Introduction to Information Technology

Median Annual Income

$112,753

Projected Job Growth

+11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Public Service & Safety

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Design and develop solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions.

Median Annual Income

$112,753

Projected Job Growth

+11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Public Service & Safety

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies. Build, maintain and upgrade security technology, such as firewalls, for the safe use of computer networks and the transmission and retrieval of information. Design and implement appropriate security controls to identify vulnerabilities and protect digital files and electronic infrastructures. Monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation. May oversee the assessment of information security systems.

Median Annual Income

$105,976

Projected Job Growth

+12 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

Median Annual Income

$63,768

Projected Job Growth

+7 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Associate's degree

Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

Median Annual Income

$107,664

Projected Job Growth

+8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

Median Annual Income

$50,450

Projected Job Growth

-2 %

Career Cluster(s)

Marketing & Sales

Most Common Education Level

Some college, no degree

Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines.

Median Annual Income

$124,170

Projected Job Growth

+18 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Median Annual Income

$103,044

Projected Job Growth

+11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

Median Annual Income

$116,280

Projected Job Growth

+33 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

Median Annual Income

$102,217

Projected Job Growth

-3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

Median Annual Income

$

Projected Job Growth

+26 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Master's degree

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

Median Annual Income

$

Projected Job Growth

+7 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Associate's degree

Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

Median Annual Income

$

Projected Job Growth

+5 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Some college, no degree

Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

Median Annual Income

$

Projected Job Growth

+13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Digital Technology

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

Median Annual Income

$

Projected Job Growth

+11 %

Career Cluster(s)

Public Service & Safety

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of projects. Plan project stages and assess business implications for each stage. Monitor progress to assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met.