Landing a job in IT can lead to a rewarding long-term career. In 2024, the U.S. median wage for an entry-level computer support role ($61,550) was significantly higher than the average wage for all jobs ($49,500). However, it’s not as easy to get into the tech field as it used to be, as the following stats illustrate.
Why is it harder to get an entry-level IT job than before?
While job seekers dream of landing a job in tech, you’ve probably heard that in the current labor market, a job search can be difficult. Especially for remote positions, openings are routinely flooded with hundreds or even thousands of applicants. After all, when you’re up against candidates in other cities or even countries, competition can be intense for coveted roles.
Adding to the challenge of landing an IT job, universities are turning out more tech graduates than in previous years, which translates to more people chasing after entry-level IT jobs. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research CenterOpens a new window , “The number of students earning a bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences has more than doubled over the last decade, from 51,696 in the 2013-2014 academic year to 112,720 in the 2022-2023 academic year.”
Our own research also supports these figures on tech labor. In the 2026 Spiceworkers State of IT report we revealed that technology professionals believe that it’s significantly easier to hire skilled talent today than it was two years ago.
But perhaps no other data points are more telling than those published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency that tracks historical total employment and job openings for computer support specialists, a role that has often served as the entry point for a career in IT.
A decline in entry-level IT job openings
When I compiled historical BLS employment data spanning 2008 and 2024, it became clear that there are far fewer open IT support positions available today than in the recent past. According to the agency’s employment data, even amid the “Great Recession” in 2008, there were 234,600 open U.S.-based computer support positions, compared to just 50,500 in 2024.
And while the total number of computer support specialist roles has grown over time — from 565,700 in 2008 to 882,300 in 2024 — hiring has slowed considerably. Growth stalled in the mid-2010s: The number of open computer support positions in 2016 (72,300) dropped by more than half compared to 2014 (187,400), and since that time, both the total employment and job openings for computer support positions have leveled off or even declined slightly.
To put things in another perspective: During relative boom times in 2010, there was one job opening for every 2.3 computer support specialists employed, compared to only one job opening for every 17.5 employed in 2024.
The future of entry-level IT support jobs
Is IT still a good career to pursue? In my opinion, as an analyst, the answer is yes, but with caveats.
While it may be harder to secure an entry-level position, if you can get your foot in the door and continue to hone your skills, a solid growth path is available going forward. But you will very likely have to upskill and move into adjacent roles to advance your career.
I recently shared BLS job projection data showing an expected 3% contraction in the number of total U.S.-based computer support specialist roles over the next 10 years. But the outlook for adjacent occupations that junior IT professionals might grow into is much brighter. During the same time period, employment growth in all IT-related positions is expected to expand by 10% compared to only 3% for all jobs.
So how can you get into the tech field? While gaining entry might not be as easy as it used to be, it’s still very possible if you’re willing to put in the work. It can also be hugely beneficial for hopefuls to understand the key skills and qualities managers look for when hiring entry-level IT candidates. In today’s workplace, IT hopefuls need to be willing to develop interpersonal skills in addition to technical skills, and leaders want candidates to be able to contribute immediately.
That means practical hands-on experience — perhaps through internships, experimenting with home labs, or volunteering — is highly coveted. In a fast-evolving tech landscape, candidates must also demonstrate an eagerness to learn to gain a competitive edge.
Source – https://www.spiceworks.com/it-careers/entry-level-it-job-how-hard-to-get-into-it/