Information Technology Degree Salary Expectations

May 31, 2015

The salary levels for IT professionals with an undergraduate degree in information technology will vary depending on the job candidate’s experience, the type of employer and role of the IT professional on the job. IT professionals are found at many companies that rely on computers and the Internet to interact with customers and handle some or all of their operations.

Despite these variables, students with a degree in information technology who start a career in the field will earn an annualized return on their college fees. A report from PayScale calculates that, “engineers and computer scientists do best, earning an impressive 20-year annualized return of 12% on their college fees.”

Graduates with an information technology degree can experience a profitable return on their college education and position themselves in an industry where they can expect a profitable career.

Florida Polytechnic University offers undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology. Concentrations include cyber gaming, information assurance and cyber security. Florida Poly often receives questions regarding information technology degree salary expectations. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions.

What are the salary expectations for an information technologist with a bachelor’s degree?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level salaries range from $45,000 to $80,000.

Graduates who enter the workforce with a degree in information technology and a minimum of two years’experience can join the workforce as an entry-level information technologist or specialist. Entry-level information technologists typically report to a supervisor or manager and focus on information processes and systems, as well as computer networks.

What are the salary expectations for a mid- to senior-level information technologist or specialist?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mid-to senior-level information technologists or IT specialists can expect salaries that range from $70,000 to $120,000.

Information technologists or IT specialists who obtain mid- to senior-level positions have experience with computer systems and their processes. They can operate and troubleshoot computer systems, and understand computer system processes. At this level, information technologists have at least three to five years of experience, along with a bachelor’s degree or higher. They are industry experts in information technology and complete projects, invent and design new approaches, and find innovative uses for existing technology.

What are the types of positions and their respective salaries graduates can expect to fulfill in the information technology sector?

According to a report conducted by PayScale, the individuals in the following positions can expect the respective salaries in IT, or the field of information technology.

  • Project Manager – $85,066
  • Software Engineer – $78,696
  • Network Engineer – $64,309
  • Business Analyst – $69,064
  • Systems Administrator – $61,327

Students who want more information on a degree in information technology at Florida Poly should visit our Academics page or call the Admissions office at (863) 583-9050.