Question for you IT dudes

[Dusty Bake Activate]

How realistic are the prospects of getting a decent job in the field without a degree? I know there's codeacademy and udemy and those sort of sites that teach you how to code. But if you learn how to code, what's the likelihood of getting a job and what pay scale are you likely to start? I got a friend who's a computer programmer and he was like you can just learn how to code, pass the test for an employer and get in, but you're likely to start at $50,000 or so and with a startup, not a big company, then you can gain experience and skills and work your way up. Feedback is appreciated.

I know there's a big ass IT careers threads btw, but it's like 100 something pages long and I just don't have the time to search through it.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

I'm trying to remember some of y'alls screen names.

@bdizzle
@Data-Hawk
@zerozero
@semtex

shyt, I'm going blank.

 

[el_oh_el]

Very realistic. Get the A+ cert and an entry level job, and off you go

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

Very realistic. Get the A+ cert and an entry level job, and off you go

So you should educate yourself with online tools first then pass the A+ certification and you'll qualify for an entry level job?

How much is entry level salary? I'm wondering if it would be better for me to just get a compsci BS if I wanted to make a career switch because I already make more than entry level IT in the field that I am in now. I don't want to take a pay cut.

 

[patscorpio]

So you should educate yourself with online tools first then pass the A+ certification and you'll qualify for an entry level job?

How much is entry level salary? I'm wondering if it would be better for me to just get a compsci BS if I wanted to make a career switch because I already make more than entry level IT in the field that I am in now. I don't want to take a pay cut.

In IT damn near everyone starts at the bottom....you gotta pay dues and get experience...i mean I was doing internships earning around a G month or contracted gigs maybe 30K a year in what I call the struggle days

 

[semtex]

So you should educate yourself with online tools first then pass the A+ certification and you'll qualify for an entry level job?

How much is entry level salary? I'm wondering if it would be better for me to just get a compsci BS if I wanted to make a career switch because I already make more than entry level IT in the field that I am in now. I don't want to take a pay cut.

IT is a very general term so to get salary info you need to be more specific. I'm a junior software engineer so I only make 60k right now but I just graduated a year ago

 

[fkthisgaysite]

I was thinking of doing something similar.

I'm extremely comfortable with technology and taught myself how to navigate around a PC and all the basics of using one.

Your plan is way better than mine tho.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

IT is a very general term so to get salary info you need to be more specific. I'm a junior software engineer so I only make 60k right now but I just graduated a year ago

Hmm. I already make over 60k and I don't work in the field. I have to consider whether or not I'd be willing to go backwards in pay at first to get into the field. It may be best for me to just get another BS, in computer science.

 

[semtex]

Hmm. I already make over 60k and I don't work in the field. I have to consider whether or not I'd be willing to go backwards in pay at first to get into the field. It may be best for me to just get another BS, in computer science.

It's relative to where you live. The average salary in NC across all professions is $41,000. So here 60k is nice because of the low cost of living

 

[acri1]

I guess you should clarify whether you mean IT (ie. the systems and network administration side of things) or whether you mean programming/software development.

They're kind of apples and oranges.

 

[Robbie3000]

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to go into IT? My guess is you would have to take a pay cut. You would be competing with new college hires unless you worked for an industry where your experience could be advantageous. You have a biology background right? You may be able to get in a premium working for a bio-tech firm.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

I guess you should clarify whether you mean IT (ie. the systems and network administration side of things) or whether you mean programming/software development.

They're kind of apples and oranges.

I'm more thinking programming/software development. More money in that anyway right?

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to go into IT? My guess is you would have to take a pay cut. You would be competing with new college hires unless you worked for an industry where your experience could be advantageous. You have a biology background right? You may be able to get in a premium working for a bio-tech firm.

I'm an analytical chemist. I'm just getting kinda tired of that shyt and considering something new. I want to make more money. I do have a B.S. in biology. You can't do much with that though. I know IT cats making 70-100K and being able to work anywhere in the country they want. Ultimately that's where I want to be it.

 

[Robbie3000]

I'm an analytical chemist. I'm just getting kinda tired of that shyt and considering something new. I want to make more money. I do have a B.S. in biology. You can't do much with that though. I know IT cats making 70-100K and being able to work anywhere in the country they want. Ultimately that's where I want to be it.

If it's for better pay and more options and not necessarily a passion for IT, I would also consider getting an MBA from a good school. With your background, an MBA from a top school can give you a good 20-30k pay bump. An MBA from a good school is one of the best options that I know for people who want to make a career change without having to start over.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

OP talked SO much shyt on here to me and other posters over the years ...

But hey, I can't knock a man for trying to come to his senses and improve his lot