Cited certification paths into tech

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Pick a destination role

• IT Support / Help Desk — Start here

  The lowest-friction entry into tech — and a launchpad into security, networking, and cloud. BLS median $61,860 · 2 cited steps.

• Cybersecurity Analyst

  The CompTIA security pathway: A+ → Network+ → Security+ → CySA+. BLS median $129,180 · 4 cited steps.

• AI Specialist

  BLS median $120,230 · 12 cited steps.

• Business Applications Consultant

  BLS median $105,850 · 13 cited steps.

• Cloud Engineer

  BLS median $116,580 · 43 cited steps.

• Computer and Information Research Scientists

  BLS median $140,300 · 3 cited steps.

• Data Analyst

  BLS median $120,230 · 14 cited steps.

• Data Engineer

  BLS median $135,980 · 8 cited steps.

• Incident Response Analyst

  BLS median $129,180 · 10 cited steps.

• IT Security Operations Specialist

  BLS median $129,180 · 4 cited steps.

• Junior Systems Administrator

  BLS median $99,130 · 7 cited steps.

• Network Administrator

  BLS median $99,130 · 29 cited steps.

• Network Automation Engineer

  BLS median $134,050 · 12 cited steps.

• Network Security Engineer

  BLS median $116,580 · 8 cited steps.

• Project Coordinator

  BLS median $102,320 · 4 cited steps.

• SOC Analyst

  BLS median $129,180 · 16 cited steps.

• Software Developer

  BLS median $135,980 · 9 cited steps.

• Threat Intelligence Analyst

  BLS median $129,180 · 5 cited steps.

Roles that enter through degrees or skills rather than a certification ladder (e.g. software developer) have no cert tracker here on purpose — we don’t invent a path that the evidence doesn’t support. For fuller skills-plus-credential role roadmaps, see learning roadmaps.