These Are Indeed’s Most In-Demand Entry-Level IT Jobs

Indeed breaks down the entry-level specialist, engineering and developer positions with the highest demand.

Newcomers to the technology job market might feel a sense of anxiety around so much uncertainty in the world, even putting aside a global pandemic.

And yet, companies of all sizes in all industries continue to create troves of digital information that need collecting and analyzing, and technology advances so fast that companies need to rethink whole products and strategies to keep up with the times.

These trends make the tech industry an enticing one for pay and job security. But how does a recent graduate or someone making a career change break into tech?

Jobs website Indeed has produced new research around the entry-level job titles in the tech category with the highest percentage of job postings on its online jobs board in January. Indeed defines entry level by postings that mention “new graduate,” “entry level,” “new grad,” ”no experience necessary” or “no experience needed.”

Here’s a selection of the most in-demand tech jobs from Indeed, listed in no particular order.

IT Specialist, Systems Engineer

Indeed defines IT specialists as the employees who maintain and improve a company’s technical systems so that employees can complete their work and the organization‘s files and information stay safe.

An IT specialist makes an average of $15.28 an hour, or $31,000 a year depending on education, experience and geographical location.

Systems engineers look for structural integrity, upgrades and research available software, hardware and equipment to ensure the resilience of systems in a variety of industries. Employers may require additional certifications for this job beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Systems engineers can make an average of $100,000, per Indeed.

Systems engineers were among the top technology roles employers tried to fill in 2020’s second quarter, according to Dice, a Centennial, Co.-based tech jobs site.

Software Engineer, Developer, Application Developer

These computer program developers must have an analytical, engineering-focused approach and expert knowledge of programming languages to do their jobs well, per Indeed.

Software engineers design, test and develop software to meet users’ needs, recommend upgrades for existing systems and programs and document each aspect of a system or application as a reference for future upgrades and maintenance, among other responsibilities.

Most hiring managers expect software engineers to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, math or other related fields -- though some companies will hire engineers with a high school diploma.

Jobs with the title of “software developer” can offer an average salary of $93,000, with a range of $31,000 to $214,000.

A software engineer makes an average of $107,542 per year depending on level of experience, education and the geographical location.

Some of the most in-demand coding skills include knowledge of Goland, Scala and Objective-C, according to Minneapolis-based talent innovation firm SHL.

The role of lead apps developer is among the highest paid IT jobs, according to Robert Half.

Technical Support Specialist, Help Desk Analyst, IT Support, IT Technician

From Google to Microsoft, today’s tech giants remain susceptible to technical hiccups that can prove costly if time, revenue and reputation, making any tech support roles important whether they help customers or fellow employees.

Jobs with the title of “technical Support representative” offer an average pay of about $15.75 an hour, or $33,000 a year, per Indeed.

Help desk analysts make an average of $18.37 an hour, or about $37,000 a year. Indeed data show that these analysts can make more in the big cities like Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago.

IT support specialists see an average salary of $44,000 a year, with variation for the industry and location they are in.

IT technician jobs pay on average $74,000 a year, with a salary range of $17,000 to $172,000.

Tech support skills are among the top skills employers desire, according to Dice.

A recent survey of small- to medium-sized businesses showed that end users cited security and technical support and maintenance as their top challenge, with 79 percent of SMBs citing both as very important or extremely important issues.

Test Engineer, Quality Assurance Analyst

Before products are delivered to clients, these employees make sure they are up to standards by identifying and fixing defects. Effective analysts have to be detail-oriented, patient, think analytically and possess problem-solving skills.

Average annual pay for QA analysts ranges from $42,000 to $59,000, per Indeed. Jobs with the title of “software testing engineer” come with an average salary of $98,000 a year. Employers may want software testing engineers to have a post-secondary degree and industry certifications.

IT Security Specialist

The importance of information security can never be understated. Just look at the epic SolarWinds hack that has now raised attention from Washington, D.C.

IT security specialists must maintain the safety of an employer’s software and network security system. It can include creating, testing and analyzing security systems for effectiveness. Future job titles on this career track include “analyst” and “director.”

A cybersecurity analyst makes an average salary of $116,000, per Indeed.

The demand for better and more data security measures means no shortage of specialty companies offering everything from identity access management and data protection to web, application and email security.

Development Operations Engineer, DevOps Engineers

As a DevOps engineer, you bring the developmental and operational sides in software development together to speed up the time for completing projects.

These engineers can help plan and develop new coding and features and assess the security of new builds for any holes. Along with technical skills, these engineers need to communicate and effectively manage responsibilities and tasks.

A DevOps engineer makes an average salary of $123,000, according to Indeed. That salary can range from $46,000 to $229,000. DevOps engineers are considered among the top fastest-growing IT jobs by salary, according to Dice.

Some companies look for DevOps engineers to hold master’s degrees or additional certifications.

The growth of DevOps has seen companies like 2nd Watch build out distinct DevOps and security consulting services to help customers adopt modern IT practices, not to mention whole startups that deliver technology enabling development and operations teams to work together at lightning speed.