The entry roles into tech, compared on what you can actually weigh — the credential you'd start with, how open it is to a beginner, what the occupation pays and how it's projected to change, and the lowest cited cost to get entry-ready. Every number links to the page that cites it.
How this view is ordered: Sorted by role name. Every figure below is cited on the linked page; sort by whatever matters to you. This is a comparison of tradeoffs, not a recommendation — no path is "best for everyone."
| Role | Entry credential | Eligibility | BLS median wage | BLS 10-yr outlook | Annual openings | Lowest cited cost | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Specialist | CompTIA Data+ | not assessed | $120,230 | +33.5% | ~23.4k/yr | — | roadmap |
| Cloud Engineer | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | Open to beginners | $116,580 † | +8.2% | ~31.3k/yr | $100 | roadmap · time |
| Cloud Support Associate | CompTIA Network+ | Open, experience recommended | $61,860 † | -3.7% (proj. decline) | ~40.8k/yr | $100 | roadmap · time |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity | not assessed | $129,180 † | +28.5% | ~16.0k/yr | $549 | roadmap · time |
| Help Desk Technician | CompTIA Tech+ | not assessed | $61,860 † | -3.7% (proj. decline) | ~40.8k/yr | $125 | roadmap · time |
| IT Support Specialist | CompTIA Tech+ | not assessed | $61,860 † | -3.7% (proj. decline) | ~40.8k/yr | $125 | roadmap · time |
| Junior Systems Administrator | Cisco Certified Network Associate | Open, experience recommended | $99,130 † | -4.2% (proj. decline) | ~14.3k/yr | $300 | roadmap |
| Network Administrator | Cisco Certified Support Technician Networking | not assessed | $99,130 † | -4.2% (proj. decline) | ~14.3k/yr | $300 | roadmap · time |
| Network Automation Engineer | CompTIA Network+ | Open, experience recommended | $134,050 | +11.9% | ~11.2k/yr | $300 | roadmap |
| Network Security Engineer | CompTIA Network+ | Open, experience recommended | $116,580 † | +8.2% | ~31.3k/yr | $300 | roadmap |
| SOC Analyst | Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity | not assessed | $129,180 † | +28.5% | ~16.0k/yr | $589 | roadmap · time |
| Technical Support Engineer | CompTIA Network+ | Open, experience recommended | $61,860 † | -3.7% (proj. decline) | ~40.8k/yr | $125 | roadmap · time |
† Shared BLS occupation — rows marked † map to the same occupation code as another role here, so their identical wage/outlook/openings are one data point, not independent corroboration. See each role's salary page.
How to read this
- Pay and outlook are occupation-level BLS figures (OEWS median wage; Employment Projections) for the occupation each role maps to — they describe the broader occupation, not this specific role or your individual prospects, and are not a salary or hiring guarantee. Click a wage to see its source and vintage.
- "Lowest cited cost" is the cheapest self-study route (the cheapest entry exam, studying with free material) from our cost pages — not a quote, and not the only way to do it.
- No path is "best for everyone." A sort orders one number; it does not rank quality or fit. The cheapest, highest-paying, or fastest-growing path may be a poor match for you. Use the RoleMath planner for personal fit.
- The entry credential shown is one common starting point per role — not a requirement or the only route, and "not assessed" eligibility means we haven't published an eligibility page for it yet, not that it's barrier-free.
- Some roles map to the same BLS occupation (marked † on the wage), so their wage, outlook, and openings are identical by design — not a coincidence and not independent data points. Each role's salary page shows the mapping and any shared-occupation note.
Compare another way
- The cheapest paths into tech, compared
- The highest-paying entry roles, compared
- Entry roles by projected BLS outlook (fastest-growing first)
- The most beginner-friendly entry certifications, compared
See also: certification eligibility · what certifications really cost · ways to fund it · learning roadmaps.