Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for senior information technology support technicians in the United States
Senior information technology support technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior information technology support technician job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 83,100 new jobs for senior information technology support technicians are projected over the next decade.
Senior information technology support technician salaries have increased 9% for senior information technology support technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 145,789 senior information technology support technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 158,917 active senior information technology support technician job openings in the US.
The average senior information technology support technician salary is $49,181.
Are senior information technology support technician jobs in demand?
Senior information technology support technician job and salary trends over time
Senior information technology support technician jobs over time
Senior information technology support technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145,789 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 164,491 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 101,998 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 94,101 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 91,442 | 0.03% |
Average senior information technology support technician salary over time
Senior information technology support technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,181 | $23.64 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $47,561 | $22.87 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $46,484 | $22.35 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $45,782 | $22.01 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $45,034 | $21.65 | +1.6% |
Senior information technology support technician jobs by state
Most common states for senior information technology support technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 369 | 53% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 304 | 35% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,221 | 30% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 207 | 27% |
| 5 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 771 | 26% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 503 | 24% |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,410 | 23% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,484 | 22% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 136 | 22% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,411 | 21% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,747 | 21% |
| 12 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 628 | 21% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 156 | 21% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 994 | 20% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 275 | 20% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 602 | 19% |
| 17 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 578 | 19% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 201 | 19% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 185 | 19% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,801 | 18% |
Senior Information Technology Support Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior information technology support technician experts
Palm Beach State College
George Washington University
Rowan University
California Northstate University
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
California State University - Long Beach
Grantham University
Indiana University
Utah Valley University
Dominican University
Loyola University Chicago
Governors State University
New York Institute of Technology
Carleton College
Tufts University
University of North Texas
Slippery Rock University
Stetson University
Saint Peter's University
Dwight Elliot
Professor: Information Management, Cybersecurity & LawPalm Beach State College
Homeland Security
What will help Senior Information Technology Support Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dwight Elliot: Combination of Theoretical and Practical Knowledge: Ensure that you have a strong
combination of theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on skill sets. You must be able
to articulate your knowledge and experience well in an interview and demonstrate what
you are able to do. Be prepared to show examples of precious work that you have
produced or created.
b) Job Research: Always engage in continuous job search Online and in-person. Read
carefully the job description and determine how your background, knowledge and
experience fits best with the job you are reviewing. Customize your resume to that job if
you feel you have the appropriate matching skill sets. If you do not have all the skills sets
at the time, be willing to set mini-goals to gain those skills and update your resume when
you do add additional skills, then reapply to the appropriate jobs available.
c) Online Job Database: Gradually build your profile on various IT and Cybersecurity jobs
such as: www.dice.com, www.monster.com, and www.cyberseek.org and also at the
organizational and company website. Once you setup an Online profile it will make it
easier to reapply in the future for other jobs that are related to your background.
d) Keywords: Make sure you list certain keywords on your resume that matches the jobs, if
you have those skills, so when a HR representative reviews resumes you have the
appropriate terms on your resume that match the job and the algorithms can identify your
skill set. Only do this if you have the actual knowledge and skill can explain yourself in
an interview. Do not do this if you do not have the actual knowledge and skill, since
being asked a question in an interview that you are unqualified to answer is not a good
look for your career and could be detrimental.
e) Continuous Learning: Be willing to engage in continuous learning, studying beyond
your degree accomplishments, since learning never stops and technology continues to
change. Maybe also pursue certifications.
f) Professional Online Business Portfolio and Brand: Continue to build a strong Online
IT, Networking and Cybersecurity Portfolio, through websites such as Linked in for
example, and also your own secure website that shows demonstrations of the creative
work that you have done in the past for clients and other jobs.
g) IT , Networking and Cybersecurity Events, Seminars and Conferences: Be willing to
always continue to attend events, seminars and conferences (in person and virtual) and
actually meet industry professionals. Do a search these events Online at all times.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Information Technology Support Technician job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Matthew Shirrell Ph.D.: The market for educational leaders will remain strong, overall, but the skills that are valued by the job market may shift to some extent. I think that, given the pandemic and other events of the past year, there will be several areas in which job seekers in the field of educational leadership will be in particular demand. First, the past year has seen deep disruptions to schooling, and educational leaders have had to adapt and improvise to meet changing demands. One area in which this has taken place has been in educational leaders' work to ensure equitable and efficient access to online learning for all students and families. I believe that educational leaders with strong backgrounds, training, and understanding of educational technology will be particularly valued in the job market in coming years. Given the events of the past year, there will also continue to be a particular focus on diversity in the field. This will involve recruiting and retaining more diverse leaders, but also an increased attention to leaders' training around issues of diversity. I believe that job seekers who have strong training that has prepared them to work with and support an increasingly diverse student population will have an advantage in the job market. Finally, the trauma that the pandemic has inflicted on many children and families will make the job of educational leaders particularly important in the coming years. I believe that prospective leaders who understand socio-emotional development, and how schools can support the socio-emotional health of students and families, will also be well-positioned in the job market in the years to come.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Patricia Coughlan: Communication majors are posed for success in the current job market. The nature of the discipline focuses on understanding and executing effective messaging to diverse audiences, in varied contexts, and communication modes (traditional such as writing and new tech platforms such as social media). The ability to understand verbal, non-verbal and written communication positions a Communication major as ready to impact the needs of employers and their clientele in a variety of fields. Because of the broad nature of a Communication Studies degree, graduates have greater flexibility for their career paths and ultimately their earning potential. Typically, Communication majors have the ability to complete courses in strategic, interpersonal, organizational, political, business, health, leadership, small group, family, and intercultural communication. Having a large swath of these courses broadens a student's portfolio.
Moreover, Communication majors are trained to consider ethical issues, rhetorical arguments, diversity, the power of persuasion, social influence, and to conduct research. In today's climate their strengths in mass media and digital communities are in demand. Communication graduates are easily employed as assistants and leaders in Public Relations, Human Resources, Advertising, Politics, Marketing, Event Planning, Social Media, Healthcare, Jurisprudence, plus more. It is impossible to think of a field that does not have the need for effective communication. My advice to my students on how to increase their earning potential begins early when they are freshman - recognize that every company and person has a need to effectively tell their story and your major suits you to help them do just that!
What technical skills for a Senior Information Technology Support Technician stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Senior Information Technology Support Technicians need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Information Technology Support Technician job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Many employees have trouble pivoting to online work so in the short term, tech support and instructional design jobs are in high demand. Data privacy and security are also hot topics and need ed tech expertise. Tech maintenance, including cloud services and networks, continue to be needed, rather like car maintenance. Thinking forward, software development is another area of need, particularly with more online-based education. If grads have data analytics expertise, they can find jobs on data management and learning analytics.
Disabilities continue to be an issue, particularly in terms of equity, so jobs dealing with assistive technology and other ed tech supports are possible. Finally, grads should broaden their concept of educational settings; informal education is more important than ever: in business/HR, libraries and museums, recreational and youth-serving clubs, mass media, government and non-profit agencies. All of these entities are involved in training, outreach, PR, and public awareness/education. Be creative and persistent.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Information Technology Support Technician?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Get to know the site before interviewing, and remember that even interviews are an opportunity to practice communication skills-and to see if there's a good match between you and the site. Once hired, learn about the organizational culture and develop trustful relationships. Make one memorable contribution the first month, but focus on becoming an expert before changing others. In addition, join a local and national professional association to keep current and network.
What Senior Information Technology Support Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Internships are probably the best option, even if unpaid. Some institutions provide career placement services, and grads could contact their instructors about possible options. Companies, professional associations, and non-profits also advertise internships.
What experience really stands out on Senior Information Technology Support Technician resumes?
Lisa Sietstra: The job seeker's experiences will stand out when they've described previous accomplishments and shown a potential employer the value they have added in the past. Students/recent graduates (or really any job seeker at all) need to include quantifiable data in their statements; clearly painting a picture of achieved results. Connect the dots for the recruiter or hiring manager and really show that you have the potential to join the team and immediately contribute in positive ways.
Add details about academic projects if you do not yet have work experience in your field. Include a section of highlights from your coursework that applies to what the company is asking for in the job description.
What skills stand out on Senior Information Technology Support Technician resumes?
Bipin Prabhakar: Skills by themselves on resumes do not provide enough information for the reviewer to assess a candidate. The resume has to showcase the actual capabilities rather than just listing skills. What can you actually do with the listed skill? With that said, deep skills in software development, data science and AI or the broad set of skills required to enable digital transformation will be in demand. Digital transformation requires skills in business analysis, business process and process design, technologies such as next generation ERP systems, AI and ML, cloud architectures and platforms and business analytics.
Curtis Welborn
ProfessorUtah Valley University
Computer Science Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Curtis Welborn: Not that I can see. The high tech sector and jobs for CS students remains very strong, and as the economy recovers, these areas will continue to grow as they have over the past 40 years.
What type of skills will young Senior Information Technology Support Technicians need?
Curtis Welborn: First, they need a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science. People think they have to learn language X or environment Y or this thing or that thing because it is hot. Well, the thing to know about Computer Science jobs is there is always some new thing, always some new language better than the last, always something that is hot. Learning the hottest new thing might get you a job today, but it will not keep you a job tomorrow.
Having strong fundamental skills in Computer Science will equip you to learn ANY new thing. A good fundamental education in CS includes knowledge of programming languages, data structures, database, computer architecture, internet programming and networking, incremental design and development, and some advanced topic, which can vary based on a person's interest. Beyond this, everyone should have a basic understanding of math and the ability to write clearly because you always have to write something.
What experience really stands out on Senior Information Technology Support Technician resumes?
Curtis Welborn: That can really depend upon the company. Some companies want people with a strong background in machine learning right now. But I've met people who shy away from hiring people with too much machine learning on their resume even when the company wants someone to do machine learning because too many of these people only want to, or only can, do machine learning. They don't have a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science (see No. 2). Our students who complete the Compiler course get jobs, not because companies are building a compiler but because companies know that someone who can build a compiler can most likely do anything they would want done. So people should not focus on finding that thing that makes their resume look good today. Just be great at everything you do. Take hard classes, and excel at them. Learn EVERYTHING you can, and companies will want you.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Information Technology Support Technician job market given the pandemic?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: Probably an acceleration of existing trends - remote working, skill-set based job openings (rather than degree-specific), along with an ongoing need for necessary skills such as writing, problem-solving, collaboration, and project management.
What Senior Information Technology Support Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: If possible, find a paid internship in your area of interest, which will help expand your professional network and build your skillset. Use this time to keep scanning job ads to identify skill sets in demand; look for online mini-courses to make those skill sets.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Information Technology Support Technician?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: Choose an organization in tune with one's values. Look for a job in growth areas, such as data asset management, data analysis, etc.
What type of skills will young Senior Information Technology Support Technicians need?
Peter Dordal Ph.D.: I'm leaving off software developers, and answering about our Information Technology graduates.
IT students entering the business world will need to know how to get the maximum leverage out of business systems. In many cases, this will mean writing their own specialized queries to extract the precise business intelligence needed; general-purpose "canned" queries just won't cut it. They will need a broad understanding of what software can accomplish for the enterprise and how to deploy new software effectively; this applies to software used in the office as well as to software used in manufacturing and shipping. And they will need to understand how to lease storage and computing resources from the cloud to meet not only predictable, long-term demands but also sudden short-term business projects.
Students working in database administration and management will need to be able to manage much larger volumes of data than a few years ago. They will need to be familiar with the great variety of new databases in order to pick the best tool for the job.
Students working in network management will need to be able to ensure that everyone has the bandwidth and server access they need, as those demands expand to include extensive video, low-latency real-time connectivity, and the regular transfer of huge amounts of data.
Students in cybersecurity will need to be fully acquainted with all the recommended best practices. However, they will also have to be able to anticipate and guard against potential new vulnerabilities. "By the book" protection is no longer sufficient.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Information Technology Support Technician job market given the pandemic?
Stephen Hyzny: Security, as more people need online services, the protection behind that technology will be needed.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: IoT having small devices connected to networks that control everything in our lives will become more integrated into our lives.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: As everything involves technology, more educated people will need it in the future. As our cars, houses, and lives connect, people will be required to make it all work.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.: -The enormous growth of IoT and wearables. The number of connected devices is expected to be more than 26 billion in 2020. That includes things like household appliances, controllable lighting, and much more. This trend is likely to continue as it is expected to see the industry grow to 661 billion dollars by 2021.
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
What type of skills will young Senior Information Technology Support Technicians need?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce. For science and engineering applications, it is often also helpful to have R, Python, Matlab, or another popular programming language. But technical abilities get the graduate-only so far. They need interpersonal communication skills so that they can understand the needs of stakeholders and cooperate with colleagues. For this reason, many faculty at my school emphasize writing, speaking, listening, and teamwork skills.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians to find work opportunities?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Math is arguably the highest of high-tech, in the sense that it leads to other high-tech fields. For example, differential geometry and complex analysis were developed in the early 1800s; they became central to the language of physics in the early 1900s; those physics led to consumer products such as GPS and electronics in the present day. So it's unsurprising that companies in technology centers with research and development divisions often employ mathematicians. But I also have friends in the financial industry, the video game industry, the federal government, etc.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Electronic communication has enabled new collaborative projects in academic math, sometimes involving tens of mathematicians, spontaneously organizing around new problems. In industrial math, computers' ever-increasing power is getting more and more math turned into practical technology. Many of today's biggest buzzwords --- machine learning, self-driving cars, etc. --- are based on sophisticated math and statistics. I expect that math will only grow in importance as these technologies become more prevalent in society.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Ming Chow: On the one hand, there are many opportunities in tech currently. On the other hand, new college hires will be competing with crowds of people with real experience who were laid off during COVID. Five years is too far ahead to predict.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Information Technology Support Technician job market given the pandemic?
Ming Chow: -Need to hit the ground running as many employees and companies don't have the time, energy, and training infrastructure.
-The soft skills, including communications, how to deal with change and the basics are becoming more critical-things like using a calendar, following-up, etc.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Ming Chow: Infrastructure, including cloud and networking, Security, Machine Learning, and Data Science.
References:
1. cybersecurity
2. cybersecurity
What experience really stands out on Senior Information Technology Support Technician resumes?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: Projects. For resumes, it needs to be beyond a standard course final project. This can include a capstone team effort, a consistent theme among course projects, or engaging with faculty as a part of multi-year research pursuits. Also, we encourage our students to engage in the local community and seek internships to validate further their ability to work as part of a team.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: AI is impacting everything we do, and the Biomedical Engineering program is integrating both human-based decision making and moral, well-validated, artificial intelligence into research and development. We also engage students in the MS in AI program and Data Engineering, both of which have Biomedical Engineering concentrations as part of the course sequence.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Mark Albert Ph.D.: They are now better at working remotely than ever before! It sure did accelerate the transition. Interestingly, our students are now more engaged beyond our academic borders than before, given remote collaboration capabilities.
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSlippery Rock University
Department of Information Systems
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: It is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and transformed the lives of many people, including students all over the world. A major effect is requiring students to stay and learn from home because of the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure. Missing saying the traditional goodbye to friends, fraternities, and sororities, and having to watch commencement ceremonies in bedrooms online will leave an indelible mark in graduates.
This means a great U-shift in memories of college life, including physical interaction and learning environment, and systems adopting a new way of doing things. Graduates will enter the job market with uncertainties of availability of traditional jobs and how to work in a new normal. Many graduates will find themselves having to search for jobs virtually and having to start working remotely from the beginning in most cases and in most industries. What would have been a new beginning, along with the excitement of stepping through the doors of the new office and career, will not be there physically. This will have an impact on these graduates because of the transformation of society as a result of the pandemic.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians to find work opportunities?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: Sometimes new graduates from college can find it hard to get the perfect or preferred job location. This may be different for those with information sciences or information systems and related degrees. Luckily there are big companies, multinational companies as well as some-sized enterprises who need skills in that discipline. Most of these can be found in some of the big cities beyond Silicon Valley such as NY, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Charlotte, Houston, Boston, Dallas, and Minneapolis, just to name a few.
Some of these locations are where some of the big tech companies reside, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, HP, SAP, etc. The advantage of this degree is that graduates not only can work for tech companies but any company because of the need to manage data, information, process, and technology. Companies all over have or are putting together strategies to harness the potential of big data, and graduates with information sciences, information systems, and related degrees are sought after continuously.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: The trend we have witnessed in the past two decades in terms of development in technology is unprecedented. This has a ripple effect on the field of information sciences and systems. Most traditional jobs have changed or rebranded. For example, consider how information and data processing and management (IDPM) has revolutionized into what is today information management or management information systems; business intelligence is almost transformed into business analytics, data science; high-performance computing, and grid computing is today predominantly engulfed by cloud computing services.
These are changing how data and information are managed. The decision-making process is changing in various information and knowledge-intensive and process-oriented industries such as healthcare, banking, transportation, engineering, education, security, just to name a few, despite the fact that roles and services still remain. New and emerging disciplines and services are added, driven by the advancement and greater capabilities of technology. Without a doubt, in the next few years, data and information services will be revolutionized by technology hugely. Consider the development in artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, 5G, and broadband networks, all of which have huge potential to impact the discipline. This means that information sciences and information systems courses must adapt to take into consideration the emerging skills required by the professionals and businesses of the future. The education and training of professionals in this domain have to be continuously changing to prepare graduates adequately.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: I didn't see any negative impact of coronavirus on our graduates. Our graduates did not have any problem finding internships and jobs during the pandemic. After the pandemic, there will be even more demand and opportunities for our graduates.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: Not really. With the increasing shift of working remotely, the jobs now are not tied to a specific location in the US or anywhere in the world.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: In our field, it might be more appropriate the other way around. I would like to rephrase the question as to how does the computer science field impact technology in the next five years? The answer is tremendous. With fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, visual, and augmented reality making great strides, there is no doubt that we will witness a revolution in technology in the next five years.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Information Technology Support Technicians?
Edward Moskal: While it's unclear how the pandemic will play-out, it will, without a doubt, change the landscape on how companies conduct business and the type of college graduates they will be looking to hire. Graduating into a bad economy can affect everything from obtaining that first full-time position to short- and long-term earnings. Recent college graduates and entry-level workers are being hit especially hard, as I see companies rescinding offers for jobs and internships as they navigate their recovery during the recession. As companies have shifted to remote work and phased returns, with furloughs and job eliminations, look for those graduates that can differentiate themselves from others to make the cut.
So internships, apprenticeships, certifications from professional organizations, acquiring skills, and on-the-job-training (above and beyond the related technical instruction acquired while in college), will be of paramount importance to have in your portfolio. However, it's not all doom and gloom for graduates who are having some challenges landing that first job. Graduate schools could be a prime pivot. While graduate school could result in additional student loans, it could also provide a career pathway by acquiring additional skills and a lever to start building a network of professionals that could provide the conduit to the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Information Technology Support Technicians to find work opportunities?
Edward Moskal: Top places for graduates to find work opportunities would be in areas surrounding these cities: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, and Boston. So look at a 50-mile radius surrounding these cities, and those areas would be prime. These cities and their surrounding geographic areas will provide job connections to major financial services, manufacturing, tech, and logistics companies. According to cyberseek.org, just for cybersecurity job openings, New York has 15,000 openings, California has 68,000, Illinois has 18,000, Washington has 10,000, Texas has 47,000, and Massachusetts has 15,000.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Information Technology Support Technicians in the next 5 years?
Edward Moskal: Technology will have a significant impact over the next five years. While technology associated with the software, databases, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity will still have an impact, we are likely to see significant changes and advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, combinations of augmented and mixed reality, and quantum computing. Industry and business will be driving these advancements, in particular, the healthcare industry and large tech companies like Google and Facebook that have already started establishing a strong presence in these fields.