How Much Do IT Specialists Make?
Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs. If you're one of those people, and you're curious what kind of salary it specialists make, you've come to the right place.
Using data from Lightcast,™ the Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled rich information about salary for it specialists and related jobs, including details about average compensation, salary trends and job growth. We've also gathered advertised salaries from actual job postings to provide insight into what employers of it specialists are offering as compensation.
Keep reading to learn more about how much it specialists can expect to make in the United States.
At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for IT Specialists
According to data from 2023, there were about 163,416 positions for it specialists in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for it specialists was reported to be $71,531. Additionally, when examining job demand, employers across the country posted 11,868 job postings related to positions for it specialists.
How Much Money Do IT Specialists Make?
Median salary is just one data point. To build a better understanding of how much money it specialists and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs.
Let's look more deeply at data that was reported to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for detail into the lowest and highest salary earnings for it specialists.
Annual Salary for IT Specialists
According to the BLS, the lowest earners for it specialists and related professions earned about $45,656 per year in 2023. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $121,909 annually.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for it specialists in the United States in 2023 was $71,531.
Annual Salary Range For IT Specialists In 2023
Hourly Salary for IT Specialists
The BLS also breaks down compensation for it specialists by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for it specialists in 2023 was $34. Lowest hourly earners took home $22 while the highest reported hourly salaries for it specialists was $59.
Hourly Salary Range For IT Specialists In 2023
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Degree Options for IT Specialists
Learn to translate business requirements into robust yet functional software applications and database designs to help businesses not only run but thrive, and jump start your career as a user support specialist, computer system analyst, or software developer.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Equip yourself for a role as an IT, network or help desk specialist with fundamental technology skills, including medium-scale network administration, small website and application development, and database design and querying.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Go beyond basic programming and develop the technical skills necessary to apply, design, and implement software systems.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Bridge the gap between business and technology and develop the interpersonal skills to become an IT liaison in your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Harness the power of data by creating data-driven strategies and communicating data insights with a B.S. Information Systems-Analytics Focus.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Develop your ability to lead, communicate and make strategic decisions that impact projects and processes with a B.S. Information Systems-Business Analysis & Project Management Focus
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Build technical savvy and business acumen that bridges the gap between business and technology with a B.S. Information Systems with a Business Information Systems focus.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Get the knowledge to manage healthcare data, navigate regulations and inform ethical decision-making with a B.S. Information Systems-Healthcare Information Systems Focus
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Play a vital role in any business environment by designing and implementing mission-critical infrastructure, security, and servers.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Develop the advanced technical skills needed to turn complex programming specifications into well-designed computer programs.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Deliver high-quality software that helps companies and organizations maintain data security and integrity with Franklin’s 20-month online M.S. in Computer Science with a focus in Cybersecurity.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 20
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Data Analytics 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Healthcare 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in IT Management 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Learning Technology 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for IT Specialists
Start your cloud computing journey with AWS certificate courses for beginners and keep up with the fast pace of innovation.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 1-2 months
- Cost: $35/month
This DeepLearning AI certificate course lets you dive into the cutting-edge world of AI specialization, machine learning and data-driven solutions.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
In-demand programmers know Git. You can, too, with GitHub certificate courses that put you among the ranks of other Git certification-ready development pros.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $35/month
Fast track your IT career with the Google IT support training and certificate that helps you learn about network protocols, operating systems, and solving problems using code.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Put your creativity to work with these Google UX design courses that equip you to build and test user-centered solutions and to use Google Analytics to improve usability.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Develop practical skills in Python and IBM applied AI thanks to deep learning courses that show you how to design, build and deploy AI-powered apps.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Build your cloud developer portfolio with this hands-on IBM full stack cloud developer certificate course that uses the latest tools and technologies to manage full stack cloud native apps.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 5-6 months
- Cost: $35/month
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 1-2 months
- Cost: $35/month
Advertised Compensation for IT Specialists
Data from the BLS is one way to dig into compensation for it specialists, but another way to build a more real-time understanding of salary is to look at actual job postings and see what compensation organizations are currently providing to fill open positions for it specialists.
Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™
Annual Salary from Job Postings for IT Specialists
Advertised Annual Salary
During a review of 11,629 job postings related to it specialists, advertised salary was included in 4,080 of them, which was 35%. Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for it specialists was $55,168 per year.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for IT Specialists
Advertised Hourly Salary
A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for it specialists. Based on 34% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for it specialists in the United States is about $27.
Salary Trend for IT Specialists
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for it specialists. The chart below provides a snapshot of advertised salaries over the past three years.
Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for it specialists dating back to September 2020, advertised salaries for it specialists have increased 10%.
Advertised Wage Trend For IT Specialists
What's the Job Growth for IT Specialists?
Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future. The chart below looks at projected employment for it specialists over the next 10 years.
According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 163,346 jobs for it specialists in the United States in 2023. By 2033, it is expected that about 19,373 jobs will be added. That's a 11.9% increase over the next 10-year period.
Employment Projections For IT Specialists
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about it specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for it specialists.
What do it specialists do?
IT Specialists: How do you become one?
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