Many people know they want to work in technology long before they know exactly what they want their daily responsibilities to be. The person who loves untangling security threats and the person who would rather build models from a mountain of data both work under the umbrella of information technology (IT), but their careers share almost nothing on a daily basis. The first real decision when pursuing a career in IT is which side of tech appeals to you.
Comparing the options is how you find your answer, since they differ in almost every way that counts. A few of these roles pay well above the rest, while others are growing fast or hiring in large numbers. Some call for a bachelor’s and the right experience, and some require a master’s. Once you see how a role measures up, you can pick a direction and earn the degree that gets you there.
Key Takeaways
- IT encompasses five disciplines: software and web development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence and research.
- Computer and IT occupations are projected to grow faster than average through 2035, with about 280,000 openings each year.
- Pay ranges widely by role, from about $62,890 for support specialists to $175,140 for IT managers, with New York metro figures higher still.
- Data and AI lead the growth, with data scientists at 35 percent and security analysts at 22 percent, and a graduate degree from Pace’s Seidenberg School separates candidates for senior roles.
What Are IT Jobs?
IT, short for information technology, is the work behind the computers, software, and networks that modern organizations have become accustomed to operating with. Some IT professionals write the applications everyone uses, some keep company data organized and secure, some maintain the networks that connect it all, and some turn raw information into decisions a business can act on. A hospital protecting patient records, a bank processing millions of transactions, and a streaming service predicting what you want to watch next all depend on the same underlying set of skills.
The field of information technology can be broken down into five broad disciplines:
- Software and web development produces the applications people use and the interfaces they interact with.
- Data and analytics deals with how information gets stored, managed, and interpreted.
- Cybersecurity concentrates on defending systems from attack.
- Infrastructure keeps the networks and servers behind everything online.
- Artificial intelligence and research develops the models and methods that push the whole field forward.
Every IT career fits one of these five disciplines. Once you know which discipline appeals to you, the next step is exploring the specific jobs it includes.
Career Outlook For IT Professionals
Demand for IT work is strong, and across the field it keeps climbing. Employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2035. The field is projected to add roughly 280,000 openings a year, a figure that counts both new positions and the ones that reopen as people retire or move on. By comparison, all occupations combined are projected to grow 3.5 percent over the same period, a fraction of the IT rate.
Those gains are not spread evenly, as some roles are expanding at several times the national rate while a few are contracting as automation absorbs routine work.
The roles built around data and AI are pulling ahead of the rest, led by data scientists and followed by research scientists and information security analysts. Employers are investing heavily in all three, which is why a graduate degree in one of these disciplines lines up with where the field is expanding most.
The jobs in decline tell a quieter story that traces back to the same automation behind the gains elsewhere. Programming, systems administration, and user support all lean on tasks that automation and AI now handle in part, which trims how many people companies need. The drop is modest, and with thousands of openings posted each year from retirements and turnover, these jobs aren’t disappearing.
12 Top IT Roles
To show what these disciplines look like in practice, here is a sampling of 12 jobs drawn from across all five branches of IT. They differ widely in daily work, pay, and the education they ask for, which is exactly what makes one of them likely to fit you better than the others.
Software developers, QA analysts, and testers
Software developers are the architects behind the software economy, and demand for them extends into nearly every industry. Some work at tech companies and startups; a greater share work inside banks, hospitals, retailers, and government agencies that depend on custom software. QA analysts and testers work alongside them as the last line of defense before a product ships to the people who rely on it.
What they do:
- Design applications that let people complete specific tasks, along with the underlying systems that operate devices and networks
- Build models and diagrams that show programmers the code an application needs
- Keep programs working over time through ongoing maintenance and updates
- Execute tests that surface defects, then document and track those issues until they are resolved
A bachelor’s degree is typically enough to get started as a software developer. This is also one of the better-paid corners of IT, with national pay well above the average for the field and higher figures still across the New York metro area. A master’s degree can be a difference-maker for senior and lead roles, where you own the architecture of an entire system.
To make that jump, consider Pace’s MS in Software Development and Engineering. As the only IEEE Registered Education Provider in the eastern United States, it teaches you to build, deliver, and maintain large-scale systems, and graduates are eligible for the IEEE Computer Society’s Certified Software Development Associate credential. Developers who want a deeper grounding in algorithms and computing theory can consider the MS in Computer Science instead.
Web developers and digital designers
Web developers and digital designers share responsibility for a site, but from opposite ends. Developers depend on engineering skills, ensuring that a site stays fast and stable under heavy traffic. Designers take a human behavior approach, with attention to layout, navigation, and the feel of the experience. They often find employment at design agencies and media companies, on the in-house teams of retailers and nonprofits, and in freelance work for clients who need a presence online.
What they do:
- Build and maintain websites, along with the performance and capacity that hold up when traffic spikes
- Develop and test the layout, functions, and navigation that determine how usable a site is
- Own the look and the functionality of a website or interface
- Produce or coordinate the content that fills the pages
The path in is flexible, since some designers earn roles on the strength of a portfolio alone. A bachelor’s degree can help, and a graduate degree can set you apart for senior and project-lead positions. Nationally, pay comes in slightly below the IT average, but it climbs across the New York metro area, where design talent maintains steady demand.
The creative half of this work is exactly what Pace’s master’s in Human Centered Design is built around. The program teaches user interface programming, hands-on prototyping, and the cognitive science behind how people actually use technology, all of which form the foundation of strong UX work.
Computer programmers
Computer programmers are often confused with software developers, and the line between them is often blurred. Developers decide what a program should do; programmers are the ones who make a computer actually do it. They work across the same industries and often the same teams, from financial firms and tech companies to the IT departments of large organizations.
What they do:
- Write, modify, and test the code and scripts that let applications function correctly
- Turn the designs handed off by developers and engineers into instructions a computer can follow
- Test new applications and confirm they produce the expected results
- Trace defects back through the code and fix the mistakes behind them
This is the one corner of software work that BLS expects to contract over the next decade, as routine coding shifts toward automation and toward developers with broader roles. The decline is modest, and several thousand jobs still reopen each year as people retire or move up. A bachelor’s degree remains the usual way in, and many programmers treat the role as a springboard to development, systems analysis, or management with a graduate degree.
Pace’s MS in Computer Science is the natural next step for anyone who wants that mobility. Its deep grounding in algorithms and modern development gives you the depth to move beyond writing to someone else’s spec toward designing systems of your own.
Data scientists
Data scientists make sense of information that would otherwise go unused. The job rewards a rare mix of the technical skill to model messy data and the judgment to ask the right questions of it while also being able to explain the answers to people who will never see the code. Nearly every industry hires them now, from hospitals and banks to retailers, sports teams, and government agencies with vast stores of data they have yet to understand.
What they do:
- Gather or identify the right data sources, then clean and structure raw data so software can read it
- Build statistical models and algorithms to find patterns and forecast outcomes
- Write code and use visualization tools to test ideas and present findings
- Translate results into clear recommendations for technical and nontechnical audiences
Few IT careers are growing faster than this one. A bachelor’s degree can get you in the door, but many roles favor candidates with a master’s. Pay is strong nationally and stronger still across the New York metro area, where finance and media companies compete for analytical talent.
Two Pace programs fit this work, and the right one depends on your preferences. The MS in Data Science trains you in the tools the job demands, from Python and R to TensorFlow and Spark. For work more geared toward developing and applying AI systems, the master’s in Applied Artificial Intelligence helps you turn machine learning theory into practical solutions.
Database administrators and architects
Every organization that keeps records depends on someone to hold that information together, and that is the work of database administrators and architects. Architects design new databases and decide how they will be structured; administrators keep those databases stable, secure, and available to the people who need them. The role concentrates where the records pile up, in insurance companies, hospitals, banks, and firms that provide computer design services.
What they do:
- Design and construct new databases after studying what an organization actually needs
- Store and organize data such as financial records and customer information, then keep it secure from unauthorized access
- Backup and restore data to protect against loss
- Test and adjust database structures so systems perform without errors
A bachelor’s degree in a computer field is the standard entry point, and pay for architects in particular ranks toward the higher end of the IT range. Demand is growing at a steady pace, with the volume of data organizations collect keeping the work in constant supply.
Database management is a direct specialization within Pace’s MS in Information Systems, which makes it a strong fit for this path. Those drawn to the architecture and analytics side may also find a fit with the MS in Data Science.
Information security analysts
Information security analysts are an organization’s defenders, and it is a job that never stays stagnant, because the methods attackers use change from one month to the next. The role requires equal parts vigilance and detective work. As cyberattacks climb in both frequency and cost, demand for these skills has outrun the supply of people who have them, and employers in finance, healthcare, defense, and government compete hard for talent.
What they do:
- Monitor networks for security breaches and investigate incidents when they occur
- Install and maintain protective software such as firewalls and data encryption programs
- Test systems for weaknesses before attackers can find them
- Research emerging threats and recommend security improvements to leadership
A bachelor’s degree gets you into the field, and the pay reflects the stakes involved in the role. Security analysts earn well above the IT median nationally and command higher figures still across the New York metro area, and employment is projected to grow much faster than the average across all fields.
The NSA and DHS have designated Pace’s MS in Cybersecurity part of a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The program offers concentrations in cyber operations and cybersecurity leadership, the second for people who want to lead a security team of their own.
Computer and information systems managers
Computer and information systems managers, often called IT managers or CTOs, are where technology decisions meet business strategy. They set the direction for an organization’s systems, lead the teams that build and operate them, and answer to senior leadership for what technology should cost and deliver. The role exists in nearly every large employer, from corporations and hospitals to universities and government agencies, wherever those decisions have real weight.
What they do:
- Plan and direct the work of IT staff, from developers and analysts to security and support teams
- Assess an organization’s technology needs and recommend hardware and software upgrades
- Negotiate with vendors and monitor their performance
- Align technology strategy with the goals of the wider business
This is a leadership position, so it usually calls for a bachelor’s degree plus years of experience, and some employers prefer a graduate degree. Pay tops every other role in this field, both nationally and across the New York metro area, in step with the responsibility it demands.
For those on this track, Pace’s MS in Information Systems develops the mix of technical depth and management perspective the job requires, with the option to specialize in areas such as business intelligence or security.
Computer network architects
Computer network architects plan how an organization connects, from a single office to a sprawling cloud system. It’s a role for people who can picture how thousands of connected devices will behave before a single cable goes in, which is why few start their careers there. Network architects often split their time between office planning and the server room, working across industries that depend on reliable connectivity to survive.
What they do:
- Design and implement data networks such as local and wide-area networks and intranets
- Model and analyze network performance, then plan for future capacity
- Work with vendors to manage upgrades and support existing systems
- Coordinate with systems managers to keep networking aligned with organizational needs
Architects rarely start out in the role, since it typically takes a bachelor’s degree plus several years of experience in a related job, often as a network administrator, along with vendor certifications earned over time. Pay ranks near the upper end of the field, with a strong national median and a wide range across the New York metro area.
Pace’s MS in Information Systems supports this direction, with room to develop depth in networking and infrastructure while adding the systems perspective that leads toward architecture and management roles.
Computer systems analysts
Computer systems analysts are the translators between business and technology. They understand what an organization is trying to accomplish and figure out how its systems can get it there, which means speaking fluently to managers and engineers alike. You will find them in consulting firms, financial companies, healthcare organizations, and government offices, anywhere technology has to serve a practical goal.
What they do:
- Consult with managers to define the role technology should play in the organization
- Research new technologies and judge whether they would improve efficiency
- Weigh the costs and benefits of proposed systems and upgrades
- Create diagrams and specifications that guide programmers and architects
A bachelor’s degree is the standard requirement, and some analysts come from business backgrounds as much as technical ones. Pay holds steady near the IT average nationally and climbs across the New York metro area, and the role tends to be a stable one even as the field shifts around it.
Pace’s MS in Information Systems is a natural match, since the program is built around exactly this blend of technical fluency and business judgment.
Network and computer systems administrators
Network and computer systems administrators are the reason an office stays connected, and their steady behind-the-scenes effort is the kind people notice only when something breaks. The value is in reliability, quiet and constant. Almost every organization with an internal network needs someone in it, which puts administrators in nearly every industry.
What they do:
- Install and configure network hardware and software, then handle upgrades and repairs
- Maintain network security and confirm that all systems operate correctly
- Manage servers along with desktop and mobile equipment
- Collect performance data and use it to keep systems fast and reliable
An administrator typically enters the field with a bachelor’s degree, though some employers accept an associate degree paired with experience. This is another role BLS expects to shrink modestly, as cloud services and automation absorb some routine tasks, yet thousands of positions still become available each year, and the work remains a common on-ramp to network architecture and management.
Pace’s MS in Information Systems helps administrators advance by deepening technical skills and adding the systems and management grounding that leads to senior infrastructure roles.
Computer support specialists
Computer support specialists receive the first call when technology fails, and are often the reason everyone else can get back to work. Some spend their days with users and talk people through fixes by phone, email, or in person; others focus on the networks an organization depends on. The role turns up everywhere technology does, from corporate help desks and hospitals to schools and call centers, which is part of why it is such a common way into the field.
What they do:
- Diagnose the cause of a user’s computer problem and guide them through the fix
- Set up, repair, and configure hardware and software
- Analyze, troubleshoot, and maintain computer networks
- Document recurring problems and flag major ones to managers and administrators
Of all the roles here, this one has the lowest barrier to entry. Some jobs ask only for relevant coursework, though many employers prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree, which makes it a common first step for people breaking into the field. BLS expects hiring to soften slightly as automated tools take over basic troubleshooting, but the volume of openings stays high, since support remains essential and many specialists use it as a stepping stone.
For those ready to grow from that start, Pace’s MS in Information Systems offers a path from frontline support toward administration, analysis, and management.
Computer and information research scientists
Computer and information research scientists work at the frontier of what computers can do. While the rest of IT applies technology that already exists, research scientists invent what comes next, often years before it turns up in a product. Much of the recent progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, and data mining traces back to this role, which lives mostly in research labs, universities, tech companies, and government.
What they do:
- Investigate unsolved problems in computing and develop theories and models to address them
- Collaborate with scientists and engineers to solve complex computing challenges
- Invent new computing languages, tools, and methods to improve how people work
- Design experiments and study the results to test new approaches
This is the one role here where a master’s degree is the typical way in, since the work depends on deep theoretical grounding from the outset. The payoff is a strong national median, one of the higher upper ranges across the New York metro area, and employment growth that outpaces the field as a whole.
The AI and research path connects to two Pace programs. The MS in Artificial Intelligence centers on the theory, algorithms, and models behind AI, while the master’s in Applied Artificial Intelligence suits those who would rather put that research to work on real systems.
| Discipline / Role | National Median | New York Metro Range |
|---|---|---|
| Software and web development | ||
| Software developers, QA analysts, and testers | $134,040 | $109,000–$181,000 |
| Web developers and digital designers | $99,520 | $85,000–$146,000 |
| Computer programmers | $100,390 | $87,000–$152,000 |
| Data and analytics | ||
| Data scientists | $120,230 | $132,000–$226,000 |
| Database administrators and architects | $126,760 | $89,000–$152,000 |
| Cybersecurity | ||
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | $116,000–$187,000 |
| Infrastructure | ||
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | $128,000–$201,000 |
| Computer network architects | $134,050 | $154,000–$252,000 |
| Computer systems analysts | $105,850 | $92,000–$153,000 |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $99,130 | $103,000–$161,000 |
| Computer support specialists | $62,890 | $61,000–$97,000 |
| Artificial intelligence and research | ||
| Computer and information research scientists | $140,300 | $168,000–$280,000 |
| National figures are median annual wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. New York metro ranges reflect self-reported total pay (the middle 50 percent of salaries) from Glassdoor for the New York metro area. | ||
How to Start Your Career in IT
Getting into IT comes down to showing an employer, in a few different ways, that you can do the work. Skills, a degree, and direct experience each help you answer a different question a hiring manager might ask. How you build them depends on where you are starting from. Here’s how to develop each one.
Learn relevant skills
Every IT role rests on a core set of technical skills, and the specific ones you need depend on where you are headed.
For example, software development depends on languages such as Python, Java, and C++. Data science draws on statistics, machine learning, and tools like R and TensorFlow. And security work centers on networks, cryptography, and the methods attackers use.
Online courses, bootcamps, and open-source projects are all reasonable ways to begin, and many people test the water this way before committing to a degree. At this stage, the goal is simply to confirm that the day-to-day work holds your interest.
Earn your degree
A bachelor’s degree is the baseline across the field, and for the roles that pay well and offer strong room to grow, a graduate degree is what sets candidates apart. A master’s does two things at once, providing depth in a specialization and signaling to employers that you can handle advanced, self-directed work.
This is where Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems fits in. Its graduate programs line up closely with the careers described above, so you can match a degree to the direction you have chosen:
- Artificial Intelligence, or its applied counterpart, for those drawn to intelligent systems
- Data Science, for students who want to work with data and analytics
- Cybersecurity, for future defenders and security leaders
- Software Development and Engineering, along with the broader Computer Science degree, for people who build the next generation of applications
- Information Systems, with six career tracks, for the connective roles across data, networks, and systems
- Human Centered Design, for those focused on how technology feels to use
Build experience
A degree gets your foot in the door, but employers hire on evidence that you can do the work. Internships are a direct way to gain experience, and many graduate programs, Seidenberg’s included, connect students with them.
A portfolio of hands-on projects also delivers genuine value and can include a working app, a data analysis, a contribution to an open-source repository, or a home lab where you have configured a network from scratch.
Certifications can add another layer of expertise, especially in cybersecurity and networking, where a credential such as CompTIA Security+ or Cisco’s CCNA is often expected.
What each of these has in common is proof. A project you built, an internship you finished, or a certification you earned all show an employer you can do the work, and that is what moves you toward an offer.
Finding Your Place in IT
The sheer range of careers in IT is what makes the field so welcoming, and it’s also what makes picking a starting point in your education so personal.A cybersecurity analyst, a data scientist, and a research scientist all work in technology, yet each has chosen a distinct path with its own skills, salary, and daily rhythm. Once you know which of those futures fits you, a graduate degree becomes a direct way to get there.
Here’s how the five IT disciplines line up with the roles they include and the Pace program that fits each one.
| IT discipline | Example roles | Pace program to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Software and web development | Software developer, web developer, programmer | Software Development and Engineering MS, Computer Science MS, Human Centered Design MS |
| Data and analytics | Data scientist, database administrator | Data Science MS, Information Systems MS |
| Cybersecurity | Information security analyst | Cybersecurity MS |
| Infrastructure | Systems manager, network architect, systems analyst, systems administrator, support specialist | Information Systems MS |
| Artificial intelligence and research | Research scientist | Artificial Intelligence MS, Applied Artificial Intelligence MS |
These programs come from Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, and each one is matched to a specific career, so the degree you earn maps directly to the work you want to do. If one of these roles sounds like your direction, the next step is a short conversation. Request information to see how a Seidenberg degree fits your goals and where it can take you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IT and computer science?
The difference between IT and computer science comes down to building versus applying. Computer science centers on theory, algorithms, and creating new software from the ground up, while IT keeps an organization’s existing technology set up, managed, and secure. The two overlap in areas such as data and cloud work, and many Seidenberg programs, from Computer Science to Information Systems, let you lean toward whichever side fits you.
Can you get an IT job without a degree?
Yes, you can get an entry-level IT job without a degree, particularly in support and help-desk roles, where certifications and demonstrated skill often outweigh formal education. Advancement is where a degree starts to count. Higher-paying and specialized positions in security, data, and management typically expect at least a bachelor’s, and a master’s is what separates candidates for senior roles.
Which IT career is best if you do not want to write code?
Several IT careers involve little or no coding. Information security analysts, systems administrators, network architects, and IT managers spend the bulk of their time on systems, strategy, and people, with software development left to others. Computer systems analysts and support specialists also center on problem-solving over programming. These paths still reward technical understanding, so a program like Information Systems prepares you well without a heavy coding focus.
Are IT jobs safe from automation and AI?
The majority of IT jobs are safe from automation, and many are growing in step with AI. Roles in security, data science, and AI research are expanding quickly, since people are needed to build and defend these systems. A few routine roles, such as some programming and user-support positions, are projected to shrink as automation absorbs repetitive tasks, though they continue to hire steadily through 2034.
Do IT careers allow you to work remotely?
Many IT careers offer strong remote flexibility, since much of the work happens on systems that staff can access from anywhere. Software development, data science, cybersecurity, and systems administration all support remote or hybrid arrangements at many employers. Roles tied to physical hardware, such as some network and support positions, may call for on-site presence, though even these now handle many routine tasks remotely.