A year of tech contracts plus 2YOE as Systems Analyst/Admin at an ISP in downtown Chicago and I'm still making a pathetic $45k, despite having a promotion 'just around the corner' dangled in front of me all this year. I have a physics degree, 3 CompTIA certs and studying for more. Want to transition into InfoSec, specifically digital forensics, but also open to cloud and other tech roles. I don't even need some of the astronomical salaries I've seen on here, I'm easy to please. Something like $80K with good WLB in a field that interests me and I'd be more than happy. Be real with me, folks. Is this feasible, or still a ways off for me?
What are your current skill sets? CompTIA certs mean next to nothing unless you're entry level, I'd stop wasting time with that.
Second this. The value of certs in IT is overblown
I feel the need to earn certs to 'prove myself' as something of an outsider to IT. I'm an IT generalist at my current place, Jack of all trades, master of none
Clean up you resume, and start applying to roles you're interested in. You've got nothing to lose. Highlight your certs and anything infosec related you can from your current roles.
I’m in the Midwest (LCOL), and a new grad software engineer (as of 2018) started at $80K. Probably up to $90k+ now for hires without professional work experience. Same pay for QA/testers that know Python and enjoy automation-related work.
What has been your TC growth ?
Run as fast as you can. They're taking advantage of you
Manual QA is a great way to get into engineering. I went from manual QA to test engineer and now I'm an Engineer II with no degree in comp sci
Apply to Amazon, hiring a lot of system and cloud engineers. Get cloud practitioner certification done
They said they want good wlb 🤷♂️
I know someone with zero years experience making 90K for an entry level infosec role with Amprise financial ..look them up
Yes actually! I was in a very similar position. Went from “IT Business Analyst” (far from my actual responsibilities) to InfoSec Analyst by networking internally. I was still a contractor since I was working towards my undergrad degree. Then I was bumped up to $53k from $36k. Then I got the FT role and my salary was $70k (could’ve been more if I had more experience/masters/CISSP). I was in each role for a year. InfoSec team was way more relaxed and I did have wonderful WLB. I was in a GRC role since they saw it as more entry-level. Not my cup of tea which is why I’m on the engineering side now lmao Good luck!
IMO extremely feasible. I’ve worked in IT for a bit now, and you’re extremely underpaid as is. In my LCOL area sys admins start at 60-80. You could easily hit your 80K target by jumping within the sysadmin title, especially in Chicago. Breaking into Infosec is harder, but definitely not impossible.