Post job

What is an information technology instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Ranganathan Chandrasekaran
introduction image

An information technology instructor teaches students IT-related skills such as Microsoft systems, coding languages, and more. They can work with students of all ages--in high schools, vocational schools, and continuing education facilities targeting vulnerable adults. It goes without saying that an information technology instructor needs to be proficient in the technology that they teach before standing up in front of a classroom.

However, technical brilliance is not enough. Information technology instructors also need to know how to explain technology in an accessible way, manage a classroom, and grade assignments to ensure that their students are on the right track.

Most information technology instructors have at least a bachelor's degree in information technology, although some have only an associate's or a certificate. They usually have professional experience working in IT before becoming instructors.

Since IT skills are more and more in demand, becoming an information technology instructor is a solid career choice. They earn an average salary of $62,734 a year, and the demand for this career is expected to grow by 10%.

What general advice would you give to an information technology instructor?

Ranganathan ChandrasekaranRanganathan Chandrasekaran LinkedIn profile

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 Technology InstructorUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,240

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 12.11%

Black or African American 11.95%

Hispanic or Latino 15.28%

Unknown 5.31%

White 54.94%

Gender

female 27.08%

male 72.92%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Information technology instructor career paths

Key steps to become an information technology instructor

  1. Explore information technology instructor education requirements

    Most common information technology instructor degrees

    Bachelor's

    53.8 %

    Associate

    20.7 %

    Master's

    17.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific information technology instructor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Security +15.60%
    Curriculum Development6.22%
    Professional Development4.60%
    Comptia A+4.08%
    Course Materials3.86%
  3. Complete relevant information technology instructor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information technology instructors 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 technology instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information technology instructor resumes.
  4. Gain additional information technology instructor certifications

    Information technology instructor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information technology instructor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for information technology instructors include CompTIA A+ Certification and CCNA.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research information technology instructor duties and responsibilities

    • Lead hands-on labs using Cisco switches and routers.
    • Manage computer maintenance database of all laboratories.
    • Provide classroom instruction to students working to achieve certification in Microsoft and Novell technologies.
    • Develop, manage, and implement Linux/Unix base network and end-user security methodologies and practices to protect systems from security threats.
  6. Prepare your information technology instructor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information technology instructor 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 technology instructor 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 technology instructor resume templates

    Build a professional information technology instructor 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 technology instructor resume.
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
    Information Technology Instructor Resume
  7. Apply for information technology instructor jobs

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

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

How did you land your first information technology instructor job

Zippi

Are you an information technology instructor?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average information technology instructor salary

The average information technology instructor salary in the United States is $56,240 per year or $27 per hour. Information technology instructor salaries range between $42,000 and $73,000 per year.

Average information technology instructor salary
$56,240 Yearly
$27.04 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do information technology instructors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Information technology instructor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

talking to people

Cons

outside weather, I work as a network technician and the main problem I always encounter is the cold weather.


Working as an information technology instructor? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs