What is an information systems technician and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become an Information Systems Technician?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become an information systems technician. That is the time it takes to learn specific information systems technician skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become an information systems technician.

Q: Do IT techs make good money?

Yes, Information Systems (IT) Technicians make good money. This is considered one of the top highest-paying entry-level jobs in the technology industry. The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today, at an 11% growth rate. This means that not only does becoming an IT Tech pay well; it also offers a certain level of job security.

Q: How much do information system technicians make?

Information system (IT) technicians typically make an average salary of $58,000 a year. However, depending on skill, industry, location, and experience, a person can make significantly more or less.

Q: What does an information systems technician do in the Navy?

Navy Information System Technicians (IT Technicians) operate and maintain Navy global satellite telecommunications systems. They also operate and maintain mainframe computers, local and wide area networks, and micro-computer systems throughout the Fleet.

Q: What education is needed to become an IT technician?

Typically an Information Technology (IT) Technician is required to have an associate's or bachelor's degree. These degrees are typically within the field of Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or a related field.

Q: What is the IT rate in the Navy?

Navy Information Systems Technicians (IT Technicians) earn money based on their rank/rate and years in service. Navy IT Technicians have excellent benefits overall, which include competitive pay that is dependent upon rank or rate and years in service.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran,

Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe

An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing computer systems. They ensure that computer hardware and software are functioning correctly, perform regular system updates and backups. They also secure the network against potential threats. Information systems technicians provide technical support to end-users. They may work in various settings, such as corporations, government agencies, or schools. Information systems technicians must have strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of computer systems and networks.

What general advice would you give to an information systems technician?

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois

As we roll into another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students are facing one of the worst moments of their lives. They face several uncertainties; due to financial challenges, uncertainty about completing their degrees on time, adjusting to online and hybrid modes of learning, and worst of all, facing the worst job market. As a result, I see the stress and anxiety levels among the graduating students to be significantly higher, at levels I have not experienced in my academic career.

Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.

It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.

On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.

ScoreInformation Systems TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,346

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.1

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 26.45%

male 73.55%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

4.1

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an information systems technician?

Pros

High demand
Good earning potential
Constant learning and development of new skills
Opportunities for remote work
Opportunity to solve complex problems

Cons

High stress levels due to critical nature of work
Requires ongoing training to stay up-to-date with new technologies
May require working irregular hours or being on-call 24/7
Can be physically and mentally exhausting due to high concentration levels required
May require working in uncomfortable or hazardous conditions (e.g. server rooms)

Key steps to become an information systems technician

Explore information systems technician education requirements

Most common information systems technician degrees

Bachelor's

50.1 %

Associate

31.2 %

High School Diploma

7.4 %

Start to develop specific information systems technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.40%
Troubleshoot	7.74%
Technical Support	6.76%
Phone Calls	4.63%
Desk Support	3.72%

Complete relevant information systems technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information systems technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information systems technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information systems technician resumes.

Research information systems technician duties and responsibilities

Manage remedy ticket queue to ensure tickets are being handle properly and resolve within SLA.
Manage independent PC repair shop, self-motivate and self-responsible.
Develop Java base IAM system components to manage security and authorizations.
Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.

Prepare your information systems technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information systems technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information systems technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable information systems technician resume templates

Build a professional information systems technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information systems technician resume.

Apply for information systems technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an information systems technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average information systems technician salary

The average information systems technician salary in the United States is $46,346 per year or $22 per hour. Information systems technician salaries range between $28,000 and $74,000 per year.

Average information systems technician salary

$46,346 Yearly

$22.28 hourly

How do information systems technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Information systems technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Cons

There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers

Pros

Working with The people

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

What is an information systems technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an information systems technician?

What are the pros and cons of being an information systems technician?

Information systems technician career paths

Key steps to become an information systems technician

Explore information systems technician education requirements

Most common information systems technician degrees

Start to develop specific information systems technician skills

Complete relevant information systems technician training and internships

Research information systems technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your information systems technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable information systems technician resume templates

Apply for information systems technician jobs

How did you land your first information systems technician job

Average information systems technician salary

How do information systems technicians rate their job?

Information systems technician reviews

Information systems technician FAQs

How long does it take to become an Information Systems Technician?

Do IT techs make good money?

How much do information system technicians make?

What does an information systems technician do in the Navy?

What education is needed to become an IT technician?

What is the IT rate in the Navy?

Search for information systems technician jobs

Information systems technician jobs by state