Career change to tech and IT
30 tech careers employ 4,654,790 people in the U.S. (BLS, May 2025). 5 of them usually take two years or less to prepare for. Below: the ways in, every tech career with pay and jobs, and the jobs whose skills carry over best.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS CPS 2025 and O*NET 31.0 · How we match careers
- Tech careers
- 30
- U.S. jobs
- 4,654,790
- Two years of prep or less
- 5
Ways into tech with two years of preparation or less
5 careers that usually need training, a certificate or an associate degree, highest pay first. Supervisor and manager jobs are left out because they are usually filled by promotion.
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation | U.S. jobs | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 314,340 | 45% |
| 2 | Web Developers | $92,650 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 70,190 | 26% |
| 3 | Computer User Support Specialists | $61,860 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 717,190 | 44% |
| 4 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $116,580Broader BLS group | 1–2 years (training or associate) | — | 45% |
| 5 | Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | $134,050Broader BLS group | 1–2 years (training or associate) | — | 49% |
Coming from another job? The best starting points
Jobs outside tech whose skills carry over best into a tech career, by our career-change match score.
All 30 tech careers
Most jobs first. Included: Computer occupations (SOC 15-1200) and data scientists (SOC 15-2051).
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation | U.S. jobs | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developers | $135,980 | A bachelor's degree | 1,687,890 | 29% |
| 2 | Computer User Support Specialists | $61,860 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 717,190 | 44% |
| 3 | Computer Systems Analysts | $105,850 | A bachelor's degree | 519,530 | 37% |
| 4 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 314,340 | 45% |
| 5 | Data Scientists | $120,230 | A bachelor's degree | 262,440 | 28% |
| 6 | Information Security Analysts | $129,180 | A bachelor's degree | 190,650 | 40% |
| 7 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | A bachelor's degree | 186,740 | 35% |
| 8 | Computer Network Architects | $134,050 | A bachelor's degree | 179,740 | 49% |
| 9 | Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | A bachelor's degree | 146,190 | 44% |
| 10 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | $104,000 | A bachelor's degree | 113,330 | 26% |
| 11 | Computer Programmers | $100,390 | A bachelor's degree | 92,230 | 44% |
| 12 | Web Developers | $92,650 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 70,190 | 26% |
| 13 | Database Administrators | $104,620 | A bachelor's degree | 69,990 | 48% |
| 14 | Database Architects | $139,500 | A bachelor's degree | 67,140 | 48% |
| 15 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | $140,300 | A graduate degree | 37,200 | — |
| 16 | Blockchain Engineers | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 17 | Business Intelligence Analysts | $120,230Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 28% |
| 18 | Clinical Data Managers | $120,230Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 28% |
| 19 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $116,580Broader BLS group | 1–2 years (training or associate) | — | 45% |
| 20 | Data Warehousing Specialists | $139,500Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 48% |
| 21 | Digital Forensics Analysts | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 22 | Document Management Specialists | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 23 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 24 | Health Informatics Specialists | $105,850Broader BLS group | A graduate degree | — | 37% |
| 25 | Information Security Engineers | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
Show the other 5 careers
| # | Career | Median pay | Usual preparation | U.S. jobs | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Information Technology Project Managers | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 27 | Penetration Testers | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
| 28 | Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | $134,050Broader BLS group | 1–2 years (training or associate) | — | 49% |
| 29 | Video Game Designers | $104,000Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 26% |
| 30 | Web Administrators | $116,580Broader BLS group | A bachelor's degree | — | 45% |
Workers 45+: BLS CPS 2025 (Table 11b). “Broader BLS group”: pay is published only for a wider group of jobs; its jobs are not counted. Methodology
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Questions about moving into tech
Can I switch to tech without a degree?
Often, yes. 5 tech careers usually need two years or less of preparation. The best-paid are Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($99,130), Web Developers ($92,650), Computer User Support Specialists ($61,860).
Which jobs make it easiest to move into tech?
By our skill match, people coming from Project Management Specialists, Business Continuity Planners, Management Analysts have the closest tech matches. Use the Career Change Tool to check your own job.
How many tech jobs are there?
About 4,654,790 across the 30 careers on this page with their own BLS estimate (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Which careers count as this field?
Computer occupations (SOC 15-1200) and data scientists (SOC 15-2051). Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay and jobs, O*NET 31.0 preparation, BLS CPS 2025 worker ages.