How to Become an Information Technology Technician

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.

While IT technicians are not nearly the highest-paid position in the tech industry, it does offer a great entry-level move into the industry. This can allow a person to gain connections and develop the experience that will allow them to move up to higher-paying positions.

If a person wants to get into a career that pays well from the beginning, has good job security, and has a lot of room for growth, it is beneficial to pursue becoming an IT Technician.

Becoming an IT technician requires a certain level of college education and, in many cases, various forms of certifications. Because of the many roles performed by IT technicians, specialized certifications identify specialized skills.

Candidates interested in becoming an IT technician should obtain an associate's or bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or computer information systems. Those holding a bachelor's degree are seen as more prepared candidates for entry-level IT positions.

Although IT certifications are voluntary, Employers prefer candidates with specialized knowledge in one or more areas of the IT field. CompTIA A+ is considered the industry standard for technical support professionals.

Obtaining this certification provides the technician with knowledge ranging from computer infrastructure to network security. This is one of many specific certifications that technicians are able to attain to enhance their knowledge within the field.

Information technology technicians make between $55,000 and $76,000 per year. There are many factors that impact the salary of an IT technician, and the average salary can be impacted by education and place of employment.

Entry-level IT technician positions begin at approximately $54,000 annually. These entry-level positions require an associate's degree in information technology. Those who go on to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science or networking have additional opportunities within the field of IT.

Many IT technicians work for educational organizations such as universities or school districts, while others may earn higher average salaries working for larger private employers such as Google or Amazon. Google IT technicians earn between $61,000 and $100,000 per year.

Positions such as systems analysts and network engineers can earn average salaries as much as $88,000 per year. Technicians with a bachelor's degree and experience in the IT field are often promoted into these higher-salary positions.

The duties of an IT technician vary greatly and depend on the business or company for which the technician is working. IT technicians must be able to handle a variety of computer-related tasks regardless of where they are employed.

An IT technician is typically the link between a business or company and the consumer. Technicians are responsible for coding and programming websites to ensure that links and landing pages are functioning properly.

Many technicians work for public entities such as schools or local government agencies. These technicians focus on maintaining a network that provides a platform to gather and share information.

School districts are an example of a public entity that maintains large amounts of information that must be easily accessed via a network.

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.

These programs offer comprehensive coursework in programming languages and computer engineering, providing students theoretical and practical knowledge of a variety of topics and processes they are likely to encounter on the job.

IT Technicians should seek to gain initial job training while pursuing a degree, including how to use programming languages to communicate with computer systems and troubleshooting techniques.

But if not, they will receive on-the-job training for a few weeks to learn the specific software and hardware systems used within a company.

Finally, while certification for IT technicians is voluntary, there are many certificates that increase employability and expand their knowledge base. These include:

• CompTIA A+ Certification is an industry standard for technical support professionals.

• CompTIA Network+ Certification is ideal for IT professionals who configure, troubleshoot, and manage networks.

• CompTIA Linux+ Certification validates knowledge of security, hardware and system configuration, system operation, maintenance, automation, scripting, Linux troubleshooting, and diagnostics.

• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) validates knowledge of core technical concepts.

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) assesses candidates' ability to install, operate and troubleshoot a small network system with basic security.

There is a range of skills required of an IT technician. Skills that an IT technician needs range from general communication skills to the very specific skill of coding.

Communication and problem solving are general skills important to an IT technician. Being able to identify an issue and convey its solution to parties outside of the IT world is crucial. IT technicians must be able to listen to reported issues and troubleshoot solutions.

Technicians are also responsible for the specific tasks of writing code to create websites and landing pages that meet the needs of a business. The physical condition of the technology used by a business is also the technician's responsibility, and inspecting and updating equipment and software is an important part of the job.

As computer technology changes, technicians must constantly update their professional development.