but also look for potential employees with a desire to learn, an ability to fix problems and find solutions, and a willingness to work with other people.
As far as the type of jobs available, roles like web development, cybersecurity, software development, mobile app development, and help desk support are all possibilities. Average salaries for these positions can reach $83,000 per year, but that is more likely for someone with skills or experience in their background, and maybe even some certifications. The truth is that while a good job in IT can be had without a college degree, it will take someone much longer to achieve career goals and to reach a higher pay grade.
That means an employee may start work as a Help Desk Technician (typically considered an entry-level position that doesn’t require prior knowledge or experience), receive less pay with a salary that tops out at $30,000 per year, and experience high levels of stress. With experience and certifications, a Help Desk Technician might be able to move to a different job and earn a higher salary. With a college degree, on the other hand, employees can start in a position more in line with their skills and education and earn a much higher salary with lots of growth potential during the course of their career.
While it is possible to obtain an information technology position with basic job experience, a high school diploma, or even an associate’s degree, the type of job choices and increases in salary can happen slowly. An IT job candidate with a bachelor’s degree or higher, however, will find better jobs to choose from, higher pay, and an overall easier career path. Here are the two main degrees and their average salaries, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
