Which Industries & Professions Use IT?

Information technology (IT) is an in-demand and constantly evolving field, so pursuing training and professional development can lead to a very fulfilling career. An important aspect of receiving any career training is learning what kinds of fields and industries will be available to you once you possess the skills. Each industry will have different requirements and expectations for prospective employees, and you should consider these expectations when you start your training. This is true for students who have an idea of what kind of work they want to do and for students who aren’t yet sure what path they want to take after learning IT skills.

What is IT?

The field of information technology (commonly referred to as IT) involves working with the computer systems, hardware, software, and networks related to the processing and distribution of data. The umbrella of IT also encompasses things like networking hardware (servers and routers) and applications that allow communication over a variety of networks and the internet. 

The term “information technology” was first used in a 1958 publication of the Harvard Business Review, which divided IT into the following three categories: techniques for processing, the use of statistical and mathematical methods to make decisions, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs. Businesses devote entire departments to information technology, assembling teams to handle these tasks. 

Data processing plays a significant role in a variety of business practices, including product development and design, marketing and market research, sales and invoicing, customer development and retention, accounting and taxes, human resources and payroll, and regulatory compliance. IT has become an essential part of nearly every modern industry, so it is a wise choice to become an expert in information technology.

What Can You Do with IT Skills?

Learning IT can be useful in many ways, both professionally and personally. If you currently work in an adjacent or similar field, learning IT can help you develop new skills that can either advance your current career or help you launch a new one. On a personal level, you could use your IT savvy to troubleshoot your own computer and networking problems or create custom systems, networks, or computer programs. 

Common Industries That Use IT

IT is in demand, and it’s no wonder why. Existing in almost every industry, overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, about 377,500 openings are projected each year, and the median annual wage for IT professionals was $104,420 in May 2023, higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060. Below are a few of the top industries and professions you can work in as an IT professional. Use these to help envision your career path so you can choose the correct professional training for you. 

Cybersecurity

The U.S. cyber security industry was valued at USD 53.45 billion in 2022, with a projected growth from $59.06 billion in 2023 to $128.99 billion by 2030. Mainly driven by emerging online ecommerce platforms and the invention of core technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud security, the growing demand for solutions is anticipated to gain traction with cumulative international investments from Germany, France, India, Spain, South Korea, Italy, Canada, Qatar, to name a few.

If you want to work in cybersecurity, you could become an Information Security Analyst. Professionals in this role plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Employment for this role is projected to grow 32 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, and employers often prefer candidates to possess a certification to prove their competency. Most Information Security Analysts work for computer companies, consulting firms, or business and financial companies and boast a median wage of 120,360 (as of May 2023).

Software

The software industry is booming, boasting a projected revenue of $389.80 billion in 2024. That revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 4.14% by 2029, indicating the industry anticipates no slowing down in the near future. With major players like Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Salesforce, Intuit, and Apple all based in the United States, there are ample job opportunities and great potential for long-term career growth.

IT professionals could find themselves in several different roles. Software Developers design computer applications or programs, while Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects. IT professionals often work in software development as troubleshooters or as the first touchpoint for the employees at that software company. On occasion, (and with the right training and experience) you could work as a Software Developer or Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester. The median annual wage for Software Developers was $132,270 while Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers trailed slightly behind at $101,800 (in May 2023). Overall employment for these roles is expected to grow 25 percent from 2022 to 2032 with about 153,900 openings projected each year over the decade.

Education 

The education industry is vast, encompassing private and public schooling from elementary to secondary education at colleges, universities, and training centers. Public, private, and secondary schools, like colleges and universities, generate 94.0% of the sector's revenue which will climb to an estimated $1.9 trillion through the end of 2024.

Schools and universities have entire teams of IT professionals to create and maintain secure networks; develop, launch, and troubleshoot online classrooms and portals; and offer computer and network assistance to their departments, staff, students, and employees. You could work as a Computer Support Specialist and earn around $60,810. Or with a few years experience, you could be employed as a Network and Computer Systems Administrator and earn $95,000 or more. 

Business and Finance

Financial markets in the United States are the largest and most liquid in the world, so it comes as no surprise that business and finance are top-ranking industries nationwide. Overall employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032 with about 911,400 openings projected each year.

While cybersecurity roles are plenty within the business and finance industries, you could also become a Computer Network Architect or a Computer and Information Research Scientist and help to create and maintain the networks and systems that financial institutions and businesses rely on. Both of these roles are lucrative, with Computer Network Architects making around $129,840 per year and Computer and Information Research Scientists making even more at $145,000.

Learn IT Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares you for entry-level data science and Python engineering roles. You’ll learn how to manipulate databases and perform data analysis, read and write complex database queries, prepare and clean data for analysis, and use Python to automate everyday tasks such as aggregating, updating, and formatting data. This course also covers how to clean and balance your data with Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms with the scikit-learn library to solve real-world problems, and analyze the results to detect areas for improvement. Finally, you’ll build and present dynamic dashboards and other data visualizations and deploy your projects online with GitHub to demonstrate your analytical abilities to employers.

Their Software Engineering Certificate is another option for aspiring IT students. Divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development, you will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Or, you could try your hand at Noble’s Python Developer Bootcamp. This three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.